JP2003512911A - High performance liquid oxygen storage and delivery system - Google Patents

Abstract

A high-efficiency liquid oxygen (LOX) storage/delivery system (100) utilizes a portable LOX/delivery apparatus (160) with a portable LOX container (319). A portable-unit LOX transfer connector (304) is connected to the portable LOX container (319) and is connectable to a main source of LOX in a primary reservoir LOX container (226). A portable-unit oxygen gas transfer connector (384) is provided for transferring oxygen gas from the portable LOX container (319) to an oxygen gas delivery device (90) for delivering oxygen gas to a patient. An inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector (190) also is provided for connecting the portable apparatus (160) to a stationary source of oxygen gas in the primary reservoir container (226), for transferring oxygen gas to the portable apparatus (160). A portable-unit primary relief (315) valve is connected to the portable LOX container (319) for venting oxygen gas out of the portable LOX container (319) when pressure in the portable LOX container (319) reaches a predetermined level. When the inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector (190) of the portable container (319) is connected to the stationary source of oxygen in the primary reservoir container (226), oxygen gas can be transferred to the oxygen gas delivery device (90) for delivery to the patient from the portable LOX container (319) while oxygen gas is transferred to the portable container (319) from the stationary source of gas in the primary reservoir LOX container (226).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Cross-reference with related applications]

This application is US provisional patent application serial number 60/1 filed on October 29, 1999.
Claim priority from No. 62,131. The disclosure of the provisional patent application referenced above is fully incorporated by reference.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

  This invention relates generally to liquid oxygen storage and delivery systems.

[0003]

[Description of background art]

Therapeutic oxygen is the delivery of relatively pure oxygen to the patient to alleviate pulmonary / respiratory problems. Inhaling oxygen will ensure that the patient has an adequate level of oxygen in their bloodstream when the patient has difficulty breathing.

Therapeutic oxygen may be guaranteed if the patient loses lung capacity for some reason. Some medical conditions that may require oxygen include asthma, emphysema, etc., as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including, for example, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, lung damage and cardiovascular disease. There is (COPD).

Related art practice has heretofore provided portable oxygen in two ways. First
In this approach, compressed oxygen gas is provided in a pressure bottle that is delivered through a hose through a pressure regulator to the nasal cavity of the patient. The bottles are often wheeled so that the patient can move. This is a fairly simple form of construction.

A disadvantage of compressed gaseous oxygen is that filling a portable bottle does not last for the desired time.

In order to overcome this limitation, the second approach involves the related art liquid oxygen (LO).
X) device is used where LOX is stored in a container and the patient inhales gaseous oxygen formed from LOX.

Although related art LOX devices allow longer usable fills than compressed gas devices of any given size and weight, they have their own drawbacks.

Related art LOX systems typically include a stationary storage container located in the patient's home and a portable unit for the patient to use outside the home. The installed storage container is
Must be refilled with LOX on a regular basis by the distributor.

A significant percentage of the cost of owning a LOX system is the cost of having a LOX distributor frequently travel to refill. The distributor may have to go to the patient's home refill weekly or more frequently to refill the patient's LOX system. Therefore, there is a need for techniques to reduce shipping or otherwise reduce costs.

The main drawback of the related art is that it causes considerable waste. One source of waste is that prior art equipment continually supplies the flow. Also, in the related art, the portable unit can be filled with LOX and used for normal activities and exercises. When the patient finishes using the related art portable unit, the residual LOX left in the related art portable unit is drained, wasting any residual oxygen. LOX is constantly being converted to gaseous oxygen when not withdrawn, allowing degassing in both related art installations and portable units. When the pressure in the related art installation unit increases beyond a certain point (such as when the related art portable unit is used), the related art installation unit must be degassed.

Accordingly, there remains a need for techniques for improved LOX storage and delivery systems that consume less gas and require less delivery of LOX to the patient's home.

[0013]

[Outline of the Invention]

A high performance liquid oxygen (LOX) storage / delivery system is provided according to the first aspect of the invention. A high performance liquid oxygen (LOX) storage / delivery system is used for the primary storage LO.
A primary reservoir LOX storage / delivery device including an X container and a portable LOX delivery device including a portable LOX container may be included. The primary reservoir LOX device includes a main LOX transfer connector connected to the primary reservoir LOX container for loading LOX into the primary reservoir LOX container and for delivering LOX from the primary reservoir LOX container to a portable LOX container. And a main unit oxygen gas delivery connector for delivery from the primary reservoir LOX container. A primary reservoir display device is connected to the primary reservoir LOX container to
The LOX content of the X container may be displayed. Main unit primary relief valve has primary storage L
Connected to the OX container, the oxygen gas may be vented from the primary storage LOX container when the pressure of the oxygen gas in the primary storage LOX container reaches a predetermined level in the primary storage container. The portable LOX device includes a portable unit LOX transfer connector for transmitting LOX from the primary storage container to the portable container, which is connected to the portable LOX container and connectable to the main LOX transfer connector, and oxygen gas for portable use. A portable unit oxygen gas transfer connector for delivering oxygen gas to a patient by transferring it from a LOX container to an oxygen gas delivery device and a primary storage of oxygen gas by connecting the portable device to the main unit oxygen gas transfer connector. An inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector for transferring from the container to the portable device, and for removing oxygen gas from the portable LOX container when the pressure in the portable LOX container reaches a predetermined level of the portable container. , Portable L
A portable unit primary relief valve connected to the OX container. When the unit-to-unit oxygen gas transfer connector of the portable container is connected to the main unit oxygen transfer connector of the primary storage container, oxygen gas can be transferred from the portable container to the oxygen gas delivery device, while the oxygen gas is Transfer from reservoir LOX container to portable container.

A method of utilizing a high performance liquid oxygen (LOX) storage / delivery system is provided according to a second aspect of the invention. One method is to connect the inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector of the portable container to the main unit oxygen transfer connector of the primary storage container;
Oxygen gas is drawn from the portable container via the portable unit oxygen gas transfer connector, while oxygen gas is transferred from the primary reservoir via the main unit oxygen transfer connector to the portable device and the patient.

[0015]

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the high performance LOX system 100 of the present invention. The LOX system 100 includes a primary reservoir LOX storage / delivery device (primary reservoir) 120 and a portable LOX storage / delivery device (portable device) 160. The umbilical cord conduit 110 includes an inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector 190 of the portable device 160 and the primary reservoir device 12.
It may extend to and from zero main unit oxygen gas delivery connectors 213 and may be used to deliver gaseous oxygen between them. An oxygen delivery device 90, such as a mask or nasal tube or trocar, can be attached to either device to deliver gaseous oxygen to the patient. Alternatively, the inter-unit oxygen gas transmission connector 190 may be directly connected to the main unit oxygen gas transmission connector 213.

Since LOX changes from liquid to gas as it heats, related art LOX systems have typically relied on venting excess gas pressure to maintain acceptable internal pressure levels. The result is higher costs for health care workers. Pressure control of the portable device 160 and the primary reservoir device 120 is very important because keeping the pressure low provides a safe, lightweight and economical system by reducing or eliminating degassing. By balancing the use of the primary storage device 120 and the portable device 160 so that the internal pressure does not build up to the point where either device has to be degassed excessively, the present invention provides such economics. To achieve. Thus, the LOX system 100 provides an efficient L without excess degassing.
Allow usage cycles that allow the use of OX.

Primary reservoir 120 may be any size that can be used to store and deliver LOX for a desired period of time. The preferred unit according to the invention is 2
It can contain 0-60 liters or more of LOX. According to one embodiment, a primary reservoir containing about 85 liters of LOX is provided. According to the second embodiment, about 43 liters (about 110 pounds) of L
A primary reservoir containing OX is provided.

Primary storage device 120 includes the main LOX storage and container. The LOX can optionally be transferred from the primary reservoir device 120 to the portable device 160 to fill the portable device 160 for use on the move. Because the primary reservoir 120 is intended to maintain a sufficiently large fill volume, the primary reservoir 120 is essentially daily,
The portable device 160 can be refilled for a substantially long period of time, for example up to about a month or more. This can reduce refill costs by up to 75% or more compared to related art.

The portable device 160 is preferably about 3.5 lbs when fully filled with LOX and 2.5 lbs when empty, much smaller and lighter than the primary reservoir device 120 and patient friendly. Gaseous oxygen can be supplied to the patient while being carried.

In use, the primary reservoir 120 is filled with LOX. The patient can use gaseous oxygen directly from the primary storage device 120 via the main unit oxygen gas delivery connector 213 or can deliver LOX to the portable device 160 and withdraw gaseous oxygen from the portable device 160. . The portable device 160 allows the patient to move around outdoors, while the umbilical cord conduit 110 can be 50-100 feet or longer in length, allowing the patient to store the portable device in a primary reservoir for storing LOX. Allows you to connect to a container.

The inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector 190 is connected to the main unit oxygen gas transfer connector 213 of the primary storage device 120 to selectively from the portable device 160 or the primary storage device 120, or both simultaneously. It may be possible to withdraw oxygen gas.

FIG. 2 shows details of one embodiment of the primary storage device 120. The primary storage device 120 includes a primary storage container assembly 205, a main LOX transfer connector 209, a main unit oxygen gas transfer connector 213 and a main unit primary relief valve 257. In the illustrated example, a primary display device 274 is also included.

The primary storage container assembly 205 includes an outer container 223, an inner primary storage LOX container 226 spaced from the outer container 223, an insulating material 229 positioned between the outer container 223 and the inner container 226, and a molecular sieve 231. And a vacuum plug 235. The space between the outer container 223 and the inner container 226 is preferably at least a partial vacuum to minimize heat transfer to the LOX inside the inner container 226.

Primary reservoir LOX container assembly 205 also includes an outlet port 238 through which neck conduit 242 passes. The neck conduit 242 extends a short distance into the inner container 226 and is used to withdraw gaseous oxygen from the primary reservoir LOX container 226. Inside neck conduit 242 is a fill conduit 244, preferably concentric with neck conduit 242. The fill conduit 244 can be used to fill the primary reservoir LOX container 226 with LOX. Inside the fill conduit 244 is a liquid withdrawal conduit 247, preferably concentric with the fill conduit 244. Liquid withdrawal conduit 247 can be used to withdraw LOX from primary reservoir LOX container 226.

Above the outlet port 238 of the primary reservoir LOX container 205, the neck conduit 242 is split into two separate conduits. The main unit vent valve conduit 250 leads to a main unit vent valve 251, which can be opened to fill the inner container 226 with LOX via the main LOX transfer connector 209. When the inner container 226 is filled with LOX, the main unit degassing valve 251 is open until liquid exits the valve 251 indicating that the container 226 is filled with LOX.

The slow / fast / conservation conduit 255 includes a main unit primary relief valve 257 and a savings valve 261.
Leads to. The main unit primary relief valve 257 provides an excess internal gas pressure to the primary reservoir LOX when the internal gas pressure exceeds a predetermined limit, eg, 55 psi.
Provided for relief from container 226. Conduit 255 also connects to main unit secondary relief valve 258, which can be set to the same or higher (eg, 10-20% higher) level than main unit primary relief valve and the primary valve has failed. In case this is a backup.

The conduit 255 also leads to a savings valve 261, the purpose of which will be explained below.

A fill conduit 244 extends above the neck conduit 242 and extends upwardly to the main unit LOX transfer connector 209. The upper part of the neck conduit 242 and the main unit L
There is a T-tube 263 between it and the OX transmission connector 209, where the liquid withdrawal conduit 2
47 exits fill conduit 244. After exiting the fill conduit 244, liquid withdrawal conduit 247
Meets a second Tee, which joins the liquid withdrawal conduit 247 with the savings conduit 266 prior to the warming coil 269. The savings conduit 266 connects the savings valve 261 with the heating coil 269. Gaseous oxygen passes through the savings valve 261 when it is open. The saving valve 261 for storing LOX can be set to any suitable level below the primary and secondary relief valve settings, and thus gaseous oxygen can be delivered to the main unit primary relief valve 257 or the main unit secondary relief valve. It will pass through the savings valve 261 and into the warming coil 269 prior to being withdrawn through the valve 258. One preferred setting for the savings valve 261 is 22 psi. Liquid withdrawal conduit 247 provides LOX to warming coil 269, while economizing conduit 266 provides gaseous oxygen withdrawn via slowing / saving pipe 255. Within the heating coil 269, the drawn LOX and gaseous oxygen are warmed by exposure to room temperature, accelerating the change from liquid to gas. It should be noted that the inner diameter of the warming coil 269 may be larger than the inner diameter of the liquid withdrawal conduit 247 to allow it to expand as the LOX warms and changes from the liquid phase to the gas phase. However, the inner diameter of the liquid withdrawal conduit 247 is preferably line 266 when the savings valve 261 is open.
The gas flow therethrough is sized to be sent to warming coil 269 in preference to liquid withdrawal through conduit 247. In the illustrated embodiment, the warming coil 269 is connected at the main unit oxygen gas transfer connector 213 to a pressure regulator 271 capable of maintaining a desired operating pressure.

In the illustrated embodiment, the primary reservoir LOX container 205 is a primary reservoir LOX.
A primary display device 274 is included for displaying the LOX level within the X container 226. Primary display device 274 is connected to the bottom of primary reservoir LOX container 226 via high pressure sensing conduit 279. Primary display device 274 may be interconnected with pressure gauge 217. Manometer 217 provides a visual reading of the internal gas pressure of primary reservoir LOX container 226,
For example, it may be a mechanical pressure gauge. The pressure gauge 217 has a low pressure sensing conduit 27.
7 to the conduit 255.

In use, LOX is the main unit LOX transfer connector 209 and fill conduit 2
It may be added to or withdrawn from the primary reservoir LOX container through 44. The main unit oxygen gas delivery connector 213 can be used to withdraw gaseous oxygen for use. Gaseous oxygen is supplied to the main unit oxygen gas transfer connector 213, both through the warming coil 269, through the saving valve 261 and / or by conversion of LOX to gas through the liquid withdrawal conduit 247.

FIG. 3 shows details of one embodiment of the portable device 160. The portable device 160 includes a portable LOX container 302, a portable unit LOX transfer connector 304, a portable unit oxygen gas transfer connector 384, an inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector 190 and a portable unit primary relief valve 315.

The portable container assembly 302 includes an outer container 318, an inner portable LOX container 319 spaced from the outer container 318, a filling conduit 322, a liquid extraction conduit 326, and a vacuum stopper 32.
8 and multi-lumen annular conduit 331. The space between the outer vessel 318 and the inner vessel 319 is preferably partially evacuated to minimize heat transfer to the LOX inside the inner vessel 319.

LOX can be introduced into portable LOX container 319 through portable unit LOX transfer connector 304 and fill conduit 322. Portable unit L
The OX transfer connector 304 can be connected to the main unit LOX transfer connector 209 of the primary reservoir 120, where the portable device 160 is the primary reservoir 120.
Can be filled with LOX.

LOX can be withdrawn via liquid withdrawal conduit 326 and gaseous oxygen can be withdrawn via necked conduit 331.

A manifold 336 is connected to the neck conduit 331 and divides the neck conduit 331 into a gaseous oxygen withdrawal conduit 339 and a degassing conduit 341. Degassing conduit 34
1 may include a vent valve 344. The vent valve 344 can be opened during filling of the portable LOX container 302. As LOX emerges from degassing conduit 341, this provides a visual indication that portable LOX container 319 is full.

In the illustrated embodiment, the liquid withdrawal conduit 326 is a manifold 336.
Passing through, and the LOX is connected to a liquid warm-up withdrawal coil 349 that can transform into the gas phase. The liquid extraction heating coil 349 is LOX when exposed to room temperature.
To accelerate the change from liquid to gas. It should be noted that the inner diameter of the liquid withdrawal warming coil 349 may be larger than the inner diameter of the liquid withdrawal conduit 326 to allow it to expand as the LOX warms and changes from the liquid phase to the gas phase. .

The gas oxygen withdrawal conduit 339 connects with the gas withdrawal warming coil 352. The gas extraction warming coil 352 warms the gaseous oxygen prior to delivery to the oxygen user.

A portable unit primary relief valve 315 is connected to the gas extraction heating coil 352. The portable unit primary relief valve 315 can be opened to relieve the gaseous oxygen pressure in the portable LOX container 319 when the internal gas pressure exceeds a predetermined level, eg, 27 psi.

A savings valve 356 connects the gas extraction warming coil 352 with a conduit 380 that includes gaseous oxygen from the liquid extraction warming coil 349. The portable unit savings valve 356 can be set to any suitable level, such as 22 psi, below the portable unit primary relief valve 315, and the pressure of gaseous oxygen in the portable LOX container 319 is predetermined. Exceeding a threshold level, eg, 22 psi, allows gaseous oxygen from coil 352 to pass into line 380. In the preferred embodiment, the inner diameter of the liquid withdrawal conduit 326 is sized so that the flow of gas through line 339 takes precedence over the flow of liquid through conduit 326 when the portable unit savings valve 356 is open. . This allows gaseous oxygen from the gas headspace in the portable container 319 to pass to the patient without having to wastefully pass the portable unit primary relief valve 315. Thus, the portable unit saving valve 356 becomes the portable L
The gaseous and liquid oxygen withdrawals from the OX vessel 319 are balanced and the resulting gaseous oxygen is delivered to conduit 309. The portable unit secondary relief valve 382 is provided as a spare unit for the portable unit primary relief valve 315 and is set to the same level as or higher than the portable unit primary relief valve and reserves it if the primary valve fails. Becomes

While the function of the savings valve of the present invention has been described above with reference to a preferred embodiment, other configurations utilizing any suitable pressure operating system are within the scope of the present invention. For example, for a system operating at 20 psig, the savings valve is 19.5.
It may be set to any suitable setting, such as between psig and 22 psig. Alternatively, for systems having an operating pressure of about 50 psig, a savings valve having a setting between, for example, 48 psig and 55 psig may be utilized. The corresponding primary regulation setting for a 20 psig system is, for example, 21p.
It can be between sig and 24 psig. The corresponding primary regulation setting for a 50 psig system can be, for example, between about 50 psig and 58 psig. However, these configurations are merely exemplary and other configurations may be utilized in accordance with the present invention.

Gaseous oxygen from conduit 309 can be delivered to the demand flow control device 360, which also from the primary reservoir 120 to an inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector 190.
It is also possible to receive gaseous oxygen via. A check valve 363 may be included between the conduit 309 and the inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector 190 to prevent gaseous oxygen from flowing from the portable device 160 to the primary storage device 120.

Demand flow control device 360 is for regulating the flow of gas through portable unit oxygen gas transfer connector 384a to oxygen delivery device 90 to deliver gaseous oxygen to the patient.

Gaseous oxygen is provided to the patient from the portable unit, or from the main reservoir unit through connector 190, through portable unit oxygen gas delivery connector 384a.

In the preferred embodiment, the demand flow control device 360 can be connected to a gas storage device 390. A known storage device is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,360,000.

In the example shown here, gas transmission connection systems 384 a and 384.
b is utilized so that when the patient exhales the flow to the oxygen delivery device 90 is stopped and gas accumulates in the storage device 390. When the patient breathes in, a puff of oxygen gas (
A bolus) is delivered from the storage device 390 to the patient, which further prevents the waste of gaseous oxygen, which is followed by an even flow of gaseous oxygen, which is stopped again the next time the patient exhales. The storage device 390 is connected to the primary storage device 12 via the connector 190.
As a result of using with the portable device of this invention connected to 0, great savings and LOX
Save and get.

A method of utilizing the high performance LOX storage / delivery system 100 of the present invention is disclosed. This method uses the umbilical conduit 110 to save oxygen use by the patient and balance the use of the primary storage device 120 and the portable device 160, thus avoiding excess deoxygenation.

The main unit oxygen gas transmission connector 213 is connected to the umbilical cord conduit 110, for example, by
It is connected to the inter-unit oxygen gas transmission connector 190. This connection allows gaseous oxygen to flow from the primary storage device 120 to the portable device 160. Gaseous oxygen is provided to the patient from either the primary reservoir LOX storage delivery device 120 or the portable device 160, depending on which has the higher gas pressure.

The umbilical conduit 110 may be a flexible conduit (eg, a hose) to allow the portable device 160 to move while still connected to the primary reservoir device 120. In this hookup condition, oxygen delivery device 90 is connected to demand flow control device 360 to provide gaseous oxygen to the patient.

This method may utilize the fill / use cycle of the portable device 160. The fill / use method of the present invention avoids or reduces unnecessary degassing of the portable device 160 or the primary reservoir device 120.

Gaseous oxygen is withdrawn from the primary reservoir 120 during the withdrawal period, which is preferably at least 5 hours per day, more preferably about 10 hours or more per day.
The removal of gaseous oxygen from the primary reservoir 120 is either directly connected to the connector 213 or connected to the connector 384 of the portable device with the connector 190 of the portable device connected to the main reservoir. It may also be done through the oxygen delivery device 90. The hook-up state during the gas withdrawal period to the primary storage device 120 is such that the internal pressure in the primary storage LOX container does not reach the excessive level required for degassing.
Allows removal of gaseous oxygen from the primary storage LOX container. This saving is done by saving valve 261 (and saving valve 3 if the portable unit is hooked up).
When used with 56), it enables oxygen removal without wasting gas.

After the removal period discussed above, the portable device 160 may be filled with LOX from the primary storage device 120 and removed, for example, if the patient desires to go outdoors.

In a preferred embodiment, the portable LOX container can contain about 1 pound of LOX, which when utilized with the portable LOX / delivery device of the present invention, is about 2 liters per minute. It lasts approximately 10 hours at typical patient use / withdrawal rates.

During the removal of gaseous oxygen from the primary reservoir LOX device, the oxygen gas pressure within the primary reservoir LOX device is reduced to a level (eg, 22 psi) at which the savings valve is set, so that the portable container is LOX. Pressure in the primary reservoir after it has been charged with and removed from the primary reservoir LOX device, for example during a gas pressurization period of 5 to 15 hours per day, for example within about 10 hours per day. Increased to a pressure of 50 psi, LOX or oxygen gas is not withdrawn from the primary reservoir and oxygen gas is not vented from the primary reservoir during the gas pressurization period.

When the patient returns home before completing the removal of oxygen gas from the portable LOX container, the inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector of the portable LOX container connects to the main unit oxygen transfer connector of the primary reservoir LOX container. And oxygen gas can be drawn from the portable LOX container or the primary reservoir LOX container, depending on the pressure differential between the containers.
Oxygen gas can be transferred from the primary reservoir LOX container through the main unit oxygen transfer connector to the portable LOX device.

According to one embodiment, during the withdrawal period, the inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector of the portable LOX container is connected to the main unit oxygen transfer connector of the primary reservoir LOX container, and the oxygen gas is transferred from the portable container to the oxygen gas. Alternately or simultaneously to the delivery device, oxygen gas is delivered from the primary reservoir LOX container through the portable LOX device to the oxygen gas delivery device to reduce the gas pressure within the primary reservoir LOX container.

The present invention may provide significant savings over related art systems. For example,
At a patient usage rate of 2 liters per minute, the related art system has about 1 per day.
Take 0 pounds of LOX. The present invention provides the same 2 liters per minute while utilizing about 2 pounds of LOX per day to provide up to about 8 pounds of LO per day.
X can be saved.

Although the present invention has been described in detail above and illustrated in the drawings, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments illustrated and shown.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates one embodiment of the high performance LOX system of the present invention and illustrates how primary reservoirs and portable LOX storage / delivery devices can be interconnected.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates details of one embodiment of a primary reservoir LOX storage / delivery device.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates details of one embodiment of a portable LOX storage / delivery device.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, I T, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ , CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, K E, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG , ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, BZ, C A, CH, CN, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM , DZ, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, K E, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS , LT, LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, R U, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM , TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW (72) Inventor Davis, Richard             Bo, 63021 Missouri, United States             Ruwin, Gilham Court, 434 F-term (reference) 3E072 AA01 DB03 GA30                 3E073 AA01 CA03 DB04 [Continued summary] When connected to a source of oxygen, oxygen gas Oxygen gas delivery to be delivered to the patient from the device (319) Oxygen gas while it can be delivered to the device (90) Is a stationary type of gas in the primary storage LOX container (226). From the source to the portable container (319).

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A high performance liquid oxygen (LOX) storage / delivery system comprising a portable LOX container and being connected to a portable LOX container for delivering LOX to said portable container. A portable unit LOX transfer connector connectable to a main LOX supply in the container, and a portable unit oxygen for transferring oxygen gas from the portable LOX container to an oxygen gas delivery device for delivering oxygen gas to a patient. A gas transfer connector and an inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector for connecting the portable device to a stationary source of oxygen gas in the primary storage container for transferring oxygen gas to the portable container, When the inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector of the portable container, including a portable LOX / delivery device, is connected to the stationary source of oxygen in the primary storage container, the Gas can be transmitted from a source of installation type of the gas in the primary reservoir LOX container to an oxygen gas delivery device to be delivered to the patient through the inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector system. 2. A unit-to-unit oxygen gas transfer connector, wherein when the unit-to-unit oxygen gas transfer connector of a portable container is connected to the stationary source of oxygen in the primary storage container, oxygen gas is transferred to the portable LOX. An oxygen gas delivery device for delivery from the container to the patient and oxygen gas can be delivered to the oxygen gas delivery device from a stationary source of oxygen in the primary reservoir LOX container. The system of claim 1, configured to be. 3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a primary reservoir LOX storage / delivery device including the primary reservoir LOX container, the primary reservoir LOX device being connected to the primary reservoir LOX container to store LOX. A main L connectable to a portable unit LOX transfer connector for charging into the primary reservoir LOX container and for delivering LOX from the primary reservoir LOX container to the portable LOX container.
An OX transfer connector, the system further includes a main unit oxygen gas transfer connector for transferring oxygen gas from the primary reservoir LOX container, the main unit oxygen gas transfer connector from the stationary source of oxygen. The inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector is connectable for the transfer of the oxygen gas to a portable device, and the gaseous oxygen is transferred from the stationary source of oxygen to an oxygen gas delivery device. A system that enables 4. The system of claim 3, further comprising providing oxygen gas from the portable LOX container when the pressure in the portable LOX container reaches a predetermined level in the portable LOX container. A portable unit primary relief valve connected to the portable LOX container for venting, and oxygen gas is vented from the primary reservoir LOX container when the pressure of the oxygen gas in the primary reservoir LOX container reaches a predetermined level. A main unit primary relief valve connected to the primary reservoir LOX container for. 5. A LOX of a primary storage LOX container connected to the primary storage LOX container.
The system of claim 3, further comprising a primary display device for displaying the contents of the. 6. The system wherein the oxygen gas is withdrawn from the primary reservoir during a withdrawal period of at least about 5 hours per day, after which the portable LOX device is filled with LOX from the primary reservoir LOX device. The oxygen gas pressure in the primary reservoir LOX device is reduced to a certain level so that LOX or oxygen gas is not withdrawn from the primary reservoir and oxygen gas during the gas pressurization period. The pressure is adapted to function within a cycle of operation, wherein pressure can be increased in the primary reservoir during a gas pressurization period of about 5-15 hours per day without being vented. The system described. 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector of the portable LOX device is connected to the main unit oxygen transfer connector of the primary reservoir during the withdrawal period, thus transferring oxygen gas from the portable container. The oxygen gas is capable of being delivered to an oxygen gas delivery device while the oxygen gas is delivered from the primary reservoir through the first oxygen delivery connector to the portable device and is adapted to function within an operating cycle. The system according to item 6. 8. The system is such that the withdrawal period is at least about 1 per day.
The system of claim 5, adapted to function within an operating cycle that is zero hours. 9. The oxygen gas delivery device is connectable to the main unit oxygen gas delivery connector for delivering oxygen gas from the primary reservoir LOX container for delivery to the patient. The system described in. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein a flexible gas conduit is connectable to the oxygen gas delivery device between main unit oxygen gas transfer connectors. 11. The flexible gas conduit can connect a main unit oxygen gas transfer connector to an inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector for transferring oxygen gas from the primary reservoir to the portable device. Item 3. The system according to Item 3. 12. The oxygen gas delivery device is connected to a gas storage device, thus, when the patient exhales, oxygen gas accumulates in the storage device, and when the patient inhales, the oxygen gas is discharged. 4. The system of claim 3, delivered from the storage device to the patient. 13. The system of claim 3, wherein the primary reservoir LOX device further comprises a pressure indicating device for displaying internal gaseous oxygen pressure within the primary reservoir LOX container. 14. A method of utilizing the high performance liquid oxygen (LOX) storage / delivery system of claim 3, wherein the method comprises connecting the interunit oxygen gas transfer connector of the portable container to the primary reservoir. Connecting the main unit oxygen transfer connector of the container, wherein oxygen gas is transferred from the primary storage container through the main unit oxygen transfer connector to the portable container while oxygen gas is transferred from the portable container to the portable container. Withdrawing through a unit oxygen gas delivery connector. 15. A further step of withdrawing oxygen gas from the primary reservoir during a withdrawal period of at least about 5 hours per day, and thereafter from the primary reservoir LOX device to the portable unit connected to the main unit LOX transfer connector. Unit LO
Filling the portable LOX device with LOX through an X transfer connector, removing the portable LOX device from the primary reservoir LOX device, and drawing oxygen gas from the portable LOX device, whereby During the withdrawal period, the oxygen gas pressure in the primary reservoir LOX device is reduced to a certain level,
Thereafter, no LOX or oxygen gas is withdrawn from the primary reservoir and oxygen gas is not vented from the primary reservoir during the gas pressurization period, resulting in a pressure of about 5 per day in the primary reservoir. Increased during a gas pressurization period of -15 hours,
The method according to claim 14. 16. Inter-unit oxygen of the portable LOX container prior to completing withdrawal of oxygen gas from the portable LOX container while the portable LOX container is partially filled with LOX. A gas transfer connector is connected to the main unit oxygen transfer connector of the primary storage LOX container to draw oxygen gas from the portable LOX container, while oxygen gas is transferred from the primary storage LOX container through the main unit oxygen transfer connector. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method is delivered to a dedicated LOX device. 17. The inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector of the portable LOX container is connected to the main unit oxygen transfer connector of the primary reservoir LOX container during the withdrawal period, and oxygen gas is transferred from the portable container to oxygen. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein oxygen gas is delivered from the primary reservoir LOX container to the portable LOX device through the main unit oxygen delivery connector while being delivered to the gas delivery device. 18. The inter-unit oxygen gas transfer connector is connected to the main unit oxygen gas transfer connector by a flexible gas conduit during the extraction period.
7. The method according to 7. 19. The method of claim 14, wherein during the withdrawal period, a main unit oxygen gas delivery connector is connected to the oxygen gas delivery device by a flexible gas conduit. 20. The oxygen gas delivery device is connected to a gas storage device such that when the patient exhales, oxygen gas accumulates in the storage device and when the patient inhales, the oxygen gas 15. The method of claim 14 delivered from a storage device to the patient.