EXHAUST CONDUIT AND ADAPTER MOUNTING FOR PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR

INSTALLATION DE CONDUITE D'ECHAPPEMENT ET D'ADAPTATEUR POUR CONCENTRATEUR D'OXYGENE PORTATIF

English Abstract

An exhaust conduit and adapter apparatus for mounting to a pair of exhaust
outlets mounted oppositely on the base of a portable oxygen concentrator
includes an opposed
facing pair of substantially u-shaped hallow conduits wherein each conduit has
an inlet end
and an outlet end. The inlet ends are separated by a distance equal to a
separation distance
between the pair of exhaust outlets. The outlet ends are mounted to each other
in fluid
communication with a junction having a single outlet. The inlet ends are
adapted for mounting
to the pair of exhaust outlets so that, when so mounted, hot exhaust from the
oxygen
concentrator flows through each conduit and out through the junction and the
single outlet of
the junction. An outflow conduit is mountable to the single outlet of the
junction for outflow
of the hot exhaust from the single outlet to a remote location, remote from a
patient using the
oxygen concentrator.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. An exhaust conduit and adapter apparatus for mounting to a pair of exhaust
outlets
mounted oppositely on the base of a portable oxygen concentrator, the
apparatus
comprising:
an opposed facing pair of substantially u-shaped hollow conduits wherein each
conduit
of said pair of substantially u-shaped hollow conduits has an inlet end and an
outlet
end,
said inlet ends of said each conduit in opposed facing relation and separated
by a
distance equal to a separation distance between the pair of exhaust outlets on
the
oxygen concentrator,
said outlet of said each conduit mounted to each other iii fluid communication
with a
junction having a single outlet,
said inlet ends of said each conduit adapted for mounting to the pair of
exhaust outlets
on the oxygen concentrator so that, when so mounted, hot exhaust from the
oxygen
concentrator flows through said each conduit and out through said junction and
said
single outlet of said junction,
an outflow conduit mountable to said single outlet of said junction for
outflow of the
hot exhaust from said single outlet to a remote location, remote from a
patient using the
oxygen concentrator.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inlet ends of said each conduit are
adapted for
mounting to the pair of exhaust outlets on the oxygen concentrator by means of
a
corresponding pair of protruding, shelf like manifold extensions protruding in
opposed
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relation from lower edges of said inlet ends so as to engage in fluid
communication
with the exhaust outlets when downwardly disposed and formed under the base of
the
oxygen concentrator.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inlet ends are funnel-shaped
rectangular
manifolds channelling the exhaust from the exhaust outlets when rectangular
into said
pair of conduits, wherein said pair of conduits are substantially round in
cross section.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said inlet ends are funnel-shaped
rectangular
manifolds channelling the exhaust from the exhaust outlets when rectangular
into said
pair of conduits, wherein said pair of conduits are substantially round in
cross section.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pair of conduits both lie
substantially in a
common plane.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pair of conduits both lie
substantially in a
common plane.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said pair of conduits are substantially
horizontal
when mounted on the oxygen concentrator.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said pair of conduits are substantially
horizontal
when mounted on the oxygen concentrator.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said pair of conduits wrap substantially
around the
base of the oxygen concentrator when mounted thereto.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said pair of conduits wrap substantially
around the
base of the oxygen concentrator when mounted thereto.
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11. An exhaust conduit and adapter for a portable oxygen concentrator, the
apparatus
comprising:
a portable oxygen concentrator having a pair of exhaust outlets mounted
oppositely on
the base thereof,
an opposed facing pair of substantially u-shaped hollow conduits wherein each
conduit
of said pair of substantially u-shaped hollow conduits has an inlet end and an
outlet
end,
said inlet ends of said each conduit in opposed facing relation and separated
by a
distance equal to a separation distance between said pair of exhaust outlets
on said
oxygen concentrator,
said outlet of said each conduit mounted to each other in fluid communication
with a
junction having a single outlet,
said inlet ends of said each conduit mounted to a corresponding exhaust outlet
of said
pair of exhaust outlets on said oxygen concentrator so that hot exhaust from
said oxygen
concentrator flows through said each conduit and out through said junction and
said
single outlet of said junction,
an outflow conduit mountable to said single outlet of said junction for
outflow of the
hot exhaust from said single outlet to a remote location, remote from a
patient using the
oxygen concentrator.
12. The apparatus of claim 3.1 wherein said inlet ends of said each conduit
are adapted for
mounting to the pair of exhaust outlets on the oxygen concentrator by means of
a
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corresponding pair of protruding, shelf like manifold extensions protruding in
opposed
relation from lower edges of said inlet ends so as to engage in fluid
communication
with the exhaust outlets when downwardly disposed and formed under the base of
the
oxygen concentrator.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said inlet ends are funnel-shaped
manifolds
channelling the exhaust from the exhaust outlets when rectangular into said
pair of
conduits, wherein said pair of conduits are substantially round in cross
section.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said inlet ends are funnel-shaped
manifolds
channelling the exhaust from the exhaust outlets when rectangular into said
pair of
conduits, wherein said pair of conduits are substantially round in cross
section.
15. The apparatus of. claim 11 wherein said pair of conduits both lie
substantially in a
common plane.
16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said pair of conduits both lie
substantially in a
common plane.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said pair of conduits are substantially
horizontal
when mounted on the oxygen concentrator.
18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said pair of conduits are substantially
horizontal
when mounted on the oxygen concentrator.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said pair of conduits wrap substantially
around the
base of the oxygen concentrator when mounted thereto.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said pair of conduits wrap substantially
around the
base of the oxygen concentrator when mounted thereto.
11

