JP2007229213A - Oxygen enriching apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an oxygen enriching apparatus which prevents the reduction of the amount of oxygen incorporated into a body by the passage of time of the inhalation. <P>SOLUTION: The oxygen enriching apparatus is equipped with an oxygen enriching means 1, a pump means 2 for supplying oxygen enriched air from the oxygen enriching means 1 to a user, and a visual means 5 for enabling the user to inhale the oxygen enriched air by constant breathing. Since the breathing is always kept constant by stimulating the sense of vision by the visual means 5, the amount of oxygen incorporated into the body is not reduced by the passage of time of the inhalation. Consequently, an oxygen partial pressure in blood is always kept constantly high. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an oxygen enrichment apparatus for supplying oxygen enriched air to a user.

Conventionally, this type of oxygen enrichment apparatus has an oxygen concentration of 90% or more (flow rate: 2 to 6 L / min) for medical devices, and an oxygen concentration of approximately 30% (flow rate: flow rate) for home oxygen enrichment devices. 2 to 3 L / min) with a constant concentration (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).
Tanimoto, Junichi “Home Oxygen Therapy”, Katseido Publishing, July 1997, p59-75

  However, in the conventional configuration, air with a constant high concentration of oxygen is supplied, and while breathing this air, the respiratory rate decreases with time. This is because the carotid body detects a change in the amount of oxygen taken into the body and always works to keep the oxygen-enriched partial pressure constant in the blood via the respiratory center. For this reason, the amount of oxygen taken into the body is not different from the case of inhaling air at an atmospheric level as the inhalation time elapses. As a result, the original purpose of inhaling high concentration oxygen is impaired with inhalation time.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and to provide an oxygen enrichment device in which the amount of oxygen taken into the body does not decrease with the passage of inhalation time.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the oxygen enrichment apparatus of the present invention is provided with visual means so that the oxygen-enriched air to be supplied can always be consciously sucked at a constant respiration rate.

  As a result, the breathing is always made constant by visual stimulation by the visual means, so that the amount of oxygen taken into the body does not decrease with the passage of inhalation time, and the oxygen partial pressure in the blood can always be maintained at a constant high state. .

  The oxygen-enriching device of the present invention can maintain the oxygen partial pressure in the blood constantly at a constant high level without reducing the amount of oxygen taken into the body with the passage of inhalation time due to visual stimulation.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided oxygen enriching means, pump means for supplying the user with oxygen-enriched air from the oxygen-enriched means, and visual means for notifying the user of the timing of breathing when oxygen-enriched air is supplied. With the oxygen enrichment device, the breathing is always constant by visual stimulation by visual means, so the amount of oxygen taken into the body does not decrease with the passage of inhalation time, and the oxygen partial pressure in the blood is always reduced. A constant high state can be maintained.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first aspect of the invention, the visual means displays the breathing timing in terms of time, so that the breathing timing can be intuitively understood and the breathing can be maintained constant without difficulty.

  In the third invention, in particular, in the first invention, the visual means displays the timing of breathing with light, so that the timing of breathing may be linked to the change of the light display, so that the timing is easily taken. Can do.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the visual means can arbitrarily set the time for displaying the timing of breathing, so that there is no burden depending on the vital capacity and physical condition of the user. Respiration can be kept constant.

  According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first or third aspect of the invention, the visual means can change at least one of the light amount or the light source for displaying the timing of breathing. Depending on the vital capacity and physical condition, breathing can be kept constant without any burden.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows an oxygen enrichment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, the oxygen enrichment means 1 is made of a silicon-based film having excellent oxygen permeability. The suction port of the pump means 2 such as a vacuum pump is joined to the oxygen enrichment means 1 via the connection pipe 3. The blowing means 4 is connected to the connecting pipe 3 and supplies oxygen-enriched air to the vicinity of the user's breathing zone by the operation of the pump means 2.

  Moreover, the visual means 5 which notifies a user the timing of the breathing at the time of supply of oxygen-enriched air is provided. The visual means 5 informs the user of the timing of breathing by visual stimulation when supplying oxygen-enriched air. That is, the visual means 5 has a display panel so that the timing of expiration and inspiration can be displayed by time, or can be recognized by visual stimulation based on the blinking number of LEDs and the number of lighting.

  The control circuit 6 controls the pump means 2 and the visual means 5.

  About the oxygen enrichment apparatus comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  First, when the operation is started, the control circuit 6 operates the pump unit 2 to depressurize the oxygen enriching unit 1. As a result, oxygen enriched air is supplied from the oxygen enriching means 1 through the connecting pipe 3 and air having an oxygen concentration of about 30 to 40% is supplied from the blowing means 4. At the time of expiration, for example, the control circuit 6 turns on all the LEDs on the expiration side. The LEDs are turned off one by one at regular intervals. When all the lights are turned off, the control circuit 6 turns on all the LEDs on the intake side. Then, the LEDs are turned off one by one at regular intervals, and when all are turned off, all the LEDs on the expiration side are turned on. This operation is repeated while the oxygen enricher is in operation. The display can be stopped during the operation. Moreover, the expiration time and the inhalation time can be set arbitrarily. Alternatively, the timing may be taken by turning off all the LEDs first and then turning them on sequentially. Further, expiration or inspiration may be displayed by sequentially turning off or turning on the LEDs.

  By inhaling high-concentration oxygen with this respiration timing display, the respiratory center always controls a constant respiration rate (usually unconscious breathing. For example, inhaling high-concentration oxygen causes oxygen in the blood to be inhaled. Since the partial pressure rises, the respiratory center works to restore the oxygen partial pressure in the blood, so that after a few minutes the respiratory rate starts to decrease), the oxygen partial pressure in the blood is usually reduced to air Compared to when inhaled, it can always be kept high.

  Note that the visual stimulus can be a time display that is intuitively recognized instead of the LED. And if it is possible to change at least one of the light amount of the LED or the light source, or the time display can be arbitrarily set, the breathing is kept constant without burden according to the vital capacity / physical condition of the user. be able to.

  In addition, when the oxygen enrichment means 1 is made of an adsorbent made of zeolite, a solid electrolyte, or the like, particularly, the oxygen concentration becomes high and oxygen can be taken into the body more effectively.

  As described above, the oxygen enrichment device according to the present invention does not decrease the amount of oxygen taken into the body with the passage of time through visual stimulation, and always maintains the oxygen partial pressure in the blood at a constant high level. Therefore, it can be applied as a medical device and a home oxygen enricher.

The block diagram of the oxygen enrichment apparatus in embodiment of this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Oxygen enrichment means 2 Pump means 4 Blowing means 5 Visual means 6 Control circuit

Claims (5)

Oxygen-rich means comprising oxygen enrichment means, pump means for supplying the user with oxygen-enriched air from the oxygen-enrichment means, and visual means for informing the user of the timing of breathing during the supply of oxygen-enriched air Device. The oxygen enrichment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the visual means displays the timing of breathing in time. The oxygen enrichment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the visual means displays the timing of breathing with light. The oxygen enrichment apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the visual means can arbitrarily set a time for displaying a breathing timing. The oxygen-enriching apparatus according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the visual means is capable of changing at least one of a light amount and a light source for displaying a breathing timing.