Simplified dual mode medical oxygen concentrator

A method to generate an oxygen-rich gas product comprising

• (a) providing a portable oxygen generator unit comprising a portable air separation device for the generation of a non-humidified oxygen-rich gas, a first gas pump including means to supply air to the portable air separation device, a first motor adapted to drive the first gas pump, a rechargeable power supply system adapted to provide power to the first motor, a first connector adapted to provide recharging of the rechargeable power supply system, a first flow coupling adapted to receive a humidified oxygen-rich gas, piping means adapted to combine the non-humidified oxygen-rich gas and the humidified oxygen-rich gas to form a humidified oxygen-rich gas product, and an oxygen-rich gas product delivery port;
• (b) providing a stationary base unit adapted to couple with the portable oxygen generator unit, wherein the stationary base unit comprises a stationary air separation device and a humidifier for the generation of the humidified oxygen-rich gas, a second gas pump including means to supply air to the stationary air separation device, a second motor adapted to drive the second gas pump, a second flow coupling adapted to connect with the first flow coupling, piping to transfer the humidified oxygen-rich gas to the second flow coupling, a stationary power supply system adapted to provide power to the second motor, and a second connector adapted to connect with the first connector to provide recharging of the rechargeable power supply system of the portable oxygen generator unit when the units are coupled;
• (c) operating the portable oxygen generator unit and the stationary base unit in an uncoupled mode wherein the portable oxygen generator unit is operated to separate air and provide the non-humidified oxygen-rich gas as an oxygen-rich gas product at a first flow rate to a user via a cannula attached to the oxygen-rich gas product delivery port;
• and
• (d) operating the portable oxygen generator unit and the stationary base unit in a coupled mode by
• (1) coupling the portable oxygen generator unit and the stationary base unit by connecting the first and second connectors and connecting the first and second flow couplings,
• (2) operating the portable oxygen generator unit to separate air and provide the non-humidified oxygen-rich gas,
• (3) operating the stationary base unit to separate air and provide an oxygen-rich gas stream, humidifying the oxygen-rich gas stream to provide the humidified oxygen-rich gas, combining the humidified oxygen-rich gas with the non-humidified oxygen-rich gas to form a humidified oxygen-rich gas product, and supplying the humidified oxygen-rich gas product at a second flow rate to a user via the cannula attached to the oxygen-rich gas product delivery port, wherein the second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate.