US 6,565,624 B2 · Altitude simulation method and system

Abstract

A system and method for passive hypoxic training provides a person with a low oxygen (hypoxic) environment. Oxygen sensors automatically monitor and control oxygen levels to maintain the altitude desired. CO2 levels are monitored and CO2 is eliminated so that the air a person breathes is substantially clean and fresh. Exposure to a high altitude environment produces physiological changes in a person's body, which becomes more efficient at absorbing and transporting oxygen. Using the present method and system, athletes obtain the benefits of sleeping at a simulated altitude in the user's own home for six to twelve hours, rather than traditional altitude therapies in which athletes spend two to three weeks at high altitude before an athletic competition to obtain similar benefits. This system allows for “live high train low” altitude training that has been shown in controlled studies to provide superior benefits to “live high train high” training.

Claims42

Dependent claims

An apparatus for providing an enclosed environment wherein the enclosed environment is different from an outside ambient environment, comprising:

one or more oxygen concentrators or nitrogen generators for changing a concentration of oxygen in said enclosed environment;
a CO2 scrubber for reducing a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment;
an oxygen sensor for sensing a concentration of oxygen in said enclosed environment;
a CO2 sensor for sensing a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment;
a controller for:
(i) receiving oxygen concentration input from said oxygen sensor, and for receiving CO2 concentration input from said CO2 sensor, and
(ii) outputting activation signals to at least one of:
said oxygen concentrators and said CO2 scrubber when at least one of said oxygen concentration input and said CO2 concentration input is outside of a predetermined range;
a predictor for predicting at least one of a concentration of oxygen and a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment, wherein said predictor uses one or more of:
(1) data indicative of a volume of said enclosed environment;
(2) data indicative of a number of persons or animals expected to occupy said enclosed environment;
(3) data indicative of an oxygen removal or supply rate of said oxygen concentrators;
(4) data indicative of a nitrogen addition or supply rate of said nitrogen generators;
(5) data indicative of a rate of oxygen removal in said enclosed environment;
(6) data indicative of a number of said nitrogen generators;
(7) data indicative of a per-person oxygen consumption rate;
(8) data indicative of a per-person carbon dioxide production rate;
(9) data indicative of an initial oxygen concentration in said enclosed environment;
(10) data indicative of a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment;
(11) data indicative of a CO2 concentration in the outside ambient environment;
(12) data indicative of a airflow rate through said CO2 scrubber;
(13) data indicative of an efficiency of said CO2 scrubber at removing CO2 from air in said enclosed environment;
(14) data indicative of an air exchange rate in said enclosed environment expected to be provided by a fan;
and
(15) data indicative of an air exchange rate through an enclosure having said enclosed environment therein.

22 more elements

An apparatus for providing an enclosed environment for enclosing a space wherein the enclosed environment is different from an outside ambient environment, comprising:

an oxygen concentrator for changing a concentration of oxygen in said enclosed environment;
a CO2 scrubber for reducing a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment;
an oxygen sensor for sensing a concentration of oxygen in said enclosed environment;
a CO2 sensor for sensing a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment;
a controller for:
(i) receiving oxygen concentration input from said oxygen sensor, and for receiving CO2 concentration input from said CO2 sensor,
(ii) outputting activation signals to at least one of:
said oxygen concentrator and said CO2 scrubber when concentration input is outside of a predetermined range;
a model for predicting one or more of:
a CO2 concentration in the enclosed environment as a function of time, an altitude in the enclosed environment as a function of time, and a simulated altitude in the enclosed environment as a function of time;
wherein said model receives as input one or more of (a) through (l) following:
(a) data indicative of a volume or concentration or partial pressure of O2 in the enclosed environment;
(b) data indicative of a volume of O2 consumed by the occupants in the enclosed environment;
(c) data indicative of a volume of O2 removed from the enclosed environment by the oxygen concentrator;
(d) data indicative of a volume of O2 removed from the enclosed environment by an air exchange with air outside of the enclosed environment;
(e) data indicative of a volume of O2 added to the enclosed environment by an air exchange with air outside of the enclosed environment;
(f) data indicative of a volume or partial pressure of CO2 in the enclosed environment;
(g) data indicative of a volume of CO2 produced by the occupants of the enclosed environment;
(h) data indicative of a volume of CO2 removed from the enclosed environment by the CO2 scrubber;
(i) data indicative of a volume of CO2 removed from the enclosed environment by air exchange with air outside of the enclosed environment;
(j) data indicative of a volume of CO2 added to the enclosed environment by air exchange with air outside of the enclosed environment;
(k) data indicative of a concentration or partial pressure of O2 inside the enclosed environment;
(l) data indicative of a concentration or partial pressure of CO2 inside the enclosed environment;
wherein said model is used for determining one or more of:
a size of the enclosed environment, and a desired CO2 scrubbing capacity from said CO2 scrubber.

