Efficient enriched oxygen airflow systems and methods

Abstract

The invention provides new systems/methods for providing oxygen to chronically ill patients, such as COPD patients, through a more efficient portable oxygen concentrator (“POC”) that at least sometimes delivers an enriched airflow having a significantly lower overall oxygen concentration than that administered by typical POCs. In aspects, the methods/systems of the present invention are configured to automatically switch from pulse delivery to continuous delivery, from continuous delivery to pulse delivery, or any combination thereof, at least once per day, when certain conditions occur. Methods/system can comprise the ability to switch between mode(s) comprising delivery of a moderately enriched oxygen airflow (MEOA) and mode(s) comprising delivery of intensively enriched oxygen airflow, highly enriched oxygen airflow, or both, and back again, based on one or more parameters.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of assisting breathing in a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patient having low blood oxygen saturation, the method comprising (a) providing the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patient with a portable oxygen concentrator that delivers an enriched oxygen airflow, and comprises: (1) a pressure gradient generating system, (2) at least one nitrogen adsorption media that generates an enriched oxygen airflow when exposed to air and acted on by a sufficient pressure gradient and that is selectively isolated from the environment by at least one air enrichment area separator, (3) an enriched oxygen airflow outlet that is fluidly connected to a flow line and a patient oxygen delivery interface (such as a nasal cannula), (4) a programmable controller comprising stored computer readable instructions and a processor for executing such instructions and that in operation determines (I) the volume of the airflow delivered to the patient, (II) the oxygen concentration of the airflow, and (III) whether to deliver enriched oxygen airflow to a patient either via continuous delivery or pulse delivery, and (5) one or more sensors configured to detect changes in patient oxygen intake, such as at least one breath/breathing rate sensor, (b) delivering an enriched oxygen airflow to the patient for a period of at least 1 month, the delivery of the enriched oxygen airflow comprising (1) generating a moderately enriched oxygen airflow comprising an oxygen concentration of 33-48%, and (2) pulse delivering to the patient about 80-about 240 mL of the moderately enriched airflow per average inspiration in at least one pulse delivery mode, wherein the average millimoles of oxygen delivered to the patient per inspiration is statistically similar to the amount of millimoles of oxygen delivered to the patient per inspiration of a highly enriched oxygen airflow having an oxygen concentration of about 90%, (c) monitoring breathing of the patient through the patient oxygen delivery interface, and (d) automatically changing between a continuous delivery mode and the pulse delivery mode based on the timing of the detection of breathing of the patient through the patient oxygen delivery interface when the controller determines that one or more aspects of the patient's breathing meets or exceeds one or more pre-programmed thresholds. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in a continuous delivery mode the portable oxygen concentrator delivers about 240-640 mL of an intensively enriched oxygen airflow or highly enriched oxygen airflow to the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the oxygen delivered to the patient per average inspiration in the pulse delivery mode is about 0.05 mmol to about 0.5 mmol. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the method comprises more than one pulse delivery mode, each pulse delivery mode comprising different oxygen concentrations, different volumes of enriched oxygen airflow, or both. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the portable oxygen concentrator switches from a pulse delivery mode to a continuous delivery mode or vice versa at least once per 24-hour interval on average during the at least 1-month period. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the average rate of moderately enriched airflow delivered to the patient in a pulse delivery mode is at least about 3.3 L/minute and the average rate of enriched airflow delivered to the patient in a continuous airflow mode is at least about 4 L/minute. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the average rate of enriched airflow delivered to the patient in a pulse delivery mode is at least 3.6 L/minute. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the method comprises applying a pressure gradient comprising a maximum pressure of between 15-25 PSI to the nitrogen adsorption media. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein operating the portable oxygen concentrator consumes an average of between about 30-80 Watts. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method comprises operating the portable oxygen concentrator on battery power and the batteries of the portable oxygen concentrator require recharging on average less than every 15 hours. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the average volume of moderately enriched airflow delivered per inspiration delivered in a pulse mode is at least about 300 milliliters. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises testing the patient for tolerance of moderately enriched oxygen airflow under supervision of a healthcare provider before allowing the patient to self-manage the portable oxygen concentrator.