Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FILTER OXYGEN METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a method, apparatus, and
system for =filtration.
More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a filter system for air
and fluids and a method
of using such system.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0002] Individuals diagnosed with pulmonary disease, for example, Emphysema,
Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Pulmonary Hypertension, or Cystic
Fibrosis, often
need supplemental oxygen. This supplemental oxygen can be delivered by an
oxygen
concentrator, which compresses filtered air, removes nitrogen., and delivers
the concentrated
oxygen to the individual through a nasal cannula or other delivery device.
Since air is composed
of approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% other gases, such as carbon
dioxide and
argon, removing the nitrogen provides primarily oxygen, with a purity of about
90-95%. Thus,
by removing nitrogen from the air, oxygen concentrators are able to process
atmospheric air to
provide substantially pure oxygen to users. Currently, two different types of
oxygen
concentrators are available to individuals with pulmonary disease. A
stationary concentrator is
typically large and approximately 30- 40 pounds, and is more typically used
for individuals that
require a high flow rate. Portable oxygen concentrators are typically smaller
and lighter. The,
portable oxygen concentrator is typically placed on a cart or included within
a carrying case. A
battery , such as a lithium ion rechargeable battery, can be used with the
portable oxygen.
concentrator.
[0003] Certain individuals that require supplemental oxygen also require
continuous positive
airway pressure (CPA:1'). For example, an individual with sleep apnea or other
breathing issues
that also has a pulmonary disease, may require both supplemental oxygen and
CPAP. CP.AP
applies continuous positive air pressure on a continuous basis to keep airways
open throughout
the breathing cycle in an individual able to breathe on their own.
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BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTlON
[0004] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present disclosure to
provide an apparatus
and method for concentrating oxygen.
[0005] A first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides an
apparatus tbr
concentrating oxygen. The apparatus includes an air intake fluidly connected
to an air outlet, an
air purifier, a compressor for receiving air from the atmosphere, compressing
the air, and
delivering the air into the air =purifier, and a removeable filter coupled to
the compressor to =filter
a flow of air between the air intake and the air outlet, wherein the
removeable filter comprises an
electronic tag operable, to transmit identifying information of the removable
filter. The apparatus
further includes a processor operable to communicate with the electronic tag
to receive the
identifying information of the =removeable filter.
[0006] A second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a
method of
concentrating oxygen. The method includes providing an oxygen concentrator
having an iir
intake fluidly connected to an air outlet and a removeable filter between the
air intake and the ziir
outlet; filtering air passing between the ziir intake and the air outlet
during the oxygen
concentrating by a removeable filter having an electronic tag in communication
with a processor
and operable to transmit identifying information of the removeable filter; and
determining, by the
processor, whether the removable filter is operable with the oxygen
concentrator based on the
identifying information of the =removeable filter from the electronic tag.
[0007] A third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a
method of
concentrating oxygen, the method including providing an oxygen concentrator
having an air
intake fluidly connected to an air outlet and a removeable filter between the
air intake and the ziir
outlet; filtering air passing between the ziir intake and the air outlet
during the oxygen
concentrating by a removeable filter having an electronic tag in communication
with a processor
and operable to transmit identifying information of the removeable filter; and
determining, by the
processor, whether the removable filter is operable with the oxygen
concentrator based on the
id.entifying information of the =removeable filter from the electronic tag,
and providing a
continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device having an air flow generator
including a
fluid intake fluidly connected to a fluid outlet and a removeable filter
operably maintained within
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the air flow generator to filter a flow of .fluid between the fluid intake and
the fluid outlet,
wherein the removeable filter comprises an electronic tag operable to transmit
identifying
information of the removable filter, an ziir delivery tube fluidly connected
to the fluid outlet, an
air delivery element fluidly connected to the air delivery tube, wherein the
oxygen concentrator
includes a concentrated air delivery tube fluidly connected to the ziir
delivery element of the
CPAP device, In a further embodiment, the processor is operable to communicate
with the
electronic tag of the removeable filter of the ("PAP device and the electronic
tag of the
removeable filter of the oxygen concentrator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE :DRAWING(S)
[0008] FIG. 1 presents an exemplary device fbr concentrating oxygen suitable
fbr use in
practicing the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 2 presents an simplified block diagram of devices suitable for use
in practicing the
exemplary embodiments of this disclosure;
[0010] FIG. 3 presents an exemplary device for filtering suitable for use in
practicing the
exemplary embodiments of this disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 4 presents simplified block diagram of an oxygen concentrator
coupled to a CRAP
suitable for use in practicing the exemplary embodiment of this disclosure:.
[0012] FIG. 5 presents an exemplary logic flow diagram in accordance with a
method and
apparatus for performing exemplary embodiments of this di SCIOSUre.
[0013] FIG. 6 presents an exemplary logic flow diagram in accordance with a
method and
apparatus for performing exemplary- embodiments of this disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Embodim.ents of the present disclosure provide a compressor .for
receiving air from the
zitmosphere through an air intake, compressing, the air, and delivering the
ziir into at least two
absorbent beds. The purified, concentrated oxygen may then be delivered to a
holding reservoir
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before being, dispensed through a .fluid outlet and to an individual, wherein
the rate of flow
through the air outlet and into a nasal cannaa may be controlled by zi flow
meter. The oxygen
concentrator is operable to maintain zi filter operable to filter the flow of
.fluid between the air
intake and the air outlet. In_ one configuration, the air intake includes an
intake filter having an
electronic tag (e.g., a radio frequency identification. (REID), an antenna, a
microchip, or a
harcode) that is operable to maintain indenting information about the intake
filter to a processor.
In another configuration, the compressor also or alternatively includes an
intake filter having an
electronic tag that is operable to maintain identifying information about the
compressor filter to
the processor. The processor may he maintained within the housing of the
oxygen concentrator.
The processor is operable to determine (based on the identifying information)
whether the
removeable filter or filters are the appropriate filter for use with the
oxygen concentrator. For
example, the processor is operable to determine based on the filter type,
filter flow rates, filter
brand, and/or filter lifespan_ whether the removeable filter(s) should be
replaced. Accordingly,
embodiments of the present disclosure provide an oxygen concentrator device
with at least one
filter that operably notifies the user whether the filter should be replaced.
[0015] Referring to .FIGs. 1 and 2, FIG. 1 shows an exemplary device for
performing exemplary
embodiments of the present disclosure and FIG.. 2 shows an simplified block
diagram of devices
suitable for use in practicing the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.
FIG-s. 1 and 2 show
an oxygen concentrator apparatus 10 having a housing 12 comprising abase 13
and a lid 15.
Base 13 includes an air intake 14 and air outlet 18. In one configuration, air
intake 14 is an open
port 16. The port -1_6 may include a grille or perforated covering. In one
configuration, the
oxygen concentrator 10 also includes a compressor 20 having a fan for drawing
air from the
atmosphere and delivering the air to absorbent beds 80. The compressor 20
further functions to
compress the atmospheric air to a desired pounds per square inch (PSI). The
compressor 20 is
coupled to a power source, including but not limited to a rechargeable lithium
ion battery, a 12V
direct current electric power source, or an AC power supply.
[0016] In one configuration, an air intake filter 22 is disposed between the
air intake 14 and the
compressor 20. The air intake filter 22 removes extraneous materials and gross
particulate
matter when the air flows through_ the intake filter 22. The filter may be
made of any porous
material that allows for the passage of air and removes extraneous materials
and gross particulate
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matter from the air. The air intake filter 22 may be any size and shape that
corresponds to the air
intake 14. In one configuration, as shown in FIG. 3, the air intake filter 22
includes a filter
material 24 and a frame 26. The frame 26 provides support to the filter
material 24 and may
include a support web 28 including bands 30 and ribs 32, 34 extending radially
from a center of
the filter 22 through the bands 30. The bands 30, in one configuration, are
concentric circles.
The ribs 32 terminate along an outer band 36 or, alternatively, at an inner
extending portion 38 of
the outer band 36. The inner extending portion 38 is contoured around spaced
protrusions 40.
These protrusions 40 may house an electronic tag 42. Examples of the
electronic tag 42 include
a radio frequency identification (REID) tag, an antenna, a microchip, and/or a
barcode.
