Integrated Oxygen Concentrator and Air Compressor for High Flow Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients with respiratory ailments face challenges due to the need for separate high flow therapy (HFT) and oxygen therapy, which are typically administered sequentially, increasing discomfort and requiring travel to clinical settings for high-pressure breathing gas sources, limiting the availability of effective at-home treatments.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained system combining an air compressor and oxygen concentrator to deliver heated and humidified oxygen and air mixtures, allowing for simultaneous administration of HFT and oxygen therapy in a home environment, eliminating the need for external high-pressure sources and minimizing equipment clutter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If HFT and oxygen therapy are administered separately using different devices, then each therapy can be delivered with appropriate equipment, but the patient must receive one therapy at a time, increasing total treatment time and patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines HFT and oxygen therapy into a single integrated device that can deliver both therapies simultaneously. The device includes an oxygen concentrator, air compressor, vapor transfer system, and heating element all in one unit, allowing the patient to receive both high flow therapy and oxygen therapy at the same time through a single nasal cannula, thereby eliminating the need to switch between devices and reducing total treatment time
2Reliability
If patients use traditional HFT systems requiring high-pressure breathing gas sources, then adequate breathing gas can be delivered, but patients must travel to clinical settings where high-pressure sources are available
Solution Approach 1:
The device is self-contained with an integrated oxygen concentrator and air compressor that generate the required breathing gases on-site without needing external high-pressure sources. The oxygen concentrator concentrates oxygen from ambient air, and the air compressor provides pressurized air, allowing the system to operate independently in home settings and eliminate the need for patients to travel to clinical facilities
3Productivity
If oxygen concentrator and air compressor operate at different pressures, then each component can function optimally, but the gases cannot be properly mixed for effective therapy
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates pressure regulation mechanisms that dynamically adjust the output pressure of both the oxygen concentrator and air compressor to match each other. This allows the system to maintain optimal pressure balance for effective gas mixing while allowing each component to operate within its optimal performance range, ensuring proper blending of oxygen and air for therapeutic delivery
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 system enables efficient, comfortable, and mobile respiratory therapy by providing high-flow breathing gases with reduced noise and condensation issues, decreasing the overall time required for treatment and eliminating the need for additional devices, thus enhancing patient mobility and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a vapor transfer system with an air compressor and an oxygen concentrator
Implementation Method 2
the system described herein overcomes the challenges associated with the administration of HFT in non-clinical settings by incorporating an HFT system with an air compressor and an oxygen concentrator which operate at low pressures
Implementation Method 3
The air compressor acts as a source for pressurized air
Implementation Method 4
the oxygen concentrator provides oxygen for blending into a breathing gas mixture having an appropriate concentration of oxygen
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for delivering a heated and humidified mixture of oxygen and air are provided. The apparatus includes an air compressor and oxygen concentrator enclosed in the housing of a vapor transfer system. The air compressor supplies air at a first pressure to a gas inlet. The oxygen concentrator provides oxygen at a second pressure to the gas inlet. The oxygen concentrator and the air compressor are in fluid communication and are configured such that the first pressure of the compressed air and the second pressure of the oxygen are about equal. The apparatus includes a vapor transfer system having a gas passage, a liquid passage having heated liquid and vapor, and a membrane that separates the gas passage and liquid passage. The membrane is positioned to transfer vapor from the liquid passage to the gas passage.