Description

CA 02521998 2005-10-03
EXHAUST CONDUTT AND ADAPTER MOUNTING FOR PORTABLE OXYGEN
CONCENTRATOR
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of portable oxygen concentrators and in
particular to an exhaust conduit and adapter for mounting an exhaust conduit
to the exhaust
ports of portable oxygen concentrators.
Background of the Invention
Many patients require long term therapeutic oxygen treatment whether at home,
in nursing homes, or in other settings. In the past it was known to provide
pressurized
concentrated oxygen in cylinders so that the patient metered oxygen .from the
cylinder for
respiratory support. The drawback was of course that only a limited amount of
pressurized
oxygen could be stored in a cylinder and so, once used, a cylinder had to be
returned to a re-
filling facility and re-filled cylinders delivered for use by the patient.
Consequently this was
inconvenient and often expensive.
More recently, oxygen concentrators capable of concentrating the oxygen from
ambient air using pressure swing adsorption typically operating between a pair
of molecular
sieves, have become available in somewhat portable units well suited for use
in a home or in
nursing home or the Like. These oxygen. concentrators purport to be capable of
delivering for
example either five litres per minute or ten litres per minute of an airflow
having a highly
2S concentrated oxygen component, that is, concentrated to a therapeutic
level, for example,
approximately ninety per cent or greater oxygen. Examples of a five litre per
minute oxygen
concentrator is the New Life Elite TM Oxygen Concentrator manufactured by Air
Sep
Corporation. Examples of ten litre per minute oxygen concentrators are the
Millenium TM
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CA 02521998 2005-10-03
M10 Oxygen Concentrator manufactured by Respimnics, Inc., and the Platinum T~
10 Oxygen
Concentrator manufactured by Invacare Cozporation.
As may be seen in the representative illustration in Figure l, these oxygen
concentrators are sufficiently bulky and sufficiently heavy, weighing in the
order of fifty or
more pounds, that they are housed in an upright canister-like housing and
typically supported
on a base having three or more casters. By grasping a handle on the top of the
canister, the
oxygen concentrator may be wheeled on close enough so that an oxygen hose may
reach the
patient. The oxygen concentrators alI require one or mare compressors so as to
cyclically
drive the pressure swing cycles in the molecular sieves. The compressors are
electrically
powered. In the case of the Air Sep New Life Elite concentrator, according to
the
manufacturer's specifications, the concentrator purportedly consumes three
hundred fifty watts
during operation, and in the case of the Invacare Platimum 10 Oxygen
Concentrator,
purportedly consumes five hundred eighty-five watts during operation.
Consequently, the
i 5 compressors generate heat. Applicant has observed that the heat generated
by such an oxygen
concentrator is, for the most part, dissipated as heated exhaust flow. Thus,
because of the heat,
patients typically do not want these oxygen concentrator units positioned too
near to them.
The hot exhaust from the oxygen concentrators may be, in applicant's
experience, approximately thirty-five degrees Celsius. Consequently, the air
temperature in a
patient's room will rise due to the temperature of the exhaust, and the volume
of exhaust flow.
This may cause discomfort for the patient, especially in summer, and may cause
the
unnecessary use of additional air conditioning to cool the patient's room
temperature.
Sumlnar~r,_of the Invention
In summary, the present invention may be characterized in one aspect as
including an exhaust conduit and adapter mounted to or for mounting to a pair
of exhaust
outlets mounted oppositely on the base of a portable oxygen concentrator,
including an
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CA 02521998 2005-10-03
opposed facing pair of substantially u-shaped hollow conduits wherein each
conduit of the pair
of substantially u-shaped hollow conduits has an inlet end and an outlet end.
The inlet ends of
each conduit are in opposed facing relation and separated by a distance equal
to a separation
distance between the pair of exhaust outlets on the oxygen concentrator. The
inlet ends are
thus mounted over the exhaust outlets. The outlets of each conduit axe mounted
to each other
in fluid communication with a junction having a single outlet.
The inlet ends of each conduit are adapted far mounting to the pair of exhaust
outlets on the oxygen concentrator so that, when so mounted, hot exhaust from
the oxygen
concentrator flows through the each conduit and out through the single outlet
of the junction.
In one embodiment an outflow conduit is mounted or mountable to the single
outlet of the
junction for outflow of the hot exhaust .from the single outlet to a remote
location, remote from
a patient using the oxygen concentrator.
In one embodiment the inlet ends of each conduit are adapted for mounting to
the pair of exhaust outlets on the oxygen concentrator by means of a
corresponding pair of
protruding, shelf like manifold extensions protruding in opposed relation from
lower edges of
the inlet ends so as to engage in fluid communication with the exhaust outlets
when