22 more elements

An apparatus for providing an enclosed environment wherein the enclosed environment is different from an outside ambient environment, comprising:

an oxygen concentrator for changing a concentration of oxygen in said enclosed environment;
a CO2 scrubber for reducing a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment;
an oxygen sensor for sensing a series of concentrations or partial pressures of oxygen, over time, in said enclosed environment;
a CO2 sensor for sensing a concentration or partial pressure of CO2 in said enclosed environment;
a controller for receiving a user selected altitude for said enclosed environment, and:
(i) receiving said series of oxygen concentrations or partial pressures from said oxygen sensor, and for receiving CO2 concentration or partial pressure input from said CO2 sensor,
(ii) outputting activation signals to said oxygen concentrator when a derived oxygen concentration is determined to be outside of a predetermined range;
wherein said controller combines a plurality of oxygen concentrations from said series of oxygen concentrations for obtaining an aggregate oxygen concentration of said plurality of oxygen concentrations, wherein each of said plurality of oxygen concentrations is indicative of an oxygen concentration within said enclosed environment during a predetermined time period, and wherein said controller determines said derived oxygen concentration as a function of said aggregate oxygen concentration.

5 more elements

An apparatus for providing an enclosed environment wherein the enclosed environment is different from an outside ambient environment, comprising:

an oxygen concentrator for changing a concentration of oxygen in said enclosed environment;
a CO2 scrubber for reducing a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment;
an oxygen sensor for sensing a concentration of oxygen in said enclosed environment;
a CO2 sensor for sensing a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment;
an output from a model for predicting one or more of:
a CO2 concentration in the enclosed environment as a function of time, an altitude in the enclosed environment as a function of time, and a simulated altitude in the enclosed environment as a function of time;
wherein said model receives as input one or more of (a) through (l) following:
(a) data indicative of a volume or partial pressure of O2 in the enclosed environment;
(b) data indicative of a volume of O2 consumed by occupants in the enclosed environment;
(c) data indicative of a volume of O2 removed from the enclosed environment by the oxygen concentrator;
(d) data indicative of a volume of O2 removed from the enclosed environment by an air exchange with air outside of the enclosed environment;
(e) data indicative of a volume of O2 added to the enclosed environment by an air exchange with air outside of the enclosed environment;
(f) data indicative of a volume of CO2 in the enclosed environment;
(g) data indicative of a volume of CO2 produced by the occupants of the enclosed environment;
(h) data indicative of a volume of CO2 removed from the enclosed environment by the CO2 scrubber;
(i) data indicative of a volume of CO2 removed from the enclosed environment by air exchange with air outside of the enclosed environment;
(j) data indicative of a volume of CO2 added to the enclosed environment by an air exchange with air outside of the enclosed environment;
(k) data indicative of a concentration of O2 inside the enclosed environment;
and
(l) data indicative of a concentration or partial pressure of CO2 inside the enclosed environment;
wherein said output is used in changing a performance of one or more of said oxygen concentrator and said CO2 scrubber for obtaining a desired simulated altitude.

18 more elements

A method for providing an enclosed environment wherein the enclosed environment is different from an outside ambient environment, comprising:

first activating one or more oxygen concentrators or nitrogen generators for changing a concentration of oxygen in said enclosed environment when a first predetermined condition occurs;
second activating a CO2 scrubber for reducing a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment when a second predetermined condition occurs;
first monitoring, from an oxygen sensor, first data indicative of a concentration of oxygen in said enclosed environment;
second monitoring, from a CO2 sensor, second data indicative of a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment;
controlling said enclosed environment by changing a performance of one or more of:
said oxygen concentrators and said CO2 scrubber using said first and second data;
wherein said step of controlling uses predictive information that predicts one or more simulated altitudes within the enclosed environment, wherein said predictive information is determined as a function of at least one of (a) through (l) following:
(a) data indicative of a volume of O2 in the enclosed environment;
(b) data indicative of a volume of O2 consumed by occupants in the enclosed environment;
(c) data indicative of a volume of O2 removed from the enclosed environment by the oxygen concentrator;
(d) data indicative of a volume of O2 removed from the enclosed environment by an air exchange with air outside of the enclosed environment;
(e) data indicative of a volume of O2 added to the enclosed environment by an air exchange with air outside of the enclosed environment;
(f) data indicative of a volume of CO2 in the enclosed environment;
(g) data indicative of a volume of CO2 produced by the occupants of the enclosed environment;
(h) data indicative of a volume of CO2 removed from the enclosed environment by the CO2 scrubber;
(i) data indicative of a volume of CO2 removed from the enclosed environment by air exchange with air outside of the enclosed environment;
(j) data indicative of a volume of CO2 added to the enclosed environment by air exchange with air outside of the enclosed environment;
(k) data indicative of a concentration of O2 inside the enclosed environment;
and
(l) data indicative of a concentration of CO2 inside the enclosed environment.

17 more elements

An apparatus for providing an enclosed environment wherein the enclosed environment is different from an outside ambient environment, comprising:

one or more devices for changing a concentration of oxygen in said enclosed environment, wherein said devices are selected from the group consisting of:
one or more oxygen concentrators and one or more nitrogen generators;
an oxygen sensor for sensing a concentration of oxygen in said enclosed environment;
a predictor for determining a prediction of at least one of a concentration of oxygen and a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment, wherein in determining said prediction, said predictor uses one or more of:
(1) first data indicative of a volume of said enclosed environment;
(2) second data indicative of a number of one or more occupants expected to occupy said enclosed environment;
(3) third data indicative of an oxygen removal or supply rate of said oxygen concentrators;
(4) fourth data indicative of a nitrogen addition or supply rate of said nitrogen generators;
(5) fifth data indicative of a rate of oxygen removal in said enclosed environment;
(6) sixth data indicative of a number of said nitrogen generators;
(7) seventh data indicative of a per-occupant oxygen consumption rate;
(8) eighth data indicative of a per-occupant carbon dioxide production rate;
(9) ninth data indicative of an initial oxygen concentration in said enclosed environment;
(10) tenth data indicative of a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment, said tenth data is obtained for input from a CO2 sensor for sensing a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment;
(11) eleventh data indicative of a CO2 concentration in the outside ambient environment;
(12) twelfth data indicative of an airflow rate through a CO2 scrubber for removing CO2 from said enclosed environment;
(13) thirteenth data indicative of an efficiency of said CO2 scrubber for reducing a concentration of CO2 in said enclosed environment;
(14) fourteenth data indicative of an air exchange rate in said enclosed environment expected to be provided by a fan;
and
(15) fifteenth data indicative of an air exchange rate through an enclosure having said enclosed environment therein, wherein said enclosure is in a first predetermined configuration related to a gas permeability therethrough;
wherein said prediction is used to control one or more of an activation and a deactivation of said devices.

18 more elements

A method for providing a desired enclosed atmospheric environment within an enclosure for changing a biological response of an occupant therein, comprising:

first providing predictive data indicative of a future composition of constituent gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment, said predictive data being dependent upon each of (a) through (c) following:
(a) first data indicative of a gas exchange rate between said enclosed atmospheric environment and an atmospheric environment external to said enclosure, wherein said enclosure is in a first predetermined state related to a gas permeability therethrough;
(b) second data indicative of an approximate volume of said enclosure;
and
(c) third data indicative of a rate at which one or more devices, operably associated with said enclosure for changing said enclosed atmospheric environment, changes a relative amount of at least one of the gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment, said one or more devices including one or more of:
an oxygen concentrator, a CO2 scrubber and a generator of a gas that is non-reactive with the occupant of said enclosure;
determining one or more components for constructing said enclosure using said predictive data, said one or more components including said one or more devices for providing said future composition of constituent gases having a desired characteristic of said enclosed atmospheric environment indicative of a desired simulated altitude;
second providing control information for controlling a composition of constituent gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment for simulating said desired simulated altitude which is different from that of the atmospheric environment external to said enclosure
wherein said control information is used in controlling said one or more devices for changing a composition of said constituent gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment.

6 more elements

A method for providing a desired enclosed atmospheric environment within an enclosure for changing a biological response of an occupant therein, comprising:

first providing one or more components for constructing said enclosure, said one or more components selected from the group consisting of:
a material for said enclosure, an oxygen concentrator, an oxygen sensor, a CO2 scrubber, a CO2 sensor, a generator of a gas that is non-reactive with the occupant of said enclosure, and a controller for communicating with at least one of said oxygen concentrator, said CO2 scrubber, and said generator for controlling a composition of at least one gas of said enclosed atmospheric environment;
first obtaining first data indicative of an approximate volume of said enclosure;
second obtaining second data indicative of an exchange rate of gases between said enclosed atmospheric environment and an atmospheric environment external to said enclosure, wherein said enclosure is in a first predetermined configuration related to a gas permeability therethrough;
third obtaining third data indicative of a rate at which a device changes a relative amount of at least one of a plurality constituent gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment, said device including one of:
said oxygen concentrator, said CO2 scrubber and said generator;
fourth obtaining prediction information determined by supplying input indicative of said first, second and third data to a predictive model for obtaining a future prediction of a composition of said constituent gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment;
determining whether said future composition provides a desired characteristic of said enclosed atmospheric environment, said desired characteristic related to a simulated altitude;
when said future composition is satisfactory for providing said desired characteristic, further including a step of determining control information for controlling said one or more devices for providing said composition of said at least one gas of said enclosed atmospheric environment, and
controlling, using said control information, said enclosed atmospheric environment.

7 more elements

An apparatus for providing a desired enclosed atmospheric environment within an enclosure for changing a biological response of an occupant therein, comprising:

means for constructing said enclosure, including one or more components selected from the group consisting of:
a material for said enclosure, an oxygen concentrator, an oxygen sensor, a CO2 scrubber, a CO2 sensor, a generator of a gas that is non-reactive with the occupant of said enclosure, and a controller for communicating with at least one of said oxygen concentrator, said CO2 scrubber, and said generator for controlling an amount of at least one gas of a plurality of constituent gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment;
first means for providing predictive data indicative of a future composition of said constituent gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment, said predictive data being dependent upon each of (a) through (c) following:
(a) first data indicative of a gas exchange rate between said enclosed atmospheric environment and an atmospheric environment external to said enclosure, wherein said enclosure is in a first predetermined state related to a gas permeability therethrough;
(b) second data indicative of an approximate volume of said enclosure;
and
(c) third data indicative of a rate at which a device, operably associated with said enclosure for changing said atmospheric environment, changes relative amount of at least one of the gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment, said device including one of:
said oxygen concentrator, said CO2 scrubber and said generator;
second means for providing control information for controlling a composition of constituent gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment, said control information determined according to said predictive data;
wherein said control information is used in controlling said device for changing a composition of said constituent gases of said enclosed atmospheric environment;
wherein a result of using said control information includes obtaining said desired enclosed atmospheric environment having an amount of said at least one gas corresponding to a predetermined partial pressure of said at least one gas.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Altitude simulation method and system

Life of this patent

Altitude simulation method and system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims42