Removable cartridge for oxygen concentrator
A removable gas separation cartridge includes a housing having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a bed of adsorbent material. The cartridge is removable from an oxygen concentrator which separates oxygen from ambient air by using an absorption process.
1. A cartridge configured for use with an oxygen concentrator and configured to be removable from the oxygen concentrator by movement in a first direction, the cartridge comprising:
a first bed of adsorbent material disposed along a first axis, wherein the first axis is substantially parallel to the first direction;
a second bed of adsorbent material disposed along a second axis spaced-apart from the first axis, wherein the second axis is substantially parallel to the first direction;
a first port disposed along the first axis, the first port configured to receive fluid flowing to the first bed or to expel fluid flowing away from the first bed;
a second port spaced-apart from the first axis and configured to receive fluid flowing to the first bed or to expel fluid flowing away from the first bed;
a third port disposed along the second axis and configured to receive fluid flowing to the second bed or to expel fluid flowing away from the second bed; and
a fourth port spaced-apart from the second axis and configured to receive fluid flowing to the second bed or to expel fluid flowing away from the second bed;
wherein the first, second, third, and fourth ports are oriented in a second direction opposite the first direction; wherein:
a first plane extends through the first and third ports,
the first plane is substantially perpendicular to the first and second axes,
a second plane extends through the second and fourth ports,
the second plane is substantially perpendicular to the first and second axes,
the first and second planes are spaced-apart from one another.
2. The cartridge as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second beds include a zeolite material.
3. The cartridge as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second beds are configured to preferentially adsorb nitrogen.
4. The cartridge as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second beds each contain between 5 and 25 cubic centimeters of adsorbent material.
5. The cartridge as recited in claim 4 , wherein the first and second beds each contain between 14 and 16 cubic centimeters of adsorbent material.
6. The cartridge as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth ports are removable from the oxygen concentrator substantially simultaneously.
7. The cartridge as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a housing surrounding at least a majority of the first bed and the second bed, wherein the first and third ports are formed in the housing.
8. The cartridge as recited in claim 7 , further comprising a cap connected to the housing.
9. The cartridge as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a third bed of adsorbent material disposed along a third axis, wherein the third axis is substantially parallel to the first direction;
a fifth port disposed along the third axis and configured to receive fluid flowing to the third bed or to expel fluid flowing away from the third bed;
a sixth port spaced-apart from the third axis and configured to receive fluid flowing to the third bed or to expel fluid flowing away from the third bed;
wherein the fifth and sixth ports are oriented in the second direction.
10. The cartridge as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the second port is disposed along a third axis,
the fourth port is disposed along a fourth axis, and
the third and fourth axes do not pass through the first and second adsorbent beds, respectively.
11. The cartridge as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first and third ports are outlet ports, and
the second and fourth ports are inlet ports.
12. The cartridge as recited in claim 1 , wherein fluid is configured to flow relative to the first and third ports in an opposite direction as the second and fourth ports.
13. A portable oxygen concentrator, comprising:
a receptacle;
a cartridge selectively removable from the receptacle by movement relative to the receptacle in a first direction, the cartridge comprising:
a first bed of adsorbent material disposed along a first axis, wherein the first axis is substantially parallel to the first direction;
a second bed of adsorbent material disposed along a second axis spaced-apart from the first axis, wherein the second axis is substantially parallel to the first direction;
a first port disposed along the first axis, the first port configured to receive fluid flowing to the first bed or to expel fluid flowing away from the first bed;
a second port spaced-apart from the first axis and configured to receive fluid flowing to the first bed or to expel fluid flowing away from the first bed;
a third port disposed along the second axis and configured to receive fluid flowing to the second bed or to expel fluid flowing away from the second bed; and
a fourth port spaced-apart from the second axis and configured to receive fluid flowing to the second bed or to expel fluid flowing away from the second bed;
wherein the first, second, third, and fourth ports are oriented in a second direction opposite the first direction; wherein:
a first plane extends through the first and third ports,
the first plane is substantially perpendicular to the first and second axes,
a second plane extends through the second and fourth ports,
the second plane is substantially perpendicular to the first and second axes,
the first and second planes are spaced-apart from one another.
14. The portable oxygen concentrator as recited in claim 13 , further comprising:
a selectively removable power pack;
a pump electrically coupled to the power pack, the pump operable to cause a flow of fluid to move relative to the first and second beds; and
a user interface configured to allow a patient to adjust and monitor operation of the portable oxygen concentrator.
15. The portable oxygen concentrator as recited in claim 14 , further comprising a carrying device configured to be worn by a user to transport the receptacle, cartridge, power pack, pump, and user interface.
16. The portable oxygen concentrator as recited in claim 15 , wherein the carrying device is a belt.
17. The portable oxygen concentrator as recited in claim 13 , wherein the bed of adsorbent material comprises a bed of zeolite.