Sensing and communications system for use with oxygen delivery apparatus

A sensing and communications system for use with an oxygen delivery apparatus which delivers oxygen-enriched air to a patient to permit remote compliance monitoring of said oxygen delivery apparatus, comprising:

• a) means for measuring data related to the oxygen concentration and delivered flow rate of oxygen-enriched air continuously supplied to said patient during use of said oxygen delivery apparatus;
• b) means for periodically transmitting said oxygen concentration and delivered flow rate data to a remote location;
• and
• c) means, at said remote location, for receiving, storing and analyzing said periodically transmitted data to determine the current operational status of said oxygen delivery apparatus and for predicting whether said apparatus is trending toward failure based on a comparison of currently transmitted data with stored transmitted data.

A sensing and communications system for use with a plurality of oxygen delivery apparatus each of which delivers oxygen-enriched air to a patient, comprising:

• a) a plurality of sensing and communications modules for use with said home oxygen delivery apparatus, each of said modules including:
• i) means for measuring a session length during which oxygen-enriched air is continuously supplied to said patient and measuring data related to the delivered flow rate and oxygen concentration of oxygen-enriched air from said oxygen delivery apparatus at one or more times during the session, and
• ii) means for periodically transmitting said flow rate, oxygen concentration and session length data to a remote location;
• and
• b) means, at said remote location, for storing for each oxygen delivery apparatus, patient information specifying a prescribed regimen of use including session length, delivered flow rate and oxygen concentration information, for receiving and storing the transmitted data and for:
• i) comparing the transmitted flow rate and session length data to prescribed flow rate and session length data to determine patient compliance with a prescribed regimen of use, and
• ii) analyzing said periodically transmitted flow rate and oxygen concentration data to determine both the current operational status of said oxygen delivery apparatus and for predicting whether said apparatus is trending toward failure based on a comparison of currently transmitted data with stored transmitted data.

A sensing and communications system for use with an oxygen delivery apparatus that delivers oxygen-enriched air to a patient to permit remote compliance monitoring of said oxygen delivery apparatus, comprising:

• a) a clock for measuring a session length during which said oxygen-enriched air is continuously supplied to said patient and a flow sensor for measuring data related to the delivered flow rate of oxygen-enriched air from said oxygen delivery apparatus at one or more times during the session;
• b) a transmitter for sending said delivered flow rate data and measured session length to a remote location;
• and
• c) a data processor at said remote location for storing information specifying a prescribed regimen of use for said patient including session length and flow rate information, for receiving the sensed flow rate data and measured session length and comparing it to the prescribed session length and flow rate information to determine patient and oxygen delivery apparatus compliance with the prescribed regimen of use.

A sensing and communications system for use with an oxygen delivery apparatus that delivers oxygen-enriched air to a patient to permit remote compliance monitoring of said oxygen delivery apparatus, comprising:

• a) sensors for measuring data related to the delivered flow rate and oxygen concentration of oxygen-enriched air continuously supplied to said patient from said oxygen delivery apparatus;
• b) a transmitter for periodically transmitting said delivered flow rate and oxygen concentration data to a remote location;
• and
• c) a computer at said remote location, for receiving, storing and analyzing said periodically transmitted data to determine the current operational status of said home oxygen delivery apparatus and to predict whether said apparatus is trending toward failure based on a comparison of currently transmitted data with stored transmitted data.

A method for remote compliance monitoring of use of an oxygen delivery apparatus that delivers oxygen-enriched air to a patient, comprising:

• a) measuring a session length during which said oxygen-enriched air is continuously supplied to said patient;
• b) sensing data related to the delivered flow rate of oxygen-enriched air from said oxygen delivery apparatus at one or more times during the measured session;
• c) transmitting said sensed flow rate data and measured session length to a remote location;
• d) storing at said remote location information specifying a prescribed regimen of use for said patient including session length and flow rate information;
• and
• e) receiving at said remote location the sensed flow rate data and measured session length and comparing it to the prescribed session length and flow rate information to determine patient and oxygen delivery apparatus compliance with the prescribed regimen of use.

A method for remote compliance monitoring of use of an oxygen delivery apparatus that delivers oxygen-enriched air to a patient, comprising:

• a) measuring data related to the delivered flow rate and oxygen concentration of oxygen-enriched air continuously supplied to said patient from said oxygen delivery apparatus;
• b) periodically transmitting said delivered flow rate and oxygen concentration data to a remote location;
• and
• c) receiving, storing and analyzing in a computer at said remote location said periodically transmitted data to determine both the current operational status of said oxygen delivery apparatus and for predicting whether said apparatus is trending toward failure based on a comparison of currently transmitted data with stored transmitted data.