Oxygen concentrator

The invention relates to an oxygen concentrator for Use in medical respiratory therapy, the at least one of a housing surrounded compressor and at least one from powered compressor and within the housing having arranged filter element nitrogen restrains and is permeable to oxygen.

Such oxygen concentrators are in the field medical uses to treat patients with breathing air supply to which a relation to the ambient air having increased oxygen content. With regard increasingly rising demands on the simplification of assembly and disassembly operations and respect of Improvements in sound and vibration damping can the previously known devices, not all of they meet set requirements.

Similar requirements in the field of manufacturing Devices for data processing were as described in EP-PS 0 546 211 are met by providing a computer chassis was prepared from a foam in which the used electronic components by positive engagement being held. An immediate application of this Approach proves in the field of medical technology however, not be sufficient.

From US 46 67 669 already an oxygen concentrator known, a plurality of components and wherein the provided via a controller affects inspiratory and exhalation phases will.

In DE-OS 22 44 887 a breathing mask is described, in which a foam-like material is used to a contour adaptation to the face of the patient make. By contour adjustment, a high Sealing can be achieved.

From US 48 25 863 it is known a ventilator so designed that a case of two concentric formed housing parts. The housing halves are of a foamed material together connected, without however that this material components mounts within the housing.

DE 100 95 40 344 A1 describes a ventilator, the a specific overpressure in the course Patient breathing generated. During the pressure phases the patient may receive an increased amount of oxygen. The pressure curve is adapted by a generates controllable fan which is driven by a motor is.

Object of the present invention is to provide a Oxygen of the aforementioned type form such that improved properties in provided the production and subsequent use will.

This object is achieved in that at least some of which is arranged within the housing held assemblies of a foamed carrier are that, in addition at least two other foamed Covering against the support to enclose the Components boundaries that a within the housing arranged separate compressor room for the compressor and that the compressor loosely on bearing blocks within the compressor room is situated.

By using the support of a foamed Material is also in the medical field allows components only by positive engagement to holders. Due to the special medical Requirements and design features oxygen concentrators has been found, that in order to cover and reliable mounting of the components at least two other foamed cover elements are required with a border to the substrate. The carrier can thus in the range of two mutually remote from mounting surfaces with components be equipped so that at least two spaced- separable mounting areas are provided.

A particularly good sound and vibration insulation is caused by the fact that a within the housing arranged separate compressor room for the compressor is.

To ensure a high Nutzluftqualität is proposed that separate flow paths for cooling air and useful air are arranged.

A particularly good installation and serviceability can be caused by that the carrier with three separate cover elements is provided.

To support a smooth operation with cyclic regeneration phases is proposed that the carrier supports two filter elements.

A long-term operability can thereby support be that within the filter elements molecular filter with granulatartigem filter material for Stickstoffanlagerung are arranged. Specifically, Granules based on zeolite used.

To implement a control is proposed that the filter elements are controlled by valves.

A filter regeneration can thereby performed be that for the regeneration of the filter material a provided temporary backflow to Stickstoffausspülung is.

To provide sufficient security of supply constant pressure level is proposed that the filter elements having a collecting are connected.

A simple assembly and disassembly is supported by that the support and the cover elements of at least one belt are braced together.

A further reduction of mechanical connecting parts can take place in that the housing via a handle connected to the carrier.

A very effective end of the regeneration process in the filter area is supported by the fact that the Valves with a controller for presetting a at least temporarily simultaneous opening for backwashing are connected.

The vibration damping can also be assisted be that the compressor loosely on bearing blocks within the compressor room is situated.

A further improvement in ease of assembly is effected in that the support substantially perpendicular having disposed mounting surfaces into which the used to be supported elements in the horizontal direction are.

To further optimize the noise reduction, it is proposed that ventilation ducts for cooling air outlet in Region of a back part are guided to the outside.

An expedient flow guidance is that at least one of the air ducts beneath the compressor runs in a base plate.

Also, the noise reduction can be supported by be that the air ducts in Ausströmungsbereich an output labyrinth for noise insulation lead.

An expedient combination of materials to provide sufficient mechanical strength and a simultaneous good noise and vibration damping is that the carrier and the cover of a foam material having a density in the range 40 gr / l consist to 60 gr / l.

In the drawing, an embodiment of the invention shown schematically. Show it:<dl tsize="7"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>A rear view of the oxygen concentrator with the housing removed and removed Back shell,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a front perspective view of the oxygen concentrator according to FIG. 1 with its cover Housing and removed front shell,</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>a greatly enlarged cross-section in the region a transition of the housing in a grip part and</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>a simplified pneumatic diagram of used pneumatic components.</dd></dl>

Fig. 1 shows in a rear view of the installation situation in the region of a support (1). The support (1) holds with respect to their longitudinal axes substantially vertically arranged filter elements (2) at a Gas flow through nitrogen restrain. For example it is possible, the filter elements (2) with a to provide a substantially cylindrical housing shape and the air to be separated by means of valves (3) in a Head area of ​​the filter elements (2) supply. downstream end and is air enriched with oxygen via connecting lines (4) in the region of a The collecting container (5) guided, also cylindrical can be constructed.

The filter elements (2) can be formed, that arranged in its interior a granular material is, at the Nitrogen at a flow accumulates and causes the oxygen to pass. Especially suitable are materials based on zeolite.

The support (1) comprises for mounting of the filter elements (2) and the collecting container (5) trough-shaped recesses on. A clamping the filter elements (2) in the trough-shaped recesses can clamping tongues (6) take place. The carrier (1) extends with a base substantially vertically, so that the Erten salary components used in the horizontal direction can be removed and.

In a bottom portion of the carrier (1) opens into a Base plate (7), preferably in one piece with the is formed carrier (1). The base plate (7) has arranged in recesses (8) the wheels (9), identified by Radgestellen pivotable (10) are supported.

Through the base plate (7) extending therethrough Ventilation ducts (11) for cooling air in the region of Reconciliation in an environment with a labyrinthine Ausströmungsstruktur provided for noise reduction are.

Above the collection container (5) is a pressure reducing valve (13) arranged further from the support (1) a Fan (14) for generating a required Cooling air flow through the ventilation channels (11) through supported.

The valves (3), preferably as a three-two-way valves are formed on the input side via tubing to a fine filter and an upstream Coarse filter for restraint of air pollution connected. When valves (3), for example, also 5-3-way valves or valves with Center position are used. On the output side have the valves (3) a compound to mufflers on.

Via a suitable control of the valves (3), it is possible alternate activation of the two make filter elements (2). After deactivation one of the filter elements (2) takes place in this The filter element (2) a partial backflow of air, so that in the filter element (2) retained nitrogen again discharged and released to the environment becomes. Through this regeneration principle is to Passing through each alternating work cycle again provided the initial course of state, so that Servicing is largely superfluous. Especially it is not necessary for the filter elements (2) replaced due to increasing nitrogen accumulation.

In the vertical direction above are in the carrier (1) Headband (15) embedded, the one for mounting in Fig. 3 are shown the handle (16). Of the Handle (16) for a placement of a non- Housing shown in the support (1) mounted and connects to a corresponding attachment to Carrier (1) with the outer housing.

From the perspective view in Fig. 2 it can be seen that within a delimited space compressor (17) a compressor (18) is arranged. Of the Compressor room extends above the base plate (7). The compressor is no separate mounting on Bearing blocks (19) and also by positive locking fixed.

From the illustration is also seen that in the rear part of the carrier (1) with the content Erten Components is covered by a back part (20). Above the compressor (18) extends from a Support (1) removable cover shell (21), the control panel (22).

Due to the arrangement of the compressor (18) in a separate Compressor chamber (17) and the bearing on the Bearing blocks (19) is a very good sound and Vibration isolation provided. Cooling elements (23) flows around the cooling air flowing through the ventilation channels (11) can pass to escape into the environment. The from the filter elements (2) provided with Oxygen-enriched air into separate air lines separated out by the cooling air.

The support (1), the covering (21), the back part (20) and an unillustrated cover member for the compressor chamber (17) are held together by straps, which are provided with quick-release fasteners and in Depressions (24) are guided. It can thereby a very fast assembly and disassembly are supported.

From the illustration in FIG. 2 can also be seen, that the carrier (1), the back part (20) the covering shell (21) and the closure shell for the compressor room (17) have a step-shaped contour, order for a joining together a self-alignment perform. There is thus a well-defined and reproducible mounting position provided.

From the enlarged cross-sectional view in Fig. 3 it can be seen that the handle (16) via a screw (25) is connected to the headband (15). The connection is made by a touch down of the housing (26) on the support (1) and the cover elements. thus Through this connection a fixing of Housing (26) relative to the carrier (1) caused. Below the handle (16) is a recessed grip (27) arranged to provide a carrying and handling of the device to support.

Fig. 4 shows the essential pneumatic assembly. Of the Compressor (18) is driven by a motor (28) driven and compacted previously a coarse filter and a Fine filter supplied initiated ambient air. The output of Compressor (18) is provided with a pressure relief valve (29) connected and supplied via the valves (3), the filter elements (2). The filter elements (2) are non-return valves (30) connected to the collecting container (5). In addition, a bridge with a Flushing nozzle (31) is provided. An output of the collecting (5) is connected to the pressure reducer (13). At a backflushing of the filter elements (2) to remove the accumulated nitrogen after appropriate Activation of the valves (3) there is a Silencing the flowing air through an exhaust silencer (32).

In one implementation of the back-flushing for the removal of nitrogen a simultaneous opening of the Valves (3) for coupling via the flushing nozzle (31) for approximately one second. This period is usually for a regeneration of the filter material sufficiently.

One of the valves (3) are in this case a compound with the compressor (18) free and the flushing filter element (2) associated with the valve (3) performs a connection the exhaust muffler (32).

A further sound insulation can be carried out in that the compressor (18) ambient air supplied by two offset introduced into the intake tubes flowing therethrough. A sound attenuation in the field of blow-off air For example, with open-cell foam or felt supported. The respective Material selection can in adapting to the present Noise spectrum occur.

As the material of the bearing blocks (19) of the compressor (18) is, for example, a closed cell Polyurethane in question. prevent the bearing blocks (19) a direct transmission of vibrations of the compressor (18) on the foam material of the support (1) and the covering used. The inner contour of the Compressor chamber (17) is determined by the dimensioning of the selected used foamed members so that relatively the compressor (18) a maximum clearance of 5 mm present. This are relative movements between controls the components and damage in a Action of accelerations avoided.

A typical density for the foamed material of the Carrier (1) and of the cover is 40 gr / l to 60 gr / l. The material used for these components, for example, expanded polypropylene, expanded Polyethylene or polystyrene can be used.