Abstract: A rotary valve comprising sliding members for supplying treatment gas containing water vapor to a plurality of treatment processes is provided. The rotary valve comprises sliding members (1, 2; 4, 6), through which open flow passages (8, 9, 10), having sliding surfaces slidable to each other and a mechanical seal mechanism for switching the flow passages (8, 9, 10) while sealing fluid by preliminarily pressing the sliding surfaces, wherein the sliding surface of each sliding members (1, 2; 4, 6) is made of hydrophobic material (2, 4) different in hardness from the other.

Abstract: A rotary valve comprising sliding members for supplying treatment gas containing water vapor to a plurality of treatment processes is provided. The rotary valve comprises sliding members (1, 2; 4, 6), through which open flow passages (8, 9, 10), having sliding surfaces slidable to each other and a mechanical seal mechanism for switching the flow passages (8, 9, 10) while sealing fluid by preliminarily pressing the sliding surfaces, wherein the sliding surface of each sliding members (1, 2; 4, 6) is made of hydrophobic material (2, 4) different in hardness from the other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pressure swing adsorption-type oxygen concentrator for medical use having a flow channel switching device that successively pressurizes and supplies air from an air supply device at a constant timing to adsorb/desorb nitrogen in the air, wherein the flow channel switching device is a rotary distributor valve assembly structure provided with an electric motor, the rotary distributor valve assembly structure being provided with a shaft seal mechanism to perform shaft sealing with an O-ring having Shore A hardness of 45 to 60 degree and further the oxygen concentrator has a mechanism that simultaneously achieves rotary drive transmission following axial offset and angular offset of the rotary shaft of the rotary distributor valve assembly structure and shaft sealing.

Abstract: A fractionator produces an oxygen enhanced gas for use in oxygen inhalation therapy. The fractionator includes an air source for supplying air, and a plurality of columns for containing an adsorbent material for adsorbing nitrogen gas. Each of the columns has first and second open ends. Air is directed from the air source to the column through the first open ends of the respective columns. A temperature sensor detects the temperature of the side wall of one of the columns. The fractionator changes the time for adsorption of nitrogen gas to the adsorbent material based on the detected temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying a respiratory gas to a patient includes a respiratory gas generating device, a device for introducing the respiratory gas into the cavitas nasi of the patient, a conduit fluidly connected to the respiratory gas generating device and the introducing device; a valve, provided in the conduit, for separating and connecting the introducing device from and to the respiratory gas generating device and an orifice provided in the conduit upstream of the valve means. The apparatus for supplying the respiratory further includes a controller for operating the valve between intermittent and continuous mode. In the intermittent mode, the valve connects the introducing device to the respiratory gas generating device at a predetermined interval to provide the respiratory gas in the form of a pulse, and in the continuous mode, the valve continuously connects the introducing device to the respiratory gas generating device.