ELECTRONIC OXYGEN CONSERVER AND FILLING UNIT
A respiratory system and method includes a filling unit for filling a portable bottle of respiratory gas and a conserver for mounting on such a bottle. A battery on the conserver may be recharged when the bottle is placed on the filing unit. The conserver may include electric timing circuitry operative to control the timing of pulsed flow of respiratory gas from the conserver, and an external electrical coupler to enable adjustment of the timing of the pulsed flow. The conserver may include at least one sensor operative to sense the reversal of flow between exhalation and inhalation, the conserver being operative to commence a respiratory gas delivery pulse in response to the sensing of the reversal of flow.
1 . A filling unit for filling a bottle of respiratory gas when a bottle is engaged with the filling unit, the filling unit comprising:
a respiratory gas source for filling a bottle; and
a battery charger for recharging a battery on a bottle when a bottle is engaged with the filling unit.
2 . A filling unit as set forth in claim 2 wherein the battery charger is operative to recharge a battery on a bottle in a time period less than the time period needed for the respiratory gas source to fill a bottle with respiratory gas.
3 . A filling unit as set forth in claim 2 including a cradle for supporting a bottle of respiratory gas on the filling unit in a manner so that during the refilling of a bottle a battery can simultaneously be recharged.
4 . A filling unit as set forth in claim 2 including a coupler for electrically connecting the battery charger with a battery on a bottle that is engaged with the filling unit.
5 . A filling unit as set forth in claim 4 wherein the coupler is a portion of an inductive coupling.
6 . A filling unit as set forth in claim 4 wherein the coupler comprises electrical contacts for engaging electrical contacts on a conserver.
7 - 23 . (canceled)
24 . Apparatus comprising:
a filling unit for filling a bottle of respiratory gas when a bottle is engaged with the filling unit, the filling unit comprising a respiratory gas source for filling a bottle and a battery charger for recharging a battery on a bottle when a bottle is engaged with the filling unit; and
an electronic conserver for use on a bottle of respiratory gas that is refillable when engaged with the a filling unit, the conserver comprising a rechargeable battery and a coupler on the conserver for electrically coupling the battery with a battery charger of a filling unit when the bottle is engaged with a filling unit.
25 . Apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein the conserver comprises a sensor operative to sense the reversal of flow between exhalation and inhalation.