JP2014061388A - Medical oxygen concentrator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medical oxygen concentrator capable of reducing production cost, and supplying oxygen gas surely corresponding to a prescription flow rate of a doctor.SOLUTION: A flow rate control valve is provided on a passage from an oxygen gas tank to an oxygen gas discharge port, and an operation part is constituted of an operation member 31, four marks M1, M2, M3, M4, and position information output means for outputting position information of the respective marks. A first mark shows power source disconnection, and second, third and fourth marks show life states of sleeping, rest and work, respectively. A control part includes: an index position determination means for determining which mark is indicated among the four marks; a flow rate setting means; and a flow rate control means. The flow rate control means reads flow rate setting data stored in a storage part correlatively with a mark indicated by the index based on a determination signal outputted from the index position determination means, and controls the opening ratio of the flow rate control valve, when the index 31b of the operation member indicates some one of the four marks.

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical oxygen concentrator, particularly suitable for home medical use.

  In the conventional medical oxygen concentrator, when the operation button provided on the operation panel is pressed, the oxygen generator in the device is activated to produce oxygen gas, and the oxygen flow rate of switches and dials provided on the operation panel When the user operates the setting means to adjust the flow rate to a doctor's prescription, the flow rate control valve is controlled to open and close, and oxygen gas having a flow rate according to the prescription is discharged.

  The doctor divides the daily living state of the user into “working”, “resting”, and “sleeping”, and prescribes an optimal flow rate according to each living state. However, in the above-described conventional medical oxygen concentrator, the user can easily set the oxygen flow rate by the oxygen flow rate setting means, so the prescription flow rate for “working”, “resting”, and “sleeping” When the oxygen flow rate is set according to the above, there is a possibility that the setting position of the oxygen flow rate setting means is wrong or the visual check of the actual oxygen gas flow rate is forgotten, and the oxygen gas flow rate is used incorrectly.

  In medicine, such an erroneous supply of oxygen gas needs to be prevented, and a medical oxygen concentrator capable of reliably supplying oxygen gas according to a doctor's prescription flow rate has been desired.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a medical oxygen concentrator that solves problems such as erroneous operation due to the fact that the user can easily set or change the oxygen flow rate as described above. This medical oxygen concentrator includes at least one adsorption cylinder filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen over oxygen, an air compressor for supplying air to the adsorption cylinder, and concentration in the adsorption cylinder. In the medical oxygen concentrator having a structure in which oxygen gas from the gas tank is stored, and the oxygen gas from the gas tank is discharged from the oxygen gas discharge port after the flow rate is adjusted by the flow rate control valve. Two or more flow paths arranged in parallel with the oxygen gas discharge port are provided, and each flow path has a flow rate adjusting valve for adjusting the flow rate of oxygen gas flowing through the flow path and a flow through which the oxygen gas flows. Open / close control valves for selecting a path are provided, and operation / flow rate setting switches as many as the number of flow paths are provided on the operation panel, and the corresponding flow rate is controlled by operating each operation / flow rate setting switch. Road The open / close state of the open / close control valve can be individually controlled, and by opening only one of the open / close control valves, oxygen gas at a flow rate set in advance in the flow rate adjustment valve of the flow path that has been opened The gas is discharged from the oxygen gas discharge port.

  The flow control means of the oxygen concentrator used in conventional home oxygen therapy uses a rotary switch type multiple orifice switching mechanism and a simple area valve (float type) needle valve. There is a type that can be adjusted (see Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-229375 Japanese Patent No. 4650713

  However, the medical oxygen concentrator described in Patent Document 1 includes (1) two or more flow paths arranged in parallel between a gas tank and an oxygen gas discharge port, and (2) each flow path has A flow rate adjusting valve for adjusting the flow rate of the oxygen gas flowing through the flow path and an open / close control valve for selecting the flow path through which the oxygen gas flows are provided, respectively. (3) On the operation panel, the number of flow paths The same number of operation / flow rate setting switches are provided, so if you divide your daily life into three categories of “working”, “resting” and “sleeping” and supplying oxygen with different prescribed flow rates, It is necessary to provide three each of the flow path, the flow rate adjusting valve and the open / close control valve, and the operation / flow rate setting switch.

