Gas conserving device
View Patent ↗An electronic oxygen conserving device for controlling a flow of oxygen from an oxygen storage container to a user. When a conserve setting is selected, a flow of oxygen travels through an oxygen regulating valve that has an open state and a closed state. A temporary electrical charge or current is provided to the oxygen regulating valve during the initial inhalation of oxygen by an individual, opening the regulating valve opens to delivery oxygen to the user. The oxygen regulating valve remains open even after termination of the electric current. After a predetermined timed delivery dose or upon exhalation by the individual, a subsequent temporary electric charge or current is provided to oxygen regulating valve, closing the regulating valve closes to prevent delivery of oxygen to the user, thus conserving oxygen. The oxygen regulating valve remains closed even after termination of the subsequent electric current.
1. A gas conserving device comprising:
(a) a valve body having a valve seat disposed in the valve body;
(b) a valve element disposed within the valve body, wherein a portion of the valve element is adapted to seat against the valve seat responsive to the valve element being in a closed position, and wherein the portion of the valve element is spaced apart from the seat responsive to the valve element being in an open position;
(c) a permanent magnet;
(d) an energy source adapted to deliver adapted to transfer (1) a first energy to the valve element, the permanent magnet, or both to move the valve element to the open position, and (2) a second energy to valve element, the permanent magnet, or both to move the valve element to the closed position;
(e) a sensor adapted to monitor a characteristic of a user indicative of respiration;
(f) a gas flow controller having a plurality of gas flow delivery settings corresponding to a plurality of predetermined gas flow rates/volumes; and
(g) a controller operatively coupled to the sensor, the gas flow controller, and the energy source, wherein the controller controls the energy source based on the gas flow delivery setting and an output of the sensor.
2. The gas conserving device of claim 1 , wherein the permanent magnet disposed in the valve body, wherein the permanent magnet is adapted to magnetically engage the valve element responsive to the valve element being in the open position to maintain the valve element in the open position.
3. The gas conserving device of claim 1 , further comprising a timer, wherein the controller controls the energy source so as to deliver the second energy to based on an output of the timer.
4. The gas conserving device of claim 1 , including a bias element for biasing the valve element to the closed position.
5. The gas conserving device of claim 1 , wherein the controller detects a predetermined condition based on the output of the sensor and causes the energy source to deliver the first energy or the second energy responsive to detection of the predetermined condition.
6. The gas conserving device of claim 1 , further comprising a bump detection system adapted to detect a predetermined acceleration of the valve, wherein the controller causes the energy source to deliver the second energy responsive to detection of the predetermined acceleration.
7. The gas conserving device of claim 1 , further comprising a bump detection system adapted to detect whether a flow of gas is being provided by the gas conserving device to a user after the energy source delivers the second energy, wherein the controller causes the energy source to deliver the second energy again responsive to the detection of the flow of gas to such a user.
8. The gas conserving device of claim 7 , wherein the bump detection sensor is further adapted to sense a predetermined flow of gas to the patient, and further comprising an alarm operatively coupled to the bump detecting sensor, wherein the alarm is actuated responsive to the bump detection sensor sensing the predetermined flow of gas to the patient after the second energy has been delivered to the energy source.
9. The gas conserving device of claim 1 , further comprising a valve position sensor adapted to detect whether the valve element is in the open position or the closed position, wherein the first energy is provided by the energy source based on an output of the valve position sensor.