# US 10,946,161 B2 · Pulsed pressure swing adsorption system and method

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- Number: US 10,946,161 B2
- Document ID: US10946161B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/704,413
- Filed: 2019-12-05
- Published: 2020-06-11
- Granted: 2021-03-16
- Earliest claimed: 2018-12-05
- Assignees: Aires Medical LLC
- Applicants: Aires Medical LLC
- Inventors: Nicholas L. Oddo; Peter D. Fitchen; Eugene H. Breniman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10946161B2

## CPC

- A61M 16/101: {using an oxygen concentrator}
- A61M 16/0003: {Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure}
- A61M 16/0063: {Compressors}
- A61M 16/0093: {by adsorption, absorption or filtration}
- A61M 16/026: {specially adapted for predicting, e.g. for determining an information representative of a flow limitation during a ventilation cycle by using a root square technique or a regression analysis}
- A61M 16/125: {Diluting primary gas with ambient air}
- A61M 16/20: Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
- A61M 16/202: {electrically actuated}
- B01D 53/0454: {Controlling adsorption (controlling temperature swing adsorption B01D53/0462, controlling pressure swing adsorption B01D53/047)}
- B01D 53/047: Pressure swing adsorption
- B01D 53/0476: {Vacuum pressure swing adsorption}
- A61M 16/0066: {Blowers or centrifugal pumps}
- A61M 16/0672: {Nasal cannula assemblies for oxygen therapy}
- A61M 16/209: {Relief valves}
- A61M 2016/0021: {with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor}
- A61M 2016/0027: {pressure meter}
- A61M 2016/0036: {in the breathing tube and used in both inspiratory and expiratory phase}
- A61M 2016/1025: {the O2 concentration}
- A61M 2016/103: {the CO2 concentration}
- A61M 2202/0208: Oxygen
- A61M 2205/0294: Piezoelectric materials
- A61M 2205/07: having air pumping means
- A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow
- A61M 2205/3375: Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
- A61M 2205/3592: using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
- A61M 2205/52: with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
- A61M 2205/7545: for solid matter, e.g. microaggregates
- A61M 2230/205: partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
- A61M 2230/42: Rate
- A61M 2230/432: partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
- B01D 2256/12: Oxygen
- B01D 2257/102: Nitrogen
- B01D 2259/40009: using sensors or gas analysers
- B01D 2259/40052: Recycled product or process gas
- B01D 2259/4533: for medical purposes
- B01D 2259/4541: for portable use, e.g. gas masks
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)

## Abstract

A pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system and methods for controlling each PSA cycle performed by the PSA system to produce oxygen enriched gas during productive portions of a user breathing cycle, and to cease production of oxygen enriched gas during non-productive portions of the user breathing cycle, is provided. The PSA system synchronizes PSA cycle phases including adsorption and desorption phases with a user's individual inhalation and exhalation phases, on a breath by breath basis, such that each PSA cycle can be dynamically varied from a succeeding PSA cycle, in real time in response to variations in the user's breathing cycle. An oxygen delivery device including a breathing cycle sensor provides breathing cycle inputs to a controller for use with at least one algorithm to detect breathing flow phases during each user breath, and to synchronize each PSA cycle to the user's breathing flow phases, on a breath-by-breath basis.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An oxygen concentrator system comprising:
a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system including:
a gas outlet configured to flow oxygen enriched gas to a user of the oxygen concentrator;
the PSA system configured to execute a PSA cycle to produce the oxygen enriched gas;
the PSA system including only one adsorption column;
a sensor in communication with the gas outlet and the PSA system;
wherein the sensor is configured to sense a breathing parameter of a breathing cycle of the user;
wherein the breathing cycle includes a plurality of breaths;
wherein the PSA system is further configured to:
receive, from the sensor, a breathing input defined by the breathing parameter;
determine each respective breath, using the breathing input; and
synchronize execution of the PSA cycle with each respective breath such that at least one PSA cycle is executed during each respective breath;
wherein each respective breath includes an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase;
wherein the PSA cycle includes an adsorption phase and a desorption phase; and
wherein the PSA system is configured to synchronize execution of the PSA cycle with the breathing cycle such that:
actuation of the adsorption phase is synchronized with the inhalation phase; and
actuation of a desorption phase is synchronized with the exhalation phase.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The oxygen concentrator system of claim 1, further comprising:
the PSA system configured to synchronize execution of the PSA cycle with each respective breath such that a plurality of PSA cycles is executed during each respective breath.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The oxygen concentrator system of claim 1, wherein each respective breath includes an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase; and
wherein the PSA system is configured to synchronize actuation of the flow of the oxygen enriched gas via the gas outlet with one or more of the inhalation phase and the exhalation phase.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The oxygen concentrator system of claim 1, wherein the PSA system includes:
an air compressing device configured to output pressurized air;
wherein the gas outlet, the air compressing device, and the adsorption column are in fluid communication; and
wherein the PSA system is configured to selectively actuate the air compressing device to perform at least one of the adsorption phase or the desorption phase.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The oxygen concentrator system of claim 4, wherein the air compressing device is a bidirectional device actuable to:
in a first direction, output pressurized atmospheric air into the adsorption column during the adsorption phase; and
in a second direction, output nitrogen gas from the adsorption column during the desorption phase.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The oxygen concentrator system of claim 5, wherein the bidirectional device includes:
a first plurality of microblowers configured to be actuable in the first direction; and
a second plurality of microblowers configured to be actuable in the second direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The oxygen concentrator system of claim 1, wherein the PSA system is further configured to:
predict, using the breathing input, a breathing waveform of the respective breath; and
synchronize an oxygen production waveform of the enriched oxygen gas to the breathing waveform for the respective breath.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The oxygen concentrator system of claim 1, wherein each respective breath includes an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase;
wherein the PSA system is further configured to flow pressurized air via the gas outlet;
the system further comprising:
a controller configured to control flow of the oxygen enriched gas and flow of the pressurized air via the gas outlet;
wherein the controller is configured to actuate a flow of alternating volumes of the oxygen enriched gas and the pressurized air via the gas outlet during the inhalation phase.