  Therefore, the number of components is very large as a medical oxygen concentrator that is operated during use by the user himself / herself setting the flow rate for “work,” “rest,” and “sleeping” according to the doctor's prescription. In addition, the structure is complicated and the manufacturing cost is high, and there is a problem that the operation at the time of setting the flow rate and supplying oxygen is complicated. In addition, the confirmation of the set flow rate is merely a visual check of the flow rate setting switch at the time of supplying oxygen. In particular, visually impaired persons often cannot set the flow rate or check the flow rate when supplying oxygen.

  On the other hand, in the orifice type, the settable flow rate is a fixed value because the orifice diameter is determined in advance. Moreover, since it is a rotary type, there is a limit to the number of arbitrarily set values, and the oxygen flow rate may be unstable or may not flow between the set values. In particular, since it is difficult for the patient to feel that oxygen is flowing at a low flow rate, there is a possibility that the patient keeps inhaling without oxygen actually flowing. On the other hand, in the case of the float type, it can be said that it is unsuitable for general users, such as individual fluctuations in float swing due to fluid resistance and reading at the time of setting (see Patent Document 2).

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and can reduce the manufacturing cost, and the user can easily set the oxygen flow rate and supply oxygen according to the doctor's prescription, thereby preventing erroneous operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a medical oxygen concentrator capable of achieving the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention controls the opening ratio of the flow rate adjusting valve provided in the flow path from the oxygen gas tank to the oxygen gas discharge port by the control unit according to the flow rate selected by the operation of the operation unit. In a medical oxygen concentrator that discharges oxygen gas at a predetermined flow rate, (a) one flow path from the oxygen gas tank to the oxygen gas discharge port is provided, and one flow rate adjusting valve is provided in the flow path, (b) The operation unit includes a mark selection unit and a flow rate input unit for inputting a flow rate of oxygen gas discharged from the oxygen gas discharge port. (C) The mark selection unit is rotatable or movable on the operation panel. One operating member provided and having an index or serving also as an index, and 4 from the first mark to the fourth mark arranged on the operation panel at positions separated in the rotation direction or movement direction of the index of the operating member One mark and And a position information output means for outputting position information indicating the position when the index member is moved to a position where the index points to each mark and stopped, and (d) the first mark is the position of the medical oxygen concentrator. The second mark, the third mark, and the fourth mark are marks indicating the sleeping, resting, and working life states, respectively. (E) The control unit is an index position determining unit. And (f) the index position determination means indicates which of the four marks from the first mark to the fourth mark is indicated by the output of the position information output means. (G) The flow rate setting means inputs the flow rate in a state where the index of the operation member of the mark selection means indicates one of the second mark, the third mark, and the fourth mark. Flow rate setting input by operating the means Constant data is stored in association with the mark pointed to by the index in the storage unit based on the determination signal output by the index position determination means, and (h) the flow rate control means is configured such that the index of the operation member is the second mark The flow rate setting stored in association with the mark pointed to by the index in the storage unit based on the determination signal output by the index position determination means when pointing to any one of the third mark and the fourth mark The data is read to control the opening ratio of the flow rate adjusting valve.

The operation member of the mark selection means (hereinafter simply referred to as operation member) is composed of a rotatable dial having an index, and the first mark is located in one direction from the initial position at the position indicated by the index of the dial at the initial position. It is preferable that a second mark, a third mark, and a fourth mark are arranged at each position indicated by the dial indicator rotated to a plurality of positions.
The operation member is configured by a slider having an index or also serving as an index, which is provided so as to be movable along a straight line or a curve, and the first mark is located in one direction from the initial position at the position indicated by the index of the slider at the initial position. The second mark, the third mark, and the fourth mark may be arranged at each position indicated by the slider index moved to a plurality of positions.

