Method and system for supplying portable gas cylinders

Abstract

A method of supplying a portable medical gas system is provided. The disclosed method includes preparing a portable medical gas system, the portable medical gas system including a cylinder adapted to be filled with medical gas and a gas dispensing valve. The portable medical gas system is place in a specialized container having a configuration adapted to hold the portable medical gas system only when the cylinder of portable medical gas system is unused state or empty state. The portable medical gas system is delivered to the customer, and returned as an empty cylinder via commercial carrier. Upon receipt of the empty or spent portable medical gas system, another portable medical gas system filled with medical gas is sent to the customer. In one embodiment, the portable medical gas system includes a single-use flow control valve which ensures the cylinder is empty after its initial use.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of supplying medical gas to a customer comprising the steps of:
 delivering a portable medical gas system, the portable medical gas system including a gas cylinder filled with medical gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the cylinder, a cylinder contents gauge within a container, and wherein the flow control valve includes one or more settings adapted to empty the medical gas from the cylinder; 
 emptying the medical gas from the cylinder; 
 packing the empty gas cylinder in the container; 
 verifying the gas cylinder is empty through visual inspection of the cylinder contents gauge or the flow control valve setting; 
 return shipping the container having an empty cylinder disposed therein from the customer to a designated receiver via commercial carrier; and 
 delivering a replacement portable medical gas system including a cylinder filled with a medical gas to the customer. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of providing instructions to the customer for return shipment of the portable medical gas system via commercial carrier, such instructions including advising the customer to ensure the flow control valve is positioned in a setting adapted to empty the medical gas from the gas cylinder. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of notifying a gas supplier that the portable medical gas system has been used or requires replacement and the step of delivering the replacement portable medical gas system including a cylinder filled with a medical gas to the customer occurs after said step of notification. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step of charging the customer upon delivery of the portable medical gas system, delivery of the replacement portable medical gas system, receipt of the portable medical gas system by the designated receiver, or notification to the gas supplier. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the container comprises one or more transparent surfaces adapted to allow visual inspection of the cylinder contents gauge or the flow control valve setting when the cylinder is placed within the container. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein the flow control valve is a single-use valve wherein upon actuation of the flow control valve, the medical gas within the gas cylinder flows continuously from the gas cylinder until the gas cylinder is empty. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein the flow control valve has a setting for ‘SHIP’ mode wherein upon placement of the flow control valve in the ‘SHIP’ mode, the medical gas within the gas cylinder flows continuously from the gas cylinder until the gas cylinder is empty. 
     
     
       8. A method of supplying medical gas to a customer comprising the steps of:
 delivering a portable medical gas system, the portable medical gas system including a cylinder filled with medical gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the cylinder, a cylinder contents gauge within a container, and wherein the flow control valve includes a setting adapted to empty the medical gas from the cylinder; 
 receiving notification from the customer that the portable medical gas system requires replacement; 
 arranging for return shipment of the portable medical gas system having an empty cylinder via commercial carrier; and 
 delivering a second portable medical gas system filled to the customer. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  further comprising the step of providing instructions to the customer for return shipment of the portable medical gas system via commercial carrier, such instructions including advising the customer to ensure the flow control valve is positioned in a setting adapted to empty the medical gas from the gas cylinder. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of receiving notification from the customer that the portable medical gas system requires replacement further comprises receiving notification via telephone, email or internet communications. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8  wherein the container comprises one or more transparent surfaces adapted to allow visual inspection of the cylinder contents gauge or the flow control valve setting when the cylinder is disposed within the container. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8  wherein the flow control valve is a single-use valve wherein upon actuation of the flow control valve, the medical gas within the gas cylinder flows continuously from the gas cylinder until the gas cylinder is empty. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8  wherein the flow control valve has a setting for ‘SHIP’ mode wherein upon placement of the flow control valve in the ‘SHIP’ mode, the medical gas within the gas cylinder flows continuously from the gas cylinder until the gas cylinder is empty. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8  further comprising the step of charging the customer upon delivery of the portable medical gas system, delivery of the second portable medical gas system, or receipt of notification from the customer that the portable medical gas system requires replacement. 
     
     
       15. A method of supplying medical gas to a customer comprising the steps of:
 delivering a portable medical gas system, the portable medical gas system including a cylinder filled with medical gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the cylinder, a cylinder contents gauge within a shipping container, and wherein the flow control valve includes a setting adapted to empty the medical gas from the cylinder; 
 providing instructions to the customer for return shipment of the portable medical gas system via commercial carrier, such instructions including advising the customer to ensure the flow control valve is positioned at the setting adapted to empty the medical gas from the cylinder; and 
 delivering a replacement portable medical gas system including a cylinder filled with a medical gas to the customer upon return shipment of the portable medical gas system or upon notification that the customer requires a replacement portable medical gas system. 
 
