Method and systems for the delivery of oxygen enriched gas

Abstract

Described herein are various embodiments of an oxygen concentrator system and method of delivering oxygen enriched gas to a user. In some embodiments, oxygen concentrator system includes one or more components that improve the efficiency of oxygen enriched gas delivery during operation of the oxygen concentrator system.

1 . A method of providing oxygen enriched gas to a user of an oxygen concentrator, comprising:
 determining a ratio of the change in absolute pressure during inhalation with respect to time, monitored over a plurality of breaths, wherein inhalation is determined to begin when a drop in pressure is measured using a pressure sensor coupled to an outlet of a conduit coupling the user to an oxygen enriched gas source; and   adjusting an inspiration breath pressure threshold of the breath pressure sensor based on the ratio of the change in absolute pressure with respect to time.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the ratio comprises not using the change in absolute pressure of the last breath to determine the ratio. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting an inspiration breath pressure threshold of the pressure sensor based on the ratio comprises adjusting the inspiration breath pressure threshold to a lower inspiration threshold breath pressure relative to a current inspiration breath pressure threshold if the ratio is negative. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting an inspiration breath pressure threshold of the pressure sensor based on the ratio comprises adjusting the inspiration breath pressure threshold to a lower inspiration threshold breath pressure relative to a current inspiration breath pressure threshold if the ratio is negative and less than or equal to −0.5. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting an inspiration breath pressure threshold of the pressure sensor based on the ratio comprises adjusting the inspiration breath pressure threshold to a higher inspiration threshold breath pressure relative to a current inspiration breath pressure threshold if the ratio is positive. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting an inspiration breath pressure threshold of the pressure sensor based on the ratio comprises adjusting the inspiration breath pressure threshold to a higher inspiration threshold breath pressure relative to a current inspiration breath pressure threshold if the ratio is positive and greater than or equal to −0.5. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising switching to an active mode when the ratio is positive. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising switching to a sedentary mode when the ratio is negative. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising producing an alarm or other signal in response to an inhalation not being detected after a set period of time after lowering the inspiration breath pressure threshold relative to the current threshold inspiration breath pressure. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen enriched gas source is an oxygen concentrator system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen enriched gas source is an oxygen tank. 
     
     
         12 . An oxygen concentrator apparatus, comprising:
 a pressure sensor configured to detect a breath pressure of a user; and   a processor coupled to the pressure sensor, the processor operable to execute program instructions, and wherein the program instructions are operable to:
 determine a ratio of the change in absolute pressure during inhalation with respect to time, monitored over a plurality of breaths, wherein inhalation is determined to begin when a drop in pressure is measured using a pressure sensor coupled to an outlet of a conduit coupling the user to an oxygen enriched gas source; and 
 adjust an inspiration breath pressure threshold of the breath pressure sensor based on the ratio of the change in absolute pressure with respect to time. 
   
     
     
         13 . The oxygen concentrator apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein determining the ratio comprises not using the change in absolute pressure of the last breath to determine the ratio. 
     
     
         14 . The oxygen concentrator apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the inspiration breath pressure threshold of the pressure sensor is adjusted to a lower inspiration threshold breath pressure relative to a current inspiration breath pressure threshold if the ratio is negative. 
     
     
         15 . The oxygen concentrator apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the inspiration breath pressure threshold of the pressure sensor is adjusted to a lower inspiration threshold breath pressure relative to a current inspiration breath pressure threshold if the ratio is negative and less than or equal to −0.5. 
     
     
         16 . The oxygen concentrator apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the threshold breath pressure of the pressure sensor is adjusted to a higher inspiration breath pressure threshold relative to a current threshold inspiration breath if the ratio is positive. 
     
     
         17 . The oxygen concentrator apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the threshold breath pressure of the pressure sensor is adjusted to a higher inspiration breath pressure threshold relative to a current threshold inspiration breath if the ratio is positive and greater than or equal to +0.5. 
     
     
         18 . The oxygen concentrator apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the inspiration breath pressure threshold of the pressure sensor is maintained at a current threshold inspiration breath if the ratio is between about −0.5 to about +0.5. 
     
     
         19 . The oxygen concentrator apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein program instructions are further operable to switch the oxygen concentrator to an active mode when the ratio is positive. 
     
     
         20 . The oxygen concentrator apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein program instructions are further operable to switch the oxygen concentrator to a sedentary mode when the change in the ratio is negative. 
     
     
         21 . The oxygen concentrator apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the program instructions are further operable to produce an alarm or other signal in response to an inspiration breath pressure threshold not being detected after a set period of time after lowering the inspiration breath pressure threshold relative to a current threshold inspiration breath pressure. 
     
     
         22 . The oxygen concentrator apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the oxygen concentrator weighs less than 5 lbs. 
     
     
         23 . The oxygen concentrator apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 at least two canisters; and   gas separation adsorbent disposed in at least two canisters, wherein the gas separation adsorbent separates at least some nitrogen from air in the canister to produce oxygen enriched gas.