Portable Oxygen Source Control for Ventilator Flow Demand
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable oxygen concentrators do not output gas at pressures and/or volumes high enough to be used with wearable, portable ventilators without an additional source of compressed gas, limiting patients who require combined ventilation and supplemental oxygen therapy, and there is a need for a control system to ensure adequate airflow and oxygen delivery.
Innovation Solution
A control system for a portable gas source that adjusts oxygen and airflow based on user demand, using a PSA cycle and sensors to maintain sufficient gas delivery, prioritizing airflow over oxygenation for patient safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If portable oxygen concentrators are designed to be lightweight and compact, then portability is improved, but the gas output pressure and volume are insufficient for wearable ventilators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a portable oxygen concentrator with a compressed gas reservoir system into an integrated gas delivery system. The concentrator (generating oxygen at 87-96% purity) is merged with a compressed gas tank that stores additional gas, creating a hybrid system that delivers both high-flow ventilation and supplemental oxygen therapy simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between portability and sufficient gas output capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides both ventilatory support (high-flow gas delivery) and supplemental oxygen therapy (concentrated oxygen delivery) through a single integrated platform. The control system can dynamically adjust between different delivery modes based on patient needs, making the device universally applicable for various respiratory support requirements without requiring separate equipment
2Productivity
If the control system prioritizes airflow delivery to meet ventilation demands, then ventilation support is improved, but oxygen concentration delivery may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts the gas mixture composition and delivery parameters in real-time based on patient demand and system capacity. When high airflow is required for ventilation, the system automatically adjusts the blend of concentrated oxygen from the concentrator and compressed gas from the reservoir to maintain adequate oxygen delivery while meeting the higher flow requirements, rather than maintaining a fixed oxygen concentration
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
Ensures reliable and safe delivery of oxygen and ventilation therapy by dynamically adjusting gas mixture and pressure to meet patient demands, enhancing portability and safety for patients requiring combined therapy.
Implementation Method 1
Portable oxygen concentrators typically operate by pressure swing adsorption (PSA), in which ambient air is pressurized by a compressor and passed through an adsorbent sieve bed. The sieve bed is typically formed of a zeolite which preferentially adsorbs nitrogen when at high pressure while oxygen passes through.
Implementation Method 2
The sieve bed is typically formed of a zeolite which preferentially adsorbs nitrogen when at high pressure while oxygen passes through.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling a portable gas source connected to a ventilator includes receiving, via a user interface, a mix setting corresponding to a user-selected percentage of oxygen in a mixture of oxygen and ambient air to be delivered by the ventilator, determining, based on a measured airflow demand on the ventilator, a maximum percentage of oxygen in the mixture at which the mixture still meets the measured airflow demand, and overriding the mix setting with the maximum mix value in response to the maximum mix value being less than the user-selected percentage.