### Claim 9

An oxygen concentrator system comprising:
a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system including:
a gas outlet configured to flow oxygen enriched gas to a user of the oxygen concentrator;
wherein the PSA system is configured to execute a PSA cycle to produce the oxygen enriched gas;
a sensor in communication with the gas outlet and the PSA system;
wherein the sensor is configured to sense a breathing parameter of a breathing cycle of the user;
wherein the breathing cycle includes an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase;
wherein the PSA system is further configured to:
receive, from the sensor, a breathing input defined by the breathing parameter;
determine, using the breathing input, one or more of a beginning of the inhalation phase or a beginning of the exhalation phase; and
synchronize execution of the PSA cycle with the one or more of the beginning of the inhalation phase or the beginning of the exhalation phase;
wherein:
the inhalation phase includes a useful period and a dead space period;
the dead space period occurs between the useful period and the exhalation phase; and
the PSA system is configured to:
determine, using the breathing input, a beginning of the dead space period; and
synchronize execution of the PSA cycle with the breathing cycle such that the flow of oxygen enriched gas via the gas outlet is ceased at the beginning of the dead space period of the respective breath.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The oxygen concentrator system of claim 9, wherein:
the PSA cycle includes an adsorption phase and a desorption phase; and
the PSA system is configured to synchronize execution of the PSA cycle with the breathing cycle such that:
the adsorption phase is actuated at the beginning of the inhalation phase; and
the adsorption cycle is ceased at the beginning of the dead space period of the respective breath.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The oxygen concentrator system of claim 10, wherein:
the gas outlet is configured to flow pressurized air to a user of the oxygen concentrator;
the PSA system is further configured to actuate the flow of the pressurized air via the gas outlet at the beginning of the dead space period of the inhalation phase.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The oxygen concentrator system of claim 11, further comprising:
the PSA system configured to control the flow of the pressurized air via the outlet such that the pressured air provides a positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) to the user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The oxygen concentrator system of claim 11, wherein:
each respective breath is immediately preceded in the breathing cycle by a preceding breath and is immediately succeeded in the breathing cycle by a succeeding breath;
the exhalation phase includes a non-useful period and a pre-inhalation period;
the pre-inhalation period occurs between the non-useful period of the respective breath and the inhalation phase of the succeeding breath;
wherein the PSA system is further configured to:
determine for each respective breath, using the breathing input, the beginning of the pre-inhalation period of the exhalation phase.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The oxygen concentrator system of claim 13, the PSA system is further configured to synchronize execution of the PSA cycle with each respective breath such that:
the adsorption phase of the PSA cycle for the succeeding breath is actuated at the beginning of the pre-inhalation period of the exhalation phase.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The oxygen concentrator system of claim 13, the PSA system is further configured to synchronize execution of the PSA cycle with each respective breath such that:
the flow of the pressurized air via the gas outlet is ceased at the beginning of the pre-inhalation period of the exhalation phase; and
the flow of the enriched oxygen gas via the gas outlet is actuated at the beginning of the pre-inhalation period of the exhalation phase.

### Claim 16

An oxygen concentrator system comprising:
a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system including:
a gas outlet configured to flow an oxygen enriched gas to a user of the oxygen concentrator;
wherein the PSA system is configured to:
perform a plurality of PSA phases including an adsorption phase and a desorption phase;
produce the oxygen enriched gas during the adsorption phase; and
cease the production of the oxygen enriched gas during the desorption phase;
a sensor in communication with the gas outlet and the PSA system;
wherein the sensor is configured to sense a breathing parameter of a breathing cycle of the user;
wherein:
the breathing cycle includes an inhalation phase and an exhalation phase;
each respective breath is immediately preceded in the breathing cycle by a preceding breath and is immediately succeeded in the breathing cycle by a succeeding breath;
the exhalation phase includes a non-useful period and a pre-inhalation period;
the pre-inhalation period occurs between the non-useful period of the respective breath and the inhalation phase of the succeeding breath;
wherein the PSA system is further configured to:
receive, from the sensor, a breathing input defined by the breathing parameter;
determine for each respective breath, using the breathing input, the beginning of the pre-inhalation period of the exhalation phase.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The oxygen concentrator system of claim 16, wherein the PSA system is configured to synchronize execution of the PSA cycle with each respective breath such that the adsorption phase of the PSA cycle for the succeeding breath is actuated at the beginning of the pre-inhalation period of the exhalation phase.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The oxygen concentrator system of claim 17, wherein the PSA system is configured to synchronize execution of the PSA cycle with each respective breath such that:
the flow of the pressurized air via the gas outlet is ceased at the beginning of the pre-inhalation period of the exhalation phase; and
the flow of the enriched oxygen gas via the gas outlet is actuated at the beginning of the pre-inhalation period of the exhalation phase.