Abstract: A method of titration using a combination continuous flow and pulse flow portable oxygen concentration system (system) with a patient includes: a) providing the system in a continuous flow mode and titrating the patient to a predetermined blood oxygen saturation using the system at one or more predetermined conditions in the continuous flow mode; b) providing the system in a pulse flow mode and titrating the patient to the same predetermined blood oxygen saturation as step a using the system at the same one or more predetermined conditions as in step a in the pulse flow mode; c) determining an Individualized Pulse Dose Equivalent (IPDE) correlation based on data obtained from steps a and b; d) providing the system with the IPDE correlation; and e) using the IPDE correlation to operate the concentrator in a more efficient manner.

Abstract: A compressor vibration isolation mount for isolating the vibrations of a compressor from the rest of a structure includes at least one frame; and at least one gimbal coupling the compressor to the at least one frame for partial rotation about at least one primary axis of rotation.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods, including an oxygen delivery device that includes an oxygen delivery module to produce at least concentrated oxygen, a gas moving device to deliver air to the oxygen delivery module, at least one motor to controllably drive the gas moving device, an energy source to power at least the at least one motor, a pressure sensor to determine a pressure level, and a purity sensor to determine oxygen purity value. The device also includes a controller to control, based on the oxygen purity value and the pressure level, at least the gas moving device's operations and the oxygen delivery module's operations to cause the pressure resulting from gas moving device to be substantially at a pre-determined pressure value and to cause the purity level of the oxygen produced by the oxygen delivery module to be substantially at a pre-determined purity value.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods, including an oxygen delivery device that includes an oxygen delivery module to produce at least concentrated oxygen, and a gas moving device to deliver air to the oxygen delivery module. The gas moving device includes at least one piston rotatable inside a first chamber defined in a housing, the rotational movement of the at least one piston inside the first chamber resulting in varying pressure generated in a first portion of the first chamber, and a vane member rigidly coupled to the at least one piston, the vane member being configured to move inside a vane chamber defined in the housing, the piston and the vane rigidly coupled to the piston define the first portion of the first chamber and a second portion of the first chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods, including an oxygen delivery device that includes an oxygen delivery module configured to deliver a pulse including greater than 100 mL of concentrated oxygen, and a controller configured to control the oxygen delivery module to cause the oxygen delivery module to deliver the pulse including greater than the 100 mL of the concentrated oxygen within approximately first 60% of a patient's inspiratory period. Also disclosed is a device that includes an oxygen delivery module, a piezoelectric valve coupled to an output of the oxygen delivery module to receive the concentrated oxygen, a driver to electrically actuate the piezoelectric valve, and a controller to control the driver to cause controllable actuation of the piezoelectric valve by the driver to cause controllable opening of the valve to enable oxygen flow to be directed for inhalation by a patient via the piezoelectric valve.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods, including an oxygen delivery device that includes an oxygen delivery module, at least one sensor to detect patient breathing, and a controller configured to control the oxygen delivery module to cause the oxygen delivery module to deliver oxygen to the patient based on data from the at least one sensor such that in response to a determination, based on data from the at least one sensor, that no breathing is detected for a first pre-determined period of time, the controller causes the oxygen delivery module to deliver oxygen to the patient in continuous flow mode, and in response to a determination, based on additional data from the at least one sensor, that breathing is detected for a second period of time, the controller causes the oxygen delivery module to deliver oxygen to the patient in a pulse flow mode.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, apparatus, and products, including a method for operating a respiratory care device that includes collecting at a respiratory care device data representative of operation of the respiratory care device, and communicating to a computing-based device external to the respiratory care device at least some of the collected data to control the operability of the respiratory care device. In some embodiments, the method may further include communicating to the respiratory care device data to controllably change one or more operation parameters of the respiratory care device to cause a change in the operation of the respiratory care device, changing the operation parameters of the respiratory care device according to the communicated data, and communicating to the external computing-based device resultant data representative of operation of the respiratory care device resulting from the controllable change to the one or more operation parameters.

Abstract: A method of controlling bolus delivery in a pulse flow oxygen concentration system for a patient includes providing a pulse flow oxygen concentration system that delivers concentrated oxygen gas to the patient in boluses having a pulse bolus duration, the pulse flow oxygen concentration system including an open control for controlling the pulse bolus duration of the boluses; determining one or more respiratory conditions of the patient; and adjusting the open control to adjust the pulse bolus duration of the boluses in accordance with the determined one or more respiratory conditions of the patient.

Abstract: A method of titration using a combination continuous flow and pulse flow portable oxygen concentration system (system) with a patient includes: a) providing the system in a continuous flow mode and titrating the patient to a predetermined blood oxygen saturation using the system at one or more predetermined conditions in the continuous flow mode; b) providing the system in a pulse flow mode and titrating the patient to the same predetermined blood oxygen saturation as step a using the system at the same one or more predetermined conditions as in step a in the pulse flow mode; c) determining an Individualized Pulse Dose Equivalent (IPDE) correlation based on data obtained from steps a and b; d) providing the system with the IPDE correlation; and e) using the IPDE correlation to operate the concentrator in a more efficient manner.

Abstract: A portable oxygen concentrator system weighing 4-20 pounds that is adapted to be readily transported by a user and deliver oxygen to the user includes a rechargeable energy source; a concentrator powered by said energy source and adapted to convert ambient air into concentrated oxygen gas for the user; an inspiration sensor that senses respiratory activity of the user, and produces a signal in response thereto; and a control unit that receives the signal in response to sensed respiratory activity, determines a breath rate based in part on the received signal in response to sensed respiratory activity and controls the portable oxygen concentrator system to deliver oxygen flow sufficient to meet oxygen demand of the user based at least in part on the determined breath rate.

Abstract: A portable oxygen concentrator system weighing 4-20 pounds adapted to be readily transported by a user and for delivering oxygen to lungs of the user includes a rechargeable energy source; a concentrator powered by said energy source and adapted to convert ambient air into concentrated oxygen gas for said user; and a control unit that controls the concentrator to deliver a flow rate based on at least one of a Body Temperature Pressure Dry (BTPD) condition, a Body Temperature Pressure Saturated with water (BTPS) condition, and a condition between BTPD and BTPS, where relative humidity is 0-100%, to maintain a constant fraction of inspired oxygen (FI02) in the lungs of the user.

Abstract: A linear motion sensing system for sensing at least shaft position of a linear moving shaft of a linear motion device includes a sensed structure associated with and moving linearly in unison with the linear moving shaft; a light sensor assembly including a light emitter emitting light directed at the sensed structure and a light detector receiving light from the light emitter, the light sensor assembly emitting signals indicative of at least position of the sensed structure; and a sensor module receiving the signals indicative of at least position of the sensed structure from the light sensor assembly and determining at least shaft position of the linear moving shaft of the linear motion device.

Abstract: A gas separation device for separating oxygen gas from air includes a compressor; a concentrator; a measurement mechanism; and a flow control mechanism that includes a valve assembly for providing fluid flow control, the valve assembly having a motor; a valve body; and a plunger within the valve body and reciprocally driven by the motor, wherein the valve body including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a flow chamber therebetween, the flow chamber including a flow chamber wall and a flow chamber outlet, the plunger including a flexible member reciprocating within the flow chamber outlet to provide variable flow control therethrough, the flexible member including a lip seal engageable with the flow chamber wall during reciprocation of the plunger and flexible member to provide a seal therebetween.

Abstract: A diaphragm muffler for quiet operation of a compressor imparting an above atmospheric pressure stream and a below atmospheric pressure stream. The diaphragm muffler including a diaphragm pressure chamber receiving the above atmospheric pressure stream; a diaphragm vacuum chamber receiving the below atmospheric pressure stream; and a flexible diaphragm dividing the diaphragm pressure chamber receiving the above atmospheric pressure stream from the diaphragm vacuum chamber receiving the below atmospheric pressure stream, whereby the above atmospheric pressure stream and the below atmospheric pressure stream cancel each other out via the flexible diaphragm.

Abstract: A compressor vibration isolation mount for isolating the vibrations of a compressor from the rest of a structure includes at least one frame; and at least one gimbal coupling the compressor to the at least one frame for partial rotation about at least one primary axis of rotation.

Abstract: A compressor cooling system for an air compressor includes an air compressor including an external surface; an enclosure for enclosing the air compressor inside the enclosure; an air passage formed on the inside of the enclosure between the enclosure and the external surface of the air compressor; multiple holes in the enclosure; and a negative pressure source coupled to the air passage for drawing air through the multiple holes and into the enclosure for cooling the compressor.

Abstract: A needle valve assembly for providing fluid flow control includes a motor; an internally threaded valve body; and an externally threaded plunger threadably engaged with the internally threaded valve body and rotatably and reciprocally driven by the motor, wherein the valve body including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a flow chamber therebetween, the flow chamber including a flow chamber wall and a flow chamber outlet, the plunger including a flexible needle member reciprocating within the flow chamber outlet to provide variable flow control therethrough, the flexible needle member including a lip seal engageable with the flow chamber wall during reciprocation of the plunger and flexible needle member to provide a seal therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary valve assembly for a pressure swing adsorption system. The rotary valve assembly includes a first valve member and a second valve member relatively rotatable about a common center of rotation to provide valving action for selectively transferring fluids therethrough. The second valve member has a first fluid section with at least one aperture adapted for transferring a first fluid of a first pressure and composition therethrough and a second fluid section with at least one aperture adapted for transferring a second fluid of a second pressure and composition therethrough. The first valve member has a first fluid section with at least one passage for transferring the first fluid in the valve assembly and a second fluid section with at least one passage for transferring the second fluid in the valve assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a much safer and less expensive way of providing portable oxygen from a gas concentrator for patients who do not want to be tied to a stationary machine or restricted by present oxygen technology. The present invention involves a home liquid oxygen ambulatory system for supplying a portable supply of oxygen, where a portion of the gaseous oxygen output obtained from an oxygen concentrator is condensed into liquid oxygen. The system includes an oxygen concentrator which separates oxygen gas from the ambient air, a condenser in communication with the oxygen concentrator for receiving and liquefying the oxygen gas flow, a cryocooler associated with the condenser, and a first storage dewar in fluid communication with the condenser and adapted to store the oxygen liquefied by the condenser, the first storage dewar including means for transferring liquid oxygen from the first dewar to a second dewar for storing a quantity of oxygen suitable for moveable oxygen treatment.

Abstract: A portable oxygen concentrator system adapted to be readily transported by a user includes a rechargeable energy source and a concentrator powered by the energy source. The concentrator converts ambient air into concentrated oxygen gas for the user and includes a plurality of adsorption beds and a rotary valve assembly. The rotary valve assembly is relatively rotatable with respect to the plurality of adsorption beds to provide valving action for selectively transferring fluids through the plurality of adsorption beds for converting ambient air into concentrated oxygen gas for the user. The ratio of adiabatic power to oxygen flow for the concentrator is in the range of 6.2 W/LPM to 23.0 W/LPM.