Electronic tag 42 are operable to maintain identifying information about
filter 22. Examples of
identifying information include filter type, filter flow rates, filter brand,
and filter lifespan, it
should be appreciated that other typos of oxygen concentrator devices having
removeable filters
may be used and these devices are intended to be included within the scope of
the claims.
[0017] Oxygen concentrator 10 also includes at least one processor 60 as shown
in FIG. 2.
Processor 60 is operable to communicate with electronic tag 42 and to
determine based on the
identifying information on the electronic tag 42 whether the air intake filter
22 should be
replaced. Some embodiments of the oxygen concentrator 10 also include at least
one alert
system 70. The alert system 70 can include any one or combination of signals
(e.g., light,
vibration, audible sound, etc.) that notifies the user that the filter 22
should be changed.
Embodiments of alert system 70 are operably to controlled by or communicate
with processor 60
and can send an alert based on whether the processor 60 determines that the
filter 22 should be
replaced.
[0018] Some embodiments of the oxygen concentrator include an electronic
reader 62 operable
to obtain the identifying information from electronic tag 42 and communicate
the obtained
identifying information to processor 60. In one embodiment electronic reader
62 is an antenna
arranged such that it is operable to communicate with electronic tag 42. In
some embodiments
oxygen concentrator 10 also includes a memory 64 operable to communicate with
processor 60
such that processor 60 can access program 66 stored on memory 64. Program 66,
when accessed
or run on processor 60, can instruct processor 60 and device 10 to operate or
perform operations
as described herein.
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[OW 91 Processor 60 with memory 64 and program 66 is also operable to
calculale and display
with display 68 the remaining life of removable filter 22. Embodiments provide
that the
established or rated filter life of removable filter 22 can be written on to
electronic tag 42, along
with such information as filter type or name, manufacturer, and manufacturing
lot number.
When zi new removable filter 22 is inserted into oxygen concentrator 10,
processor 60 (with
electronic reader 62) reads and stores the identifying information in memory
64. Some examples
of information that can be displayed on display 68 include filter life, which
may be based on a
particular speed or intake flow rate which is a function of motor speed of the
compressor 20,
[00201 The oxygen concentrator 10 may alternatively or additionally, include
filters in various
other locations. In one configuration, a removeable filter 72 is positioned
between the
compressor 20 and absorbent beads 80. This removeable filter 72 removes
extraneous materials
and gross particulate matter when the air flows through the removeable filter
72. The filter 72
may be made of any porous material that allows for the passage of air and
removes extraneous
materials and gross particulate matter from the air. The removeable filter 72
may be any size and
shape that corresponds to the fluid opening in the air compressor 20. The
removeable filter 72
may additionally, or alternatively include an electronic tag 42 as described
supra. It should be
appreciated by those having ordinary Skill in the art that the oxygen
concentrator 10 may further
include additional filters are needed to provide filtered air to a user. Such
additional filters may
include electronic tags 42 as well. Such electronic tags 42 also communicate
with processor 60
to determine, based on the identifying information on the electronic tag 42,
whether the filter 72
should be replaced. The alert system 70 may further signal that the user
should change filter 72.
Further, an electronic reader 62 is operable to obtain the identifying
information from electronic
tag 42 and communicate the obtained identifying information to processor 60.
In some
embodiments oxygen concentrator 10 also includes a memory 64 operable to
communicate with
processor 60 such that processor 60 can access program 66 stored on memory 64.
Program 66,
when accessed or run on processor 60, can instruct processor 60 and device 10
to operate or
perform operations as described herein.
[0021] Processor 60 with memory 64 and program 66 is also operable to
calculate and display
with display 68 the remaining life of removable filter 72. Embodiments provide
that the
established or rated filter life of removable filter 72 can be written on to
electronic tag 42, along
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with such information as filter type or name, manufacturer, and manufacturing
lot number.
When a new removable filter 72 is inserted into oxygen concentrator 10,
processor 60 (with
electronic reader 62) reads and stores the identifying information in memory
64. Some examples
of information that can be displayed on display 68 include filter life, which
may be based on a
particular speed or intake flow rate: which is a function of motor speed of
the compressor 20.
