Oxygen concentrator apparatus and method having an ultrasonic detector

An oxygen concentrator apparatus, comprising:

• at least two canisters;
• separation material disposed in at least two canisters, wherein the separation material separates at least some nitrogen from air in the canister to produce oxygen enriched gas;
• a compression system coupled to at least one canister, wherein the compression system compresses air during operation;
• and
• a chamber coupled to one or more of the canisters, wherein oxygen enriched gas produced in one or more of the canisters is passed into the chamber during use;
• an ultrasonic emitter operable to provide an ultrasonic sound wave through the chamber;
• an ultrasonic receiver for detecting the ultrasonic sound wave that has traveled through the chamber, wherein the ultrasonic emitter and the ultrasonic receiver are coupled to the chamber;
• and
• a processor coupled to the ultrasonic emitter and the ultrasonic receiver, wherein the processor is operable to execute program instructions, and wherein the program instructions are operable to assess a concentration of oxygen in the chamber based on ultrasonic sound waves produced by the ultrasonic emitter and received by the ultrasonic receiver.

A method of providing oxygen enriched gas to a user of an oxygen concentrator, the oxygen concentrator comprising:

• at least two canisters;
• separation material disposed in at least two canisters, wherein the separation material separates at least some nitrogen from air in the canister to produce oxygen enriched gas;
• a compression system coupled to at least one canister, wherein the compression system compresses air during operation;
• and
• a chamber coupled to one or more of the canisters, wherein oxygen enriched gas produced in one or more of the canisters is passed into the chamber during use;
• an ultrasonic emitter operable to provide an ultrasonic sound wave through the chamber;
• and
• an ultrasonic receiver for detecting the ultrasonic sound wave that has traveled through the chamber, wherein the ultrasonic emitter and the ultrasonic receiver are coupled to the chamber;
• the method comprising:
• operating the compression system to compress air during operation of the motor;
• passing the compressed air into one or more of the canisters, wherein oxygen is at least partially separated from air in one or more of the canisters to produce oxygen enriched gas;
• passing the produced oxygen enriched gas from one or more canisters to the chamber;
• transmitting an ultrasonic sound wave through the oxygen enriched gas in the chamber, wherein the ultrasonic sound wave is provided by the ultrasonic emitter;
• receiving the ultrasonic sound wave at the ultrasonic receiver;
• assessing a concentration of oxygen in the chamber based on the received ultrasonic sound waves;
• and
• directing the oxygen enriched gas from the chamber to the user.