US 11,951,260 B2Granted

Efficient enriched oxygen airflow systems and methods

AssigneeWearair Ventures, Inc.

InventorJohn Warren

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Abstract

The invention provides new systems/methods for providing oxygen to chronically ill patients, such as COPD patients, through a more efficient portable oxygen concentrator (“POC”) that at least sometimes delivers an enriched airflow having a significantly lower overall oxygen concentration than that administered by typical POCs. In aspects, the methods/systems of the present invention are configured to automatically switch from pulse delivery to continuous delivery, from continuous delivery to pulse delivery, or any combination thereof, at least once per day, when certain conditions occur. Methods/system can comprise the ability to switch between mode(s) comprising delivery of a moderately enriched oxygen airflow (MEOA) and mode(s) comprising delivery of intensively enriched oxygen airflow, highly enriched oxygen airflow, or both, and back again, based on one or more parameters.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method of assisting breathing in a patient having low blood oxygen saturation, the method comprising:

(a) providing the patient with a portable oxygen concentrator that delivers an enriched oxygen airflow, wherein the portable oxygen concentrator comprises:
(1) a pressure gradient generating system,
(2) at least one nitrogen adsorption media that generates the enriched oxygen airflow when exposed to air and acted on by a sufficient pressure gradient and that is selectively isolated from an ambient environment by at least one air enrichment area separator,
(3) an enriched oxygen airflow outlet that is fluidly connected to a flow line and a patient oxygen delivery interface, and
(4) a programmable controller comprising stored computer readable instructions and a processor for executing such instructions and that in operation determines
(I) a volume of the airflow delivered to the patient,
(II) an oxygen concentration of the airflow, and
(III) whether to deliver enriched oxygen airflow to the patient either via continuous delivery or a pulse delivery, and
(5) one or more sensors configured to detect changes in patient oxygen intake,
(b) delivering an enriched oxygen airflow to the patient for a period of at least 1 month, the delivery of the enriched oxygen airflow comprising
(1) generating a moderately enriched oxygen airflow comprising an oxygen concentration of 33-48%, and
(2) pulse delivering to the patient at least about 300 mL of the moderately enriched oxygen airflow per average inspiration of the patient in at least one pulse delivery mode,
(c) automatically monitoring breathing of the patient through the one or more sensors configured to detect changes in patient oxygen intake,
(d) automatically changing between the at least one pulse delivery mode and a continuous delivery mode wherein the continuous delivery mode comprises the portable oxygen concentrator automatically
(1) generating an intensively enriched oxygen airflow comprising an oxygen concentration of at least about 60% and
(2) continuously delivering between about 640 ml and about 1200 ml of the intensively enriched oxygen airflow per average inspiration to the patient based on a timing of the detection of breathing of the patient through the one or more sensors when the controller determines that one or more aspects of the patient's breathing meets or exceeds one or more pre-programmed thresholds, and
(e) operating the portable oxygen concentrator at up to 3.125 watts per liter per minute.

14 more elements

A method of assisting breathing in a patient having low blood oxygen saturation, the method comprising:

(a) providing the patient with a portable oxygen concentrator that delivers an enriched oxygen airflow, wherein the portable oxygen concentrator comprises:
(1) a pressure gradient generating system,
(2) at least one nitrogen adsorption media that generates an enriched oxygen airflow when exposed to air and acted on by a sufficient pressure gradient and that is selectively isolated from the ambient environment by at least one air enrichment area separator, and
(3) an enriched oxygen airflow outlet that is fluidly connected to a flow line and a patient oxygen delivery interface,
(b) causing the portable oxygen concentrator to deliver an enriched oxygen airflow to the patient for a period of at least 1 month, the delivery of the enriched oxygen airflow comprising
(1) generating a moderately enriched oxygen airflow comprising an oxygen concentration of 33-48% and
(2) pulse delivering to the patient at least about 300 ml of the moderately enriched oxygen airflow per average inspiration of the patient, and
(3) changing between pulse delivering the moderately enriched oxygen airflow and a continuous delivery mode wherein the continuous delivery mode comprises the portable oxygen concentrator automatically
(I) generating an intensively enriched oxygen airflow comprising an oxygen concentration of at least about 60% and
(II) continuously delivering between about 640 ml and about 1200 ml of the intensively enriched oxygen airflow per average inspiration to the patient, and
(c) operating the portable oxygen concentrator at up to 3.125 watts per liter per minute.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/850,804Filed 27 Jun 2022 · continuation
Priority: 21 Jan 2020
Published: US 2022/0339389 A127 Oct 2022
Granted: 9 Apr 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

A61M 16/101
With O2 features or with parameter measurement: using an oxygen concentrator
A61M 16/024
Control means therefor: including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
A61M 16/0672
Nasal cannulas or tubing: nasal cannula assemblies for oxygen therapy
A61M 2016/0036
Electrical: in the breathing tube and used in both inspiratory and expiratory phase

Family

Application62/995,224Us provisional application · filed 21 Jan 2020
Application17/141,085Parent of this continuation · filed 4 Jan 2021
US 2022/0339389 A1Pre-grant publication · published 27 Oct 2022
US 2021/0220599 A1Published application
US 11,951,260 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.