AMBULATORY OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR
An oxygen concentrator provides ambulatory oxygen utilizing a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) oxygen separator powered by a power pack. The separator has a plurality of nitrogen-selective adsorbent beds, each operating in VSA cycles including feed, evacuation and repressurization phases. The concentrator also contains a delivery system for receiving oxygen produced by the VSA separator.
1 . An oxygen concentrator which produces a product gas containing at least about eighty-five percent oxygen by utilizing a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) process comprising:
a gas input system for supplying ambient air;
a VSA gas separation system in communication with the gas input system to receive the ambient air, the gas separation system comprising a cartridge containing an adsorbent material for producing oxygen;
a delivery system for receiving oxygen produced by the gas separation system;
a drive which actuates the delivery system and the gas separation system;
a power pack connected to the drive; and
wherein the oxygen concentrator has a weight of less than 2.3 kg and a volume of less than 1 liter.
2 . The oxygen concentrator of claim 1 wherein the VSA gas separation system further comprises a vacuum pump which evacuates nitrogen rich gas from the adsorbent material.
3 . The oxygen concentrator of claim 1 wherein the power pack comprises a battery.
4 . The oxygen concentrator of claim 1 wherein the delivery system includes an oxygen conserver.
5 . An oxygen concentrator comprising:
a portable power pack;
a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) oxygen separator powered by the power pack and having a plurality of nitrogen-selective adsorbent beds, each bed operating in VSA cycles including feed, evacuation and repressurization phases, the VSA cycles operating with vacuum levels within in a range between about 0.1 atm and about 1.0 atm, wherein the pressure throughout the VSA cycles does not exceed about 1.0 atm; and
a delivery system for receiving oxygen provide by the gas separation system.
6 . The oxygen concentrator of claim 5 wherein the power pack, the VSA oxygen separator, and the delivery system have a combined mass of less than 2.3 kg.
7 . The oxygen concentrator of claim 5 wherein the VSA oxygen separator comprises:
an ambient air inlet;
a vacuum pump; and
a valve for selectively connecting the ambient air inlet, the vacuum pump and the delivery system to the adsorbent beds during different phases of the VSA cycles.
8 . The oxygen concentrator of claim 5 wherein the VSA oxygen concentrator further comprises:
a motor for driving the valve and the vacuum pump.
9 . The oxygen concentrator of claim 5 wherein the adsorbent beds comprise an LiLSX adsorbent.
10 . An oxygen concentrator comprising:
a power source;
a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) oxygen separator having a plurality of nitrogen-selective adsorbent beds, each bed operating in VSA cycles including feed, evacuation and repressurization phases, the VSA cycles operating with vacuum levels within in a range between about 0.1 atm and about 1.0 atm, wherein the pressure throughout the VSA cycles does not exceed about 1.0 atm;
a delivery system for receiving oxygen provide by the VSA oxygen separator; and
a driver which actuates the delivery system and the gas separation system;
wherein the drive is powered by the power source.
11 . The oxygen concentrator of claim 10 wherein the power pack, the VSA oxygen separator, and the delivery system have a combined mass of less than 2.3 kg.
12 . The oxygen concentrator of claim 10 wherein the VSA oxygen separator comprises:
an ambient air inlet;
a vacuum pump; and
a valve for selectively connecting the ambient air inlet, the vacuum pump and the delivery system to the adsorbent beds during different phases of the VSA cycles.
13 . The oxygen concentrator of claim 10 wherein the VSA oxygen concentrator further comprises:
a motor for driving the valve and the vacuum pump that is part of the driver.
14 . The oxygen concentrator of claim 10 wherein the adsorbent beds comprise an LiLSX adsorbent.