Ambulatory oxygen concentrator

Abstract

An oxygen concentrator provides ambulatory oxygen utilizing a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) oxygen separator powered by a power pack. The separator has a plurality of nitrogen-selective adsorbent beds, each operating in VSA cycles including feed, evacuation and repressurization phases. The concentrator also contains a delivery system for receiving oxygen produced by the VSA separator.

1 . An oxygen concentrator which produces a product gas containing at least about eighty-five percent oxygen by utilizing a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) process comprising:
 a gas input system for supplying ambient air;   a VSA gas separation system in communication with the gas input system to receive the ambient air, the gas separation system comprising a cartridge containing an adsorbent material for producing oxygen;   a delivery system for receiving oxygen produced by the gas separation system;   a drive which actuates the delivery system and the gas separation system;   a power pack connected to the drive; and   wherein the oxygen concentrator has a weight of less than 2.3 kg and a volume of less than 1 liter.   
     
     
         2 . The oxygen concentrator of  claim 1  wherein the VSA gas separation system further comprises a vacuum pump which evacuates nitrogen rich gas from the adsorbent material. 
     
     
         3 . The oxygen concentrator of  claim 1  wherein the power pack comprises a battery. 
     
     
         4 . The oxygen concentrator of  claim 1  wherein the delivery system includes an oxygen conserver. 
     
     
         5 . An oxygen concentrator comprising:
 a portable power pack;   a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) oxygen separator powered by the power pack and having a plurality of nitrogen-selective adsorbent beds, each bed operating in VSA cycles including feed, evacuation and repressurization phases, the VSA cycles operating with vacuum levels within in a range between about 0.1 atm and about 1.0 atm, wherein the pressure throughout the VSA cycles does not exceed about 1.0 atm; and   a delivery system for receiving oxygen provide by the gas separation system.   
     
     
         6 . The oxygen concentrator of  claim 5  wherein the power pack, the VSA oxygen separator, and the delivery system have a combined mass of less than 2.3 kg. 
     
     
         7 . The oxygen concentrator of  claim 5  wherein the VSA oxygen separator comprises:
 an ambient air inlet; 
 a vacuum pump; and 
 a valve for selectively connecting the ambient air inlet, the vacuum pump and the delivery system to the adsorbent beds during different phases of the VSA cycles. 
 
     
     
         8 . The oxygen concentrator of  claim 5  wherein the VSA oxygen concentrator further comprises:
 a motor for driving the valve and the vacuum pump. 
 
     
     
         9 . The oxygen concentrator of  claim 5  wherein the adsorbent beds comprise an LiLSX adsorbent. 
     
     
         10 . An oxygen concentrator comprising:
 a power source;   a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) oxygen separator having a plurality of nitrogen-selective adsorbent beds, each bed operating in VSA cycles including feed, evacuation and repressurization phases, the VSA cycles operating with vacuum levels within in a range between about 0.1 atm and about 1.0 atm, wherein the pressure throughout the VSA cycles does not exceed about 1.0 atm;   a delivery system for receiving oxygen provide by the VSA oxygen separator; and   a driver which actuates the delivery system and the gas separation system;   wherein the drive is powered by the power source.   
     
     
         11 . The oxygen concentrator of  claim 10  wherein the power pack, the VSA oxygen separator, and the delivery system have a combined mass of less than 2.3 kg. 
     
     
         12 . The oxygen concentrator of  claim 10  wherein the VSA oxygen separator comprises:
 an ambient air inlet; 
 a vacuum pump; and 
 a valve for selectively connecting the ambient air inlet, the vacuum pump and the delivery system to the adsorbent beds during different phases of the VSA cycles. 
 
     
     
         13 . The oxygen concentrator of  claim 10  wherein the VSA oxygen concentrator further comprises:
 a motor for driving the valve and the vacuum pump that is part of the driver. 
 
     
     
         14 . The oxygen concentrator of  claim 10  wherein the adsorbent beds comprise an LiLSX adsorbent.