[00221 The air compressed by the compressor 20 is delivered to an air
purifier. in one
configuration, the air purifier is adsorbent beds 80, or molecular sieve beds,
to remove nitrogen
from the atmospheric ziir. Typically, two molecular sieve beds of 'zeolite, a
microporous
ziluminosilicate mineral which traps nitrogen, are used, wherein a switch
valve 92 switches the
output of the compressor 20 between the two molecular sieve beds to provide
pressure swine
adsorption (PSA). The air is compressed into a first molecular sieve bed where
the nitrogen is
adsorbed. Once the first molecular sieve bed is full of nitrogen (or just
before saturation is
reached), the switch valve 92 will switch the compressor 20 output to the
second molecular sieve
bed. During the delivery of the compressor 20 output to the second molecular
sieve bed, the first
molecular sieve bed will vent the nitrogen into the atmosphere. In one
configuration, the
substantially purified oxygen is sent to a holding reservoir 94 having a
regulator 96 which
controls the output of oxygen. For example, the regulator 96 may control and
maintain the
desired flow rate of oxygen and/or the pressure of oxygen that flows through
the air outlet 18 and
is delivered to the user. Typically, the user receives the substantially
purified oxygen through a
delivery system such as a delivery tube 98 with a deb very element, for
example, a nasal cannula
or a mask.
[0023] The oxygen concentrator 10 may also be coupled to a humidifier and/or a
CPAP device
100. Shown in FIG, 4 is device 100 having an air flow generator 102, an air
delivery tube 104
and a mask 106. Air flow generator 102 includes a fluid intake 108 and a fluid
outlet 110
connected via passage 111. Air flow generator 102 is operable to produce a
flow of fluid by
pulling air or other fluid through the fluid intake 108 and expelling the flow
of fluid or air out of
the fluid outlet 110. It should be understood that the flow of fluid may be
comprised of liquids,
gases, and/or solids. Embodiments of air flow generator 102 include a motor or
other similar
device operable to produce a flow of fluid.
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[0024] Air delivery tube 104 is fluidly connected to the fluid outlet 110 to
receive the flow of
fluid. Air delivery tube 104 is fluidly connected to mask. 106 such that air
flow generator 102,
ziir delivery tube 104, and mask. 106 are operable to provide a user with
continuous positive
airway pressure.
[0025] Air flow generator 102 operably maintains at least one filter 112.
Filter 112 is operable
to filter extraneous materials, gross particulate matter and other unwanted
particles from the .flow
of fluid flowing between the .fluid intake 108 and the fluid outlet 110. Some
of the extraneous
materials can include visible or microscopic particles, organic, or inorganic
matter. Filter 112 is
removable and =replaceable from air flow generator 102. Embodim.ents of
.filter 112 include an.
electronic tag 114, Examples of electronic tag 114 include a radio frequency
identification
(REID) tag., an zintenna, a microchip, and/or zi barcode. Electronic tag 114
are operable to
maintain identifying information about =filter 112. Examples of identifying
information include
filter type, filter flow rates, filter brand, and filter lifespan.
[0026] In one configuration, the oxygen concentrator and the CPAP device form
a system. In
another configuration, the oxygen concentrator 10 and CPAP device 100 remain
separate such
that the concentrated oxygen produced by the oxygen concentrator 10 is
delivered to the ('PAP
device mask 106 through the delivery tube 98. Thus, device 100 may also
include at least one
processor 116. In one configuration, processor 116 is operable to communicate
with electronic
tag 114 and to determine based on the identifying information on the
electronic. tag 114 whether
filter 112 should be replaced. However, in another configuration, device 100
and oxygen
concentrator 10 are integrated into a system such that only one processor
communicates with all
electronic tags 42, 114 and determines, based on the identifying information
on the electronic.
tags 42, 114, whether filters 22, 72, andlor 112 are operable with the oxygen
concentrator based
on the identifying information of the removeable filters 22, 72, 112 from the
electronic tags 42,
114.
[0027] Some embodiments of device 100 also =include at least one alert system
118. The alert
system 118 can include any one or combination of signals (e.g., light,
vibration, audible sound,.
etc.) that notifies the user that the filter 112 should be changed.