downwardly disposed for exhaust flow vertically downwards and are formed under
the base of
the oxygen concentrator. In other embodiment the exhaust outlets are disposed
vertically on
the sides of the concentrator so that exhaust leaves horizontally. W the
latter, the inlet ends
mount flush onto the exhaust outlets.
The inlet ends may be funnel-shaped rectangular manifolds channelling the
exhaust from the exhaust outlets when rectangular into the pair of conduits,
wherein the pair of
conduits are substantially round in cross section.
The pair of conduits may both lie substantially in a common plane, for example
so that the pair of conduits are substantially horizontal when mounted on tLie
oxygen
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CA 02521998 2005-10-03
concentrator. The pair of conduits may advantageously wrap substantially
around the base of
the oxygen concentrator when mounted thereto.
Brief Descrit~tion of the Drawin .mss
Figure 1 is, in top perspective view, a prior art oxygen concentrator, and in
particular, a Respironics Millenium MS Oxygen Concentrator.
Figure 2 is, in bottom perspective view, a representation of an oxygen .
concentrator having combined. bottom and side opening hot exhaust outlets.
Figure 3 is, in upper rear perspective view, one embodiment of the portable
oxygen concentrator exhaust diverting conduits according to one aspect of the
present
invention for mounting onto the oxygen concentrator of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is, in bottom perspective view, a representation of an oxygen
concentrator having only side opening hot exhaust outlets.
Figure 5 is; in top front perspective view, a further embodiment of the oxygen
concentrator exhaust diverting conduit according to a further aspect of the
present invention
for mounting onto the oxygen concentrator of Figure ~.
Figure 6 is, in perspective view, a further ernbodi.ment of the oxygen
concentrator exhaust diverting conduit according to the present.
Detailed Description of Embodiments 4f the Invention
As seen in Figure l , a prior art portable oxygen concentrator 10 has a
canister-
like upper housing I2 encasing the compressor or compressors, molecular
sieves, conduits etc,
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CA 02521998 2005-10-03
an on/off power switch l 4, operating condition indicators such as LEDs 1 b, a
flaw meter i 8,
an air intake 20 and an oxygen outlet port 22. Housing 12 is mounted on a base
24, supported
on a plurality of rasters 26.
During operation of the oxygen concentrator, ambient air enters into the
oxygen
concentrator through air intake 20 and exits both as therapeutic oxygen from
oxygen outlet
port 22, and as heated exhaust in direction A being forced from exhaust
autl.ets 28. Heated
exhaust in direction A is forced from under base 24 in the space between the
Iower surface of
the base and the floor on which. the casters rest. The height of the space is
governed by the
height that casters 2b maintain base 24 above the floor surface. In the past,
this design meant
that Iittle or nothing could be done to reduce the discomfort to the patient
caused by proximity
of the portable oxygen concentrator pumping out hot exhaust, often right at
the feet of the
patient.
As seen in Figure 3, in one embodiment of the present invention, exhaust
manifolds 30 bolt ar otherwise mount to the exterior of base 24 so as to
extend exhaust trays
32 underneath base 24 in the space between base 24 and the floor so as to
cover exhaust outlets
28. Thus exhaust trays 32 are sized so as to cover over exhaust outlets 28 so
that exhaust flow
in direction A is caught by exhaust trays 32 and directed into the hollow
frusto-conical funnel
portion 34 of exhaust manifolds 30.
The exhaust flow converges through funnel. portions 34 into a corresponding
pair of opposed facing U-shaped pipes 36. Exhaust flow is thus directed so as
to wrap around
base 24 and to converge at a common Y junction pipe 38. Exhaust then flows in
direction 13
from the single outlet of Y junction pipe 38 through a hose ar pipe, whether
flexible or rigid,
such as exhaust hose 40. The outlet end of exhaust base 40 is directed for
example through a
window or otherwise so as to direct the hot exhaust away from the patient.
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CA 02521998 2005-10-03
In the embodiment of Figure 4, exhaust manifolds 30 do not require exhaust
trays 32 in order to cover over exhaust outlets 28. This embodiment is for use
on poutable
oxygen concentrators which exhaust from exhaust outlets which, although
located on base 24,
are directed laterally outwardly from the base. Similarly, in Figure 6, the
portable oxygen
concentrator is only provided with a single exhaust outlet 28. Consequently,
the pair of
opposed facing U-shaped pipes 3b are unnecessary. Rather, only a single
exhaust manifold 30
is require, again, rigidly mounted over exhaust outlet 28 so as to direct
exhaust flow through
exhaust hose ~0 for venting through a window or the Like.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing
disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of
this invention
without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of
the invention is
to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following
claims.
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Representative Drawing