Compliant Gas Connector Layout for Compact Oxygen Concentrators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable oxygen concentrators need to balance size, weight, efficiency, reliability, and cost while providing therapeutic oxygen, requiring innovative design approaches to meet these contradictory attributes.
Innovation Solution
The integration of sensor/accumulator assemblies, new muffler designs, and improved airflow and internal gas connectivity, including a pressure-sensitive gas valve with a porous housing, compliant gas connection systems, and an integrated cooling system with a microcontroller-controlled fan, results in a compact, lightweight, and cost-effective portable oxygen concentrator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the concentrator size is reduced to improve portability, then the device becomes more compact and lighter, but the internal gas connections and component integration become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible gas tubing and compliant connector elements that can bend and flex to accommodate the compact arrangement of gas ports in the reduced-size housing. This allows internal gas connections to be made easily despite the constrained space, resolving the contradiction between small size and ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates sensor/accumulator assemblies and other components within the compact housing by nesting them together, maximizing space utilization. This nested arrangement maintains ease of assembly while achieving the desired compact form factor for portability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional rigid gas connection systems are used, then the internal gas connections are structurally stable, but the device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional rigid gas connection systems with flexible gas tubing and compliant connector elements that maintain structural stability for gas flow while adapting to the compact portable housing, thereby reducing overall device size and weight.
3Volume of moving object
If the gas flow path is simplified to reduce size, then the concentrator becomes more compact, but noise from gas flow increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a muffler as an intermediary component in the gas flow path that effectively dampens noise from gas flow while maintaining a compact design, thus resolving the contradiction between size reduction and noise control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables a reliable, efficient, and cost-effective portable oxygen concentrator that is easy to assemble, minimizing noise and vibration while maximizing oxygen output per unit size and weight, scalable for varying patient needs.
Implementation Method 1
a housing made from a porous material holding the valve; wherein in the open position gas flow is substantially through an open portion of the valve, and in the closed position gas flow is directed substantially through the porous housing, muffling the sound produced by the flowing gas
Implementation Method 2
a pressure sensitive gas valve; wherein in the open position gas flow is substantially through an open portion of the valve
Implementation Method 3
a compliant, linear connector element; wherein when the two ports and the connector element are assembled, the two ports are fixed in the concentrator whereby the connector element connects the ports
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
Portable oxygen concentrator, comprising; a gas connection system for internal gas connections in the oxygen concentrator, two gas ports in alignment separated by at least one of a linear or radial distance (510, 610); and, a compliant, connector element (520, 620); wherein; when the two ports and the connector element are assembled, the two ports are fixed in the concentrator whereby the connector element connects the ports.