Portable Liquid Oxygen Reserve for Continuous Ambulatory Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for supplying oxygen for therapy face logistical challenges with liquid oxygen distribution, high pressure risks, low autonomy, and ergonomic issues with portable concentrators, and complexity with home-based liquefiers.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising an oxygen filling station and a transportable reserve with an oxygen concentrator, liquefier, and delivery system that allows permanent connection to a patient, enabling continuous gaseous oxygen supply with automatic liquid level control, recycling, and safety features, and a collapsible design for portability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If liquid oxygen is provided in a portable reservoir for ambulatory use, then oxygen supply autonomy is improved, but logistical and distribution problems arise for supplying the reserve with liquid oxygen
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent parts: a stationary filling station that produces liquid oxygen and a portable reservoir that stores and delivers it. This segmentation allows the portable unit to operate independently without requiring complex distribution infrastructure, as it can be refilled at any stationary station.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable reservoir acts as an intermediary between the stationary filling station and the patient. It receives liquid oxygen from the station and delivers it during ambulatory use, eliminating the need for direct connection between the concentrator and the patient during movement.
2Quantity of substance
If gaseous oxygen is compressed to high pressure for portable storage, then oxygen supply capacity is improved, but safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical state of oxygen from gaseous to liquid form. Liquid oxygen has much higher density than gaseous oxygen, allowing significantly more oxygen to be stored in the same volume without requiring high pressure compression, thereby maintaining safety while improving supply capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of oxygen from gas to liquid through the liquefier in the filling station. This phase change enables compact storage of large oxygen quantities in the portable reservoir without the safety hazards associated with high-pressure gas storage.
3Duration of action of moving object
If a portable concentrator is used for oxygen production, then oxygen supply autonomy is improved, but weight and robustness worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heavy and complex components (concentrator, liquefier) from the portable unit and places them in a stationary filling station. The portable reservoir retains only the essential lightweight components needed for storage and delivery, significantly reducing weight while maintaining autonomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The stationary filling station performs the oxygen production and liquefaction in advance, filling the portable reservoir before the patient needs to use it. This preliminary action eliminates the need for heavy equipment during ambulatory use, as the reservoir is already prepared with liquid oxygen.
4Quantity of substance
If a stationary device with concentrator and liquefier is used for home oxygen production, then oxygen supply capacity is improved, but device complexity and ergonomic usability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complex stationary production unit from the simple portable delivery unit. The filling station handles all complex operations (concentration, liquefaction, storage) while the portable reservoir provides simple connect-and-use functionality, eliminating the need for multiple connections and disconnections during patient use.
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 solution provides a reliable, efficient, and ergonomic system for continuous oxygen supply, improving autonomy and safety while reducing weight and complexity, ensuring better oxygen purity and controlled consumption.
Implementation Method 1
un known solution consists in providing a reserve of liquid oxygen
Implementation Method 2
a liquefier connected to an outlet of the concentrator to receive the isolated gaseous oxygen for its liquefaction
Implementation Method 3
the reserve comprises an outlet for gaseous oxygen connected to the outlet connection via a gas heater
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The device has a transportable oxygen reserve (2) selectively connected to a filling station (1), and including a liquid oxygen reservoir (8) connected to an inlet connection (7). A unique gaseous oxygen outlet connection (11) is connected to respiratory paths of a patient (P). The connection is connected on the transportable oxygen reserve such that the patient is permanently connected to the reserve to inhale the gaseous oxygen e.g. boil-off oxygen, from the reserve, when the reserve is not connected to the filling station.