Embodiments of alert system
118 are operably to controlled by or communicate with processor 116 and can
send an alert
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based on whether the processor 116 determines that the filter 112 should be
replaced. In an
integrated configuration, one alert system either 118 or 70provides
notifications to the user for
filters 22, 72 and/or 112. Further some embodiments of device 100 may include
a display 130, a
memory 132, and computer program instructions 134. However, in an integrated
configuration,
the device 100 and oxygen concentrator 10 may form a system having only one
display,
processor, and memory with computer instructions,
[0028] Referring now to F1Gs. 5 and 6, illustrated is a logic .flow diagram in
ziccordance with a
method and apparatus for performing exemplary embodiments of this disclosure,.
As shown in
FIG. 5, block 200 presents providing an oxygen concentrator having an ziir
intake fluidly
connected to an air outlet and a removeable filter between the air intake and
the air outlet.
Following block 200, block 202 provides filtering air passing between the air
intake and the air
outlet during the oxygen concentrating by a removeable filter having an
electronic tag in
communication with a processor and operable to transmit identifying
information of the
removeable filter. Next, block 204 specifies determining, by the processor,
whether the
removable filter is operable with the oxygen concentrator based on the
identifying information of
the =removeable filter from the electronic tag. In one configuration, the
electronic tag is at least
one of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, an antenna, a microchip,
and a barcode.
Further, the identifying information may include at least one of filter type,
filter =flow rates, filter
brand, and filter lifespan. In one configuration, the processor is operable to
determine based on
the identifying information whether the removable filter is compatible with
the apparatus.
,Additionally, the oxygen concentrator may include a plurality of removeable
filters each having
an electronic tag in communication with the processor and operable to transmit
identifying
information of the removeable filters.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 6, block 300 also presents providing an oxygen
concentrator having an
air intake fluidly connected to an air outlet and a removeable filter between
the air intake and the
air outlet. Following block 300, block 302 provides filtering air passing
between the air intake
and the air outlet during the oxygen concentrating by a removeable filter
having an electronic
tag in communication with a processor and operable to transmit identifying
information of the
removeable filter. Further, block 304 specifies determining, by the processor,
whether the
removable filter is operable with the oxygen concentrator based on the
identifying information of
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the removeable filter from the electronic tag. In this configurationõ block
306 further includes
providing a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device having an air
flow generator
including a fluid intake fluidly connected to a fluid outlet and a removeable
filter operably
maintained within the air flow generator to filter a flow of fluid between the
fluid intake and the
fluid outlet, wherein the removeable filter comprises an electronic tag
operable to transmit
identifying information of the removable filter, an air delivery tube fluidly
connected to the fluid
outlet, an air delivery element fluidly connected to the air delivery tube,
wherein the oxygen
concentrator includes a concentrated air delivery tube fluidly connected to
the air delivery
element of the CPAP device. In one configuration, the processor is operable to
communicate
with the electronic tag of the removeable filter of the CPAP device and the
electronic tag of the
removeable filter of the oxygen concentrator.
[0030] The logic diagram of Fkis. 5 and 6 may be considered to illustrate the
operation of a
method, a result of execution of computer program instructions stored in a
computer-readable
medium, or the operation of an apparatus. The logic diagram of FICis. 5 and 6
may also be
considered a specific manner in which components of a device are configured to
operate,
whether such a device is an oxygen concentrator, a CPAP device, a system
having an oxygen
concentrator and a CPAP device, or one or more components thereof
[0031] Various embodiments of the computer-readable medium include any data
storage
technology type which is suitable to the local technical environment,
including but not limited to
semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems,
optical memory
devices and systems, fixed memory, removable memory, disc memory, flash
memory, dynamic
random-access memory (DRAM), static random-access memory (SRAM),
electronically
erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) and the like. Various
embodiments of
the processor include but are not limited to general purposed computers,
special purpose
computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors, and multi-core
processors.
[0032] This disclosure has been described in detail with particular reference
to a presently
preferred embodiment, but it will be understood that variations and
modifications can be effected
within the spirit and scope of the invention. The presently disclosed
embodiments are therefore
considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope
of the invention in
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indicated by the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning
and range of
equivalents thereof are intended to be embraced therein.
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