Oxygen gas concentrator with outlet accumulator

Abstract

An oxygen concentrator comprises a product tank that is fluidly coupled to at least one sieve bed, and a product gas accumulator tank that is fluidly coupled to the product tank via a first conduit and to an outlet port via a second conduit, wherein the first conduit and the second conduit are disposed to allow at least a portion of product gas to flow from the product tank to the outlet port through the accumulator tank.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a product tank that is fluidly coupled to at least one sieve bed; and   a product gas accumulator tank that is fluidly coupled to the product tank via a first conduit and to an outlet port via a second conduit,   wherein the first conduit and the second conduit are disposed to allow at least a portion of product gas to flow from the product tank to the outlet port through the accumulator tank.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the product tank is fluidly coupled to the at least one sieve bed via a check valve that allows flow from the at least one sieve bed to the product tank. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter that is disposed inline in the first conduit, wherein the accumulator tank is disposed between the filter and an outlet of the apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow control orifice that is disposed inline in the first conduit, wherein the accumulator tank is disposed between the flow control orifice and an outlet of the apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an oxygen sensor that is disposed inline in the first conduit, wherein the accumulator tank is disposed between the oxygen sensor and an outlet of the apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure regulator that is disposed inline in the first conduit and regulates a pressure in a first portion of the first conduit down to a target pressure in a second portion of the first conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the second portion of the first conduit is fluidly coupled to the accumulator tank. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the accumulator tank comprises a constant volume pressure vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the accumulator tank comprises a variable volume pressure vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the variable volume pressure vessel comprises one of a balloon accumulator or a movable piston that maintains a substantially constant pressure in the variable volume pressure vessel. 
     
     
         11 . A system, comprising:
 a respiratory ventilation device; and   an oxygen concentrator with an outlet fluidly coupled to an inlet of the respiratory ventilation device, the oxygen concentrator comprising:   a product tank that is fluidly coupled to at least one sieve bed;   a product gas accumulator tank that is fluidly coupled to the product tank via a first conduit and to an outlet port via a second conduit,   wherein the first conduit and the second conduit are disposed to allow at least a portion of product gas to flow from the product tank to the outlet port through the accumulator tank.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein, when operating at peak pressure, the accumulator tank has a storage volume sufficient to store a quantity of oxygen-enriched product gas that is equal to or greater than a quantity of oxygen-enriched product gas associated with a single volume demand of the respiratory ventilation device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the product tank is fluidly coupled to the at least one sieve bed via a check valve that allows flow from the at least one sieve bed to the product tank. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a filter that is disposed inline in the first conduit, wherein the accumulator tank is disposed between the filter and an outlet of the oxygen concentrator. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a flow control orifice that is disposed inline in the first conduit, wherein the accumulator tank is disposed between the flow control orifice and an outlet of the oxygen concentrator. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising an oxygen sensor that is disposed inline in the first conduit, wherein the accumulator tank is disposed between the oxygen sensor and an outlet of the oxygen concentrator. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a pressure regulator that is disposed inline in the first conduit and regulates a pressure in a first portion of the first conduit down to a target pressure in a second portion of the first conduit. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the second portion of the first conduit is fluidly coupled to the accumulator tank. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the accumulator tank comprises a constant volume pressure vessel. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the accumulator tank comprises a variable volume pressure vessel.