     
     
       16. A method of supplying gas to a customer comprising the steps of:
 delivering a portable gas system, wherein the portable gas system includes a container containing a gas cylinder filled with gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the gas cylinder, and a cylinder contents gauge, and wherein the flow control valve includes one or more settings adapted to empty the gas from the gas cylinder;   emptying the gas from the gas cylinder;   packing the empty gas cylinder in the container;   verifying the gas cylinder is empty through visual inspection of the gas cylinder contents gauge or the flow control valve setting;   return shipping the container having the empty gas cylinder disposed therein from the customer to a designated receiver via a commercial carrier; and   delivering a replacement portable gas system including a replacement gas cylinder filled with the gas to the customer.   
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of providing instructions to the customer for return shipment of the portable gas system via the commercial carrier, such instructions including advising the customer to ensure the flow control valve is positioned in a setting adapted to empty the gas from the gas cylinder. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of notifying a gas supplier that the portable gas system has been used or requires replacement and the step of delivering the replacement portable gas system including the replacement gas cylinder filled with the gas to the customer occurs after said step of notification. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of charging the customer upon delivery of the portable gas system, delivery of the replacement portable gas system, receipt of the portable gas system by the designated receiver, or notification to the gas supplier. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 16 wherein the container comprises one or more transparent surfaces adapted to allow visual inspection of the gas cylinder contents gauge or the flow control valve setting when the gas cylinder is placed within the container. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 16 wherein the flow control valve is a single-use valve wherein upon actuation of the flow control valve, the gas within the gas cylinder flows continuously from the gas cylinder until the gas cylinder is empty. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 16 wherein the flow control valve has a setting for ‘SHIP’ mode wherein upon placement of the flow control valve in the ‘SHIP’ mode, the gas within the gas cylinder flows continuously from the gas cylinder until the gas cylinder is empty. 
     
     
       23. A method of supplying gas to a customer comprising the steps of:
 delivering a portable gas system, wherein the portable gas system includes a container containing a cylinder filled with gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the cylinder, and a cylinder contents gauge, and wherein the flow control valve includes a setting adapted to empty the gas from the cylinder;   receiving notification from the customer that the portable gas system requires replacement;   arranging for return shipment of the portable gas system having an empty cylinder via a commercial carrier; and   delivering a second portable gas system filled to the customer.   
     
     
       24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of providing instructions to the customer for return shipment of the portable gas system via the commercial carrier, such instructions including advising the customer to ensure the flow control valve is positioned in a setting adapted to empty the gas from the cylinder. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of receiving notification from the customer that the portable gas system requires replacement further comprises receiving notification via telephone, email or internet communications. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 23 wherein the container comprises one or more transparent surfaces adapted to allow visual inspection of the cylinder contents gauge or the flow control valve setting when the cylinder is disposed within the container. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 23 wherein the flow control valve is a single-use valve wherein upon actuation of the flow control valve, the gas within the cylinder flows continuously from the cylinder until the cylinder is empty. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 23 wherein the flow control valve has a setting for ‘SHIP’ mode wherein upon placement of the flow control valve in the ‘SHIP’ mode, the gas within the cylinder flows continuously from the cylinder until the cylinder is empty. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of charging the customer upon delivery of the portable gas system, delivery of the second portable gas system, or receipt of notification from the customer that the portable gas system requires replacement. 
     
     
       30. A method of supplying gas to a customer comprising the steps of:
 delivering a portable gas system, wherein the portable gas system includes a shipping container containing a cylinder filled with gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the cylinder, and a cylinder contents gauge, and wherein the flow control valve includes a setting adapted to empty the gas from the cylinder;   providing instructions to the customer for return shipment of the portable gas system via commercial carrier, such instructions including advising the customer to ensure the flow control valve is positioned at the setting adapted to empty the gas from the cylinder; and   delivering a replacement portable gas system including a replacement cylinder filled with gas to the customer upon return shipment of the portable gas system or upon notification that the customer requires the replacement portable gas system.   
     
     
       31. A method of supplying gas to a customer comprising the steps of:
 delivering a portable gas system, wherein the portable gas system includes a container containing a gas cylinder filled with gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the gas cylinder, and a cylinder contents gauge, and wherein the flow control valve includes one or more settings adapted to establish a pressure within the gas cylinder associated with a return shipment of the gas cylinder via a commercial carrier, the established pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure; and   providing instructions for the return shipment of the container having the gas cylinder disposed therein to a designated receiver via the commercial carrier.   
     
     
       32. The method of claim 31, wherein providing instructions includes including the instructions for return shipment in the portable gas system. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 31, further comprising emptying the gas from the gas cylinder. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 33, further comprising packing the empty gas cylinder in the container. 
     
     
       35. The method of claim 33, further comprising verifying the gas cylinder is empty through visual inspection of the cylinder contents gauge or the flow control valve setting. 
     
     
       36. The method of claim 31, further comprising delivering a replacement portable medical gas system including cylinder filled with the gas to the customer. 
     
     
       37. A method of supplying gas to a customer comprising the steps of:
 delivering a portable gas system, wherein the portable gas system includes a shipping container containing a cylinder filled with gas, a flow control valve operatively disposed on the cylinder, and a cylinder contents gauge, and wherein the flow control valve includes a setting adapted to establish a pressure within the gas cylinder associated with a return shipment of the gas cylinder, the established pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure;   providing instructions to the customer for the return shipment of the portable gas system via a commercial carrier; and   delivering a replacement portable gas system including a replacement cylinder filled with gas to the customer upon return shipment of the portable gas system or upon notification that the customer requires the replacement portable gas system.   
     
     
       38. The method of claim 37, wherein the instructions further include information advising the customer to ensure the flow control valve is positioned at a setting adapted to empty the gas from the cylinder.