Portable Oxygen Concentrator Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable oxygen concentrators for patients with lung diseases are heavy and bulky due to the weight of compressors, power supplies, and adsorbent materials, limiting mobility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A portable oxygen concentrator system that integrates a compressor, sieve beds, and a rechargeable power supply, with an integrated air and oxygen manifold, reducing the total weight and volume by using a central chassis and forming manifolds and passage members from lightweight materials, and optimizing the placement and attachment of components for reduced weight and volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional portable oxygen concentrators use traditional compressor, power supply, and adsorbent materials, then oxygen concentration capability is achieved, but weight and volume increase limiting mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the air manifold and oxygen manifold into a single integrated manifold structure, reducing the number of separate components. This merging of functions reduces overall device weight and volume while maintaining oxygen concentration capability, directly addressing the contradiction between oxygen output and device weight
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions the reservoir internally within the housing structure, and places the compressor, sieve beds, and power supply in an optimized compact arrangement. This nested configuration maximizes space utilization and reduces the external dimensions and weight of the device while preserving full oxygen output functionality
2Quantity of substance
If conventional portable oxygen concentrators use traditional component arrangement, then oxygen delivery function is maintained, but device volume and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of air and oxygen manifolds into a single structure eliminates redundant components and reduces device volume. This merged manifold design allows for more efficient space utilization while maintaining the required oxygen delivery capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a vertical stacking arrangement of components (compressor, sieve beds, reservoir, power supply) within the housing, utilizing the vertical dimension to reduce the device's horizontal footprint. This dimensional reorganization reduces overall device volume while preserving oxygen output function
3Weight of moving object
If components are optimized for reduced weight, then mobility improves, but structural integrity and component attachment may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes lightweight yet strong materials for the housing and internal components, achieving a favorable strength-to-weight ratio. This allows the device to maintain structural integrity and proper component attachment while minimizing overall weight for improved mobility
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated manifold structure reduces the number of separate metal components requiring attachment, thereby reducing potential weak points in the structure. This merging approach maintains structural integrity with reduced weight compared to traditional multi-component assemblies
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
The system achieves a higher oxygen output-to-weight ratio, enabling greater mobility and efficiency while maintaining performance, with the ability to deliver a maximum continuous oxygen flow of over 1.8 lpm and a battery life of more than 30 minutes on a single charge.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure/vacuum swing adsorption unit adapted to separate the pressurized feed air into an oxygen-rich product and an oxygen-depleted waste gas, wherein the adsorption unit comprises a plurality of adsorber beds containing an adsorbent
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and systems for concentrating oxygen include an oxygen concentration subsystem configured to generate a supply of oxygen-enriched gas, an oxygen delivery subsystem configured to communicate oxygen-enriched gas to a respiratory circuit for delivery to an airway of a subject, and one or more batteries configured to act as a sole power supply for the oxygen concentration subsystem and the oxygen delivery subsystem, wherein a ratio Row is determined as: Row = (O2 output )/total weight of the oxygen concentrator system, where O2 output is the maximum continuous oxygen output of the oxygen concentrator system, wherein the ratio Row is greater than about 0.19 lpm/lbs.