# US 7,766,010 B2 · Method of controlling the rate of oxygen produced by an oxygen concentrator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,766,010 B2 - Document ID: US7766010B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/054,342 - Filed: 2005-02-09 - Published: 2006-08-10 - Granted: 2010-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-02-09 - Assignees: Vbox, Incorporated - Inventors: Theodore W. Jagger; Nicholas P. Van Brunt; John A. Kivisto; Perry B. Lonnes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7766010B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/10: Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours - A61M 16/101: {using an oxygen concentrator} - A61M 16/0666: {Nasal cannulas or tubing (devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02)} - A61M 16/107: {in the inspiratory path} - A61M 2202/0208: Oxygen - A61M 2202/03: Gases in liquid phase, e.g. cryogenic liquids - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A method of providing concentrated oxygen product gas to a patient. The method comprises producing product gas by a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) process with an oxygen concentrator comprising a plurality of separation columns connected to a vacuum source driven by a motor. Separated product gas is then pumped to a product reservoir. The pressure of the reservoir is monitored and used to adjust the speed of the motor based on the reservoir pressure. The separated gas is then delivered to the patient. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of providing concentrated oxygen product gas to a patient, the method comprising: producing product gas by a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) process with an oxygen concentrator comprising a plurality of separation columns connected to a vacuum source driven by a motor, wherein the VSA process comprises: (a) introducing ambient air at atmospheric pressure into a first end of a column containing an adsorbent material that preferentially adsorbs nitrogen and removes oxygen-rich product gas out a second end of the column; (b) evacuating the column through the first end to remove adsorbed gas from the column; (c) repressurizing the column by introducing ambient air into the first end of the column until pressure within the column is near 1.0 atm; and (d) repeating steps (a)-(c); pumping product gas separated by the concentrator to a product reservoir; sensing the pressure of the product gas in the reservoir; controlling the speed of the motor based on the sensed pressure in the reservoir to control a rate of which product gas is produced by the VSA process; and delivering product gas to the patient. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 and further comprising: introducing product gas into the column through the second end during a portion of step (c). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein introducing product gas occurs during an initial portion of step (c). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 and further comprising: terminating step (a) based upon a position of a mass transfer zone to prevent breakthrough of nitrogen-rich gas out the second end of the column. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein delivering the product gas to the patient occurs during a portion of the patient's inhalation. ### Claim 6 An oxygen concentrator comprising: an oxygen reservoir; a plurality of adsorbent columns, each having an inlet, an outlet and a bed of adsorbent material; a vacuum pump for removing separated nitrogen rich gas from the column inlets; a product control pump for pumping oxygen rich gas from the column outlets to the oxygen reservoir, wherein the product control pump is run by the vacuum pump; a control valve for controlling flow of fluids in and out of the columns; a motor for driving the vacuum pump and control valve to produce vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) cycles in which oxygen-rich product gas is separated and accumulated in the reservoir; a pressure sensor for providing a signal as a function of gas pressure in the oxygen reservoir; and an electric control module (ECM) that receives a signal from the pressure sensor, and adjusts the speed of the motor based on the signal to control a rate at which oxygen rich gas is produced by the VSA cycles. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The oxygen concentrator of claim 6 wherein the oxygen concentrator has a volume of less than 1.0 liter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The oxygen concentrator of claim 6 wherein the oxygen concentrator has a mass of less than 2.3 kg. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The oxygen concentrator of claim 6 wherein the oxygen concentrator has a mass of less than 1.4 kg. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The oxygen concentrator of claim 6 further comprising: a rechargeable power source for actuating the control valve, motor, and ECM. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The oxygen concentrator of claim 6 wherein the adsorbent material comprises a zeolite which preferentially adsorbs nitrogen. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The oxygen concentrator of claim 6 wherein the control valve comprises a rotary valve. ### Claim 13 The oxygen concentrator of claim further comprising an oxygen conserver connected to the oxygen reservoir. ### Claim 14 An oxygen concentrator comprising: an oxygen gas separator for producing oxygen-rich product gas from air by a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) process, the process running between approximately 0.1 atm and 1.0 atm; a reservoir for storing product gas from the separator; a delivery system for delivering product gas from the reservoir to a patient; a pressure sensor for providing a reservoir pressure signal as a function of product gas pressure in the reservoir; a motor configured to drive the separator; and a control for controlling a rate of production of product gas by the separator as a function of product gas delivered from the reservoir by adjusting the speed of the motor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The oxygen concentrator of claim 14 further comprising: an oxygen conserver connected to the reservoir. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The oxygen concentrator of claim 14 wherein the oxygen gas separator utilizes vacuum swing adsorption to produce the oxygen-rich product gas. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The oxygen concentrator of claim 14 wherein the oxygen concentrator has a volume of less than 1.0 liter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The oxygen concentrator of claim 14 wherein the oxygen concentrator has a mass of less then 2.3 kg. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The oxygen concentrator of claim 14 wherein the oxygen concentrator has a mass of less then 1.4 kg. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The oxygen concentrator of claim 14 wherein the oxygen gas separator comprises a plurality of gas separation columns, each column including a first filter, a bed of adsorbent material, and a second filter encased within the column. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The oxygen concentrator of claim 20 wherein the bed of adsorbent material comprises a zeolite that preferentially adsorbs nitrogen.