  An oxygen flow rate display unit is added to the medical oxygen concentrator, and the flow rate value input from the flow rate input means to the oxygen flow rate display unit, the second mark, the third mark or the fourth point indicated by the operation member index. It is preferable to display the flow rate setting value read from the storage unit in association with the mark.

  The flow rate input means also serves as a child lock means. If the operation is continued for the first predetermined time, the flow rate input means emits a sound or light, and the flow rate setting of the oxygen flow rate display section blinks and the child lock is released to set the flow rate. It is preferable that the flow rate setting of the oxygen flow rate display unit is turned on when the second predetermined time has elapsed after the operation is completed, and the child lock state is set.

  When the index of the operation member is set to the second mark, the third mark, or the fourth mark, whether the life state represented by the mark is sleeping, resting, or exertion by voice or light emission It is preferable to provide guidance means for guiding. In this way, it is possible to provide a medical oxygen concentrator that is friendly to users who are blind or deaf.

When the index position determination means does not output a determination signal, that is, when the index of the operating member does not point to any of the first mark to the fourth mark continues for a certain time or longer, the user is notified of the operation. It is preferable to add a warning means for notifying abnormality by sound or light emission.
In this way, an inappropriate state of operation can be quickly corrected.

  When the state where the index of the operation member indicates the intermediate position between the second mark, the third mark, and the fourth mark continues for a predetermined time or longer, the flow rate control means It is preferable that the flow rate setting data stored in association with the mark pointed immediately before is read to control the opening ratio of the flow rate adjustment valve. In this way, it is possible to provide a medical oxygen concentrator that normally supplies oxygen gas even when the user's operation is halfway.

  The second mark, the third mark, and the fourth mark are preferably pictograms representing the life states of sleeping, resting, and labor, respectively. In this way, it is possible to intuitively grasp the position and meaning of each mark.

  According to the present invention, the number of components of the medical oxygen concentrator can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the power can be turned on and off and the oxygen flow rate can be specified only by operating one operation member. Therefore, the operation of setting the oxygen flow rate and the operation of supplying oxygen are easy, and erroneous operations can be prevented.

It is a block diagram which shows notionally the structure of the medical oxygen concentration apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. 1 is a perspective view of a display panel of a medical oxygen concentrator according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view which extracts and shows the mark selection means of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the detail of the control apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the medical oxygen concentration apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the processing content of routine R1 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the transition of the state of a child lock function. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content at the time of oxygen flow rate input. It is a block diagram which shows notionally the structure of the medical oxygen concentration apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the principal part in case the operation member of the mark selection means of a medical oxygen concentration apparatus is a slider.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Description of configuration]
As shown in FIG. 1, a medical oxygen concentrator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a casing 3 that includes a caster 2 with a stopper and is movable on a floor surface.

  In the housing 3, as main components of the medical oxygen concentrator 1, an air filter 11 that cleans room air, an air compressor 12 that compresses air purified by the air filter, An adsorption cylinder 13 that adsorbs nitrogen from compressed air using an adsorbent to generate oxygen gas, an oxygen gas tank 14 that stores the oxygen gas, and a single flow path 15 that is connected to the oxygen gas tank 14 are provided. A pressure regulating valve 16, a flow rate regulating valve 17 provided in the flow path 15 on the downstream side of the pressure regulating valve 16, and a flow rate sensor 18 provided in the flow path 15 on the downstream side of the flow regulating valve 17. An oxygen gas discharge port 19 that opens to the outside of the housing 3 is provided at the end of the flow path 15 on the downstream side of the flow sensor 18.

  One flow path 15 is provided from the oxygen gas tank 14 to the oxygen gas discharge port 19, and one pressure adjustment valve 16, a flow rate adjustment valve 17, and a flow rate sensor 18 are attached to the flow path 15.

  The pressure adjusting valve 16 adjusts the pressure of the oxygen gas discharged from the oxygen gas tank 14, and the pressure is set on the manufacturer side at the time of shipment of the apparatus. The flow rate adjusting valve 17 is configured by a known electromagnetic valve whose flow rate can be changed by a control signal given from the outside. The flow rate sensor 18 is configured to detect the flow rate of oxygen gas discharged from the oxygen gas discharge port 19 and to input the current detected flow rate data to the arithmetic control unit 22 of the control device 20. The arithmetic control unit 22 always monitors whether or not the set flow rate is obtained from the detected flow rate data. A tracheal cannula (not shown) is detachably attached to the oxygen gas discharge port 19. In addition, a control device 20 connected to the flow rate adjusting valve 17 and the flow rate sensor 18 is provided in the housing 3. The control device 20 will be described in detail later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an operation panel P <b> 1 and a display panel P <b> 2 are provided on the outer surface of the housing 3. The operation panel P1 is provided with a mark selection unit 30 and a flow rate input unit 40 that constitute an operation unit.

  The mark selection means 30 is provided on the operation panel P1, and turns on / off the power to each operation unit such as the air compressor 12 and the oxygen gas flow rate from the oxygen gas discharge port 19 at "sleeping", "resting", "working". Corresponding to each of the marks M1 to M4, the operation member 31 for selecting any one of the flow rates, four marks M1, M2, M3, M4 arranged along the rotation path or the movement path of the operation member. Position information output means S1 to S4 (FIG. 3).

  The operation member 31 is one operation member having one index or serving as one index, and is a rotation type operated by rotation and a movement type operated by moving along a straight line or a curve. There can be. As the rotary type operation member, a dial 31A that is rotatably attached to the operation panel P1 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 can be used. The dial 31A has a knob 31a projecting in a direction perpendicular to the rotation center axis on the front surface of the circular substrate, and can grip and rotate the knob 31a. An index 31b is provided at one end of the knob 31a.

  As the moving type operation member, a slider 31B as illustrated in FIG. 10 can be used. The slider 31B is provided in a horizontal or vertical linear guide groove 39 formed in the operation panel P1 so as to be movable in the length direction of the groove. The power supply is provided on one end side of the guide groove 39, that is, on the left end side in the example of FIG. As the mark M1 indicating the cutting position moves to the right side, marks M2, M3, and M4 indicating the living states of sleeping, resting, and working, and “sleeping”, “resting”, and “working” near each mark Is written. By moving the slider 31B to a required mark, the desired oxygen gas can be discharged as in the case of the dial. The slider 31B may be provided with an index 31b on its surface, but it can also be formed so as to serve as an index.

  Hereinafter, an example using the dial 31A will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the dial 31A grips the knob 31a and is attached to the operation panel P1 so as to be rotatable from a vertical state around a central horizontal axis to a predetermined angle clockwise, for example, 180 degrees. Four marks M1, M2, M3, and M4 are arranged on the surface of the operation panel P1 on the outer surface of the rotation semicircle on the arc centering on the rotation center of the dial 31A, preferably at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Yes.

  Further, on the operation panel P1, position information output means S1 to S4 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) for outputting position information indicating the position when the dial 31A is moved to the position where the index 31b points to each mark and stopped. ) Is arranged. The position information output means S1 to S4 are, for example, on an arc centered on the rotation center of the dial 31A below the dial 31A, and connect the rotation center of the dial 31A and the marks M1, M2, M3, and M4. A switch (not shown) arranged at the intersection of the straight line and a lower surface of the index 31b of the dial 31A, the index 31b is made to face one of the marks (one of M1, M2, M3, and M4). Sometimes it can be configured with an actuator (not shown) that turns on a switch corresponding to the mark.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, when the mark “M1” is marked with “OFF” and the index 31b of the dial 31A is opposed to the mark M1, the operation of the medical oxygen concentrator 1 is stopped. Show. Each of the other three marks M2, M3, and M4 is composed of pictograms that conceptually represent “sleeping”, “rest”, and “work” as living conditions. By using a pictogram, there is an advantage that it is possible to intuitively understand that each mark represents “sleeping”, “rest”, and “work”. However, the characters “sleeping”, “rest”, and “work” may be written near the marks M2, M3, and M4. The arrangement order of the marks M1, M2, M3, and M4 is not particularly limited, but in the illustrated example, when the index 31b of the dial 31A is directed vertically downward so as to be easily understood and operated by the user. In addition, a mark M1 is provided at the position indicated by the index 31b.

  The flow rate input means 40 is for inputting a flow rate value of oxygen supplied from the oxygen gas discharge port 19 via the flow rate adjustment valve 17. For example, an increase switch 41 for increasing the flow rate and a flow rate reducing means for decreasing the flow rate. And a weight reduction switch 42. As a general name of the increase switch 41 and the decrease switch 42, there is a case where it is called a flow rate input switch.

  As a preferred embodiment, from the marks M1, M2, M3, and M4 to the flow rate input means 40 in view of the guidance effect of the operation sequence of operating the flow rate input means 40 after operating the operation member 31A of the mark selection means 30. A continuous frame and / or color 34 is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the display panel P <b> 2 on the outer surface of the housing 3 is provided with a status display unit 35, an oxygen flow rate display unit 36, and a flow display unit 37.

  The status display unit 35 is for indicating the current state of the apparatus, and includes a light emitting unit 35a to 35e that displays presence / absence by turning on or off a light emitting body such as an LED lamp, and a display described in the vicinity of each light emitting unit. Consists of characters such as power supply, communication required, power supply abnormality, concentration drop, confirmation.

  The oxygen flow rate display unit 36 displays the flow rate set value when operating the flow rate input means 40, and corresponds to the mark when the index 31b of the dial 31A indicates one of the marks M2, M3, M4. To display the prescription flow set. If necessary, the oxygen flow rate detected by the flow sensor 18 may be indicated during oxygen supply. For example, the oxygen flow rate display unit 36 is configured by a numerical display unit using a three-digit seven segment or an eight segment. In the vicinity of the oxygen flow rate display unit 36, for example, the upper side is written with characters such as “oxygen flow rate”, and the lower side is written with characters such as “liter / minute” indicating the unit of oxygen flow rate. It is easy to understand that what is displayed by the part 36 is the oxygen flow rate.

  The flow display unit 37 is a visual indication that oxygen gas is being discharged, and a plurality of ripple patterns whose sizes are sequentially increased are juxtaposed in a certain direction, and an LED is placed inside each figure. A light emitter (not shown) such as a lamp is arranged. Then, light emission is sequentially repeated in the direction of the ripples from the smallest to the largest, thereby displaying that the oxygen is being supplied. Characters such as “flow display” may be written near the flow display unit 37.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control device 20 includes a storage unit 21, a calculation control unit (CPU) 22, and an I / O interface 23.

  The storage unit 21 includes a ROM that stores a system program and a RAM that stores working data, and a first part that stores the flow rate setting data input via the flow rate input unit 40 by a part of the RAM. A memory 211, a second memory 212, and a third memory 213 are configured. Nonvolatile memories are used for the memories 211, 212, and 213.

  In the first memory 211, the second memory 212, and the third memory 213, flow rate setting data corresponding to the marks M2, M3, and M4, that is, oxygen at the time of "sleeping", "resting", and "working", respectively. The set value of the flow rate (prescription flow rate) is stored.

  The arithmetic control unit (CPU) 22 includes an index position determination unit 221, a flow rate setting unit 222, a flow rate control unit 223, and a display control unit 224.

  The index position determination means 221 determines which of the marks M1 to M4 the index 31b of the operation member 31A indicates based on the output signal from the position information output means S1, S2, S3 or S4. When the dial 31A is rotated to a position where the index 31b points to any one of the marks M2, M3 and M4, the output signal of the position information output means (S1, S2, S3 or S4) is output to the arithmetic control unit (CPU). 22 index position determination means 221 is provided. When the output of the position information output means continues for a first predetermined time T0, for example, 1 second or longer, the index position determination means 221 determines that the index 31b is stopped at the position indicating the mark. For example, when the dial 31A is rotated and stopped to the position where the index 31b points to the mark M2, the actuator provided in the dial 31A turns on the switch corresponding to the mark M2, so that the output signal of the switch is used to determine the index position. Provided to means 221. Accordingly, the index position determination unit 221 determines that the index 31b is stopped at a position indicating the mark M2.

  The flow rate setting unit 222 stores the flow rate set value input from the flow rate input unit 40 in correspondence with the mark indicated by the index 31b. The flow rate control means 223 reads the flow rate setting value stored in the storage unit and controls the opening ratio of the flow rate adjustment valve 17.

  When the flow rate setting data is input by operating the flow rate input means 40 (increase switch 41 or decrease switch 42) according to the doctor's prescription, the display control unit 224 corresponds to, for example, the mark M2 based on the input flow rate setting data. The flow rate setting data to be stored is stored in, for example, the first memory 211 of the storage unit 21. At the same time, the set value is displayed on the oxygen flow rate display unit 36. As will be described later, when it is confirmed that the displayed set value matches the prescription flow rate of the doctor and the flow rate input means 40 is opened, the operation to the flow rate input means 40 is locked again when a certain time has elapsed. Is done.

  In this way, the prescription flow rate of “at bedtime” can be set. The dial 31A is rotated to a position where the index 31b points to the mark M3, and the flow rate input means 40 is operated to set the prescription flow rate at “rest” as in the previous case. Further, the dial 31A can be rotated to a position where the index 31b points to the mark M4, and the flow rate input means 40 can be operated to set the prescription flow rate of “working” as in the previous case.

  The flow rate setting sequence of “at bedtime”, “at rest” and “working” is arbitrary, and the flow rate input means 40 is operated when the index 31b of the dial 31A is set to any of the marks M2, M3 and M4. Therefore, the flow rate corresponding to the mark can be set. In the present invention, the mark selection means 30 is configured to select “sleeping”, “rest”, and “work” in this order in the order in which the rotation angle of the dial 31A increases, that is, in accordance with the prescription. There is an advantage that the correct flow rate can be set.

  The arithmetic control unit 22 also detects that the detected flow rate data from the flow rate sensor 18 does not satisfy the flow rate setting data of “at bedtime”, “at rest”, or “working” currently specified by the dial 31A for a predetermined time. When the above is continued, the light emitter 35d that displays and alerts the decrease in density of the state display unit 35 of the operation panel P2 is caused to emit light.

  The I / O interface 23 connects the flow control valve 17, the flow sensor 18, the dial 31A, the flow rate input switches 41 and 42, the control valve control circuit 24, and the oxygen flow rate display unit 36 to the calculation control unit 22 to send and receive signals. Is possible.

  The regulating valve control circuit 24 gives a control signal corresponding to the control amount data given from the flow rate control means 223 to the flow rate regulating valve 17. The flow rate adjusting valve 17 is an electromagnetic valve that can change the opening ratio of the valve based on the control signal.

[Description of action]
Next, the operation of the medical oxygen concentrator 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, when the main power supply of the medical oxygen concentrator 1 is turned on, as shown in FIG. 5, the index position determination means 221 of the arithmetic control unit 22 looks at the output state of the position information output means S1 to S4 and the index of the dial 31A. It is determined which of the marks M1, M2, M3, and M4 31b indicates (step P1).

  When the index 31b is not moved from the initial position, that is, the position indicating the mark M1 (Yes in Step P2), the medical oxygen concentrator 1 is kept in the standby state R, and Steps P1 and P2 are repeated.

  When the dial 31A is rotated from the initial position and the index 31b is stopped at the position indicating the mark M2, when the state continues for a predetermined time, the index position determination means 221 indicates that the index 31b is stopped at the position indicating the mark M2. Determine (Yes in step P3). If it is determined that the index 31b is stopped at the position indicating the mark M2, the flow rate control means 223 executes a routine R1 for oxygen supply control at “sleeping”.

  FIG. 6 shows the processing contents of the routine R1. That is, in the routine R1, the flow rate control means 223 reads the flow rate setting value stored in the first memory 211 of the storage unit 21, and confirms the set flow rate (step P21). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the set flow rate is 0 liter / minute (step P21). When it is determined in step P21 that the set flow rate is not 0 liter / min, the opening rate of the flow rate adjusting valve 17 is controlled by the set flow rate (the “sleeping” flow rate). That is, the oxygen supply operation is performed at the “sleeping” flow rate set for the mark M2 indicated by the index 31b of the dial 31A (step P23). Therefore, oxygen having a prescription flow rate “at bedtime” is discharged from the oxygen gas discharge port 19.

  The display control means 224 reads the bedtime flow rate setting data stored in the first memory 211 of the storage unit 21 with respect to the mark M2, and displays the set flow rate on the oxygen flow rate display unit 36.

  When it is determined in step P21 that the set flow rate is 0 liter / min, the medical oxygen concentrator 1 is placed in a standby state (step P24), and then it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (step P25). ). When it is determined in step P25 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the fact that the flow rate is not set (flow rate not set) is displayed on the oxygen flow rate display unit 36 (step P26).

  The “at bedtime” oxygen supply operation (routine R1 processing) can be arbitrarily determined to be continued or stopped by the user's intention. If stopped, the process returns to Step P1.

  When the dial 31A is rotated from the initial position, the index 31b is not stopped at the position indicating the mark M2, but is further rotated, the index 31b is stopped at the position indicating the mark M3, and the state continues for a predetermined time. Is stopped at the position indicating the mark M3 (Yes in Step P4). Therefore, the flow rate control means 223 executes a routine R2 for oxygen supply control at "rest".

  The processing content of the routine R2 is basically the same as the processing content of the routine R1 in FIG. Therefore, illustration is abbreviate | omitted. The routine R2 differs in that the flow rate control means 223 reads the flow rate setting value stored in the second memory 212 of the storage unit 21 and checks the set flow rate in step P21 of FIG. The difference is that in step P23, the oxygen supply operation is performed at the flow rate of “sleeping” set for the mark M3 pointed to by the index 31b of the dial 31A. Further, the display control means 224 reads the rest flow rate setting data stored in the second memory 212 of the storage unit 21 with respect to the mark M3, and displays the set flow rate on the oxygen flow rate display unit 36.

  As in the routine R1, the “resting” oxygen supply operation (processing in the routine R2) can be arbitrarily determined to be continued or stopped by the user's intention. If stopped, the process returns to Step P1.

  When the dial 31A is rotated from the initial position, the index 31b is stopped at the position indicating the mark M4, and the state continues for a predetermined time, it is determined that the index 31b is stopped at the position indicating the mark M4 (Yes in Step P5). Become). Accordingly, the flow rate control means 223 executes a routine R3 for oxygen supply control at “working”.

  The processing content of the routine R3 is basically the same as the processing content of the routine R1 in FIG. Therefore, illustration is abbreviate | omitted. The routine R3 differs in that the flow rate control means 223 reads the flow rate setting value stored in the third memory 213 of the storage unit 21 and confirms the set flow rate in step P21 of FIG. In step P23, the difference is that the oxygen supply operation is performed at the flow rate of “working” set for the mark M4 indicated by the index 31b of the dial 31A. Further, the display control means 224 reads the working flow rate setting data stored in the third memory 213 of the storage unit 21 for the mark M4, and displays the set flow rate on the oxygen flow rate display unit 36.

  As in the case of the routine R1, the oxygen supply operation (processing in the routine R3) during “work” can be arbitrarily determined to be continued or stopped by the user's intention. If stopped, the process returns to Step P1.

  When an oxygen flow rate corresponding to the mark selected from the oxygen gas discharge port 19, that is, a prescription flow rate of “sleeping”, “resting” or “working” is discharged, the oxygen flow rate is always monitored by the flow sensor 18. The information is fed back to the flow rate control means 22b. The oxygen flow rate at that time may be displayed on the oxygen flow rate display unit 36 by the display control means 224.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a child lock function is added to the arithmetic control unit 22. The child lock function locks the flow rate input means 40 so that it is not operated unnecessarily by an infant or the like. An example of the realization method will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the state transition of the child lock, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing when the flow rate is input. When the apparatus is turned on and the process is started, when no operation is performed, the device is in a locked state (locked) and the flow rate input means 40 and the like cannot be operated. Is turned on and displayed (step P31). Next, in Step P32, it is determined whether or not the increase switch 41 of the flow rate input means 40 has been pressed for a predetermined time, for example, 1 second or longer. If it is not determined that the increase switch 41 has been pressed for 1 second or longer, the process returns to Step P31. If it is determined in step P32 that the button has been pressed for more than one second, the arithmetic control unit 22 causes a buzzer (not shown) provided on the display panel P2 to ring, for example, “Pibbit” (step P33) and simultaneously child lock. The oxygen flow rate display unit 36 notifies that the flow rate can be set by blinking the set flow rate (step P35). Then, after the child lock is released, the flow rate input means 40 is operated, that is, the flow rate is incremented by +1 each time the increase switch 41 is pressed, or is decremented by 1 every time the decrease switch 42 is pressed (step P36). be able to. The calculation control unit 22 determines whether or not a predetermined time, for example, 5 seconds has elapsed since the completion of the flow rate setting operation (step P37), and the input oxygen flow rate when the predetermined time has elapsed since the completion of the flow rate setting operation. Store in the memory (step P38). The memory is a memory allocated corresponding to the mark pointed by the index 31b of the dial 31A at that time. At the same time, the setting value display of the oxygen flow rate display unit 36 is changed from blinking display to lighting display (step P39) to notify that the flow rate setting is completed, and immediately thereafter, the child lock state is entered again (step P310).

  Therefore, although the medical oxygen concentrator 1 is normally maintained in a locked state, when the increase switch 41 is pressed for a predetermined time, the lock is released and an oxygen flow rate can be input, and a predetermined time elapses after the input. Then, it becomes a locked state again. When the oxygen flow rate setting is changed, the oxygen flow rate is instantaneously stored in the memory of the storage unit 21 and the flow rate from the oxygen gas discharge port 19 is changed.

[Other embodiments]
The rotation direction and rotation angle of the dial 31 and the arrangement positions and arrangement order of “sleeping”, “rest”, and “work” are merely examples, and are not limited thereto. For example, the rotation angle of the dial 31 may be 270 degrees, the intervals between the marks M2, M3, and M4 may be 90 degrees, and the rotation direction of the dial 31 may be counterclockwise. The arrangement position and order of the flow rate input switches 41 and 42 are not limited to the illustrated example. The positional relationship of the light emitters of the state display unit 35 on the display panel P2, the arrangement position of the oxygen flow rate display unit 36, and the like are also arbitrary.

  In addition, the flow rate setting may be performed by pressing a confirmation button (not shown) without waiting for the passage of a certain time after opening the flow rate input switch, and storing the set value. Furthermore, the marks M2, M3, and M4 on the operation panel P1 are not limited to the combination of pictograms and characters, and may be represented by only one of them. Furthermore, the positional relationship between the operation panel P1 and the display panel P2 is arbitrary in the vertical and horizontal directions.

  In another preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the index position determination unit 221, the flow rate setting unit 222, the flow rate control unit 223, and the display control unit 224, the calculation control unit 22 of the control device 20 includes The voice guidance means 225 and the alerting means 226 are added, and as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a speaker 50 and a light emitter (not shown) are provided.

  Using the determination signal from the index position determination means 221, the voice guidance means 225 is moved to a position where the index 31b of the operation member (31A or index 31b) points to any of the marks M2, M3, M4 and stopped. When a predetermined time T2, which is set in advance, e.g., 2 seconds elapses, the speaker indicates whether the prescription flow set corresponding to the mark is a prescription flow at bedtime, at rest, or at work 50 will guide you by voice. For example, if you turn the dial 31A to mark M2 and stop it, you will be informed that “The current setting is going to sleep.” It ’s a hard work. ” Therefore, the user can know from his voice guidance whether his operation is correct or not. Even a user who is physically disabled and cannot see the display on the operation panel, or a user who is visually impaired can easily confirm whether or not the operation has been performed correctly.

  However, the user does not always stop the moved operation member (31A or index 31b) at a position that exactly matches any one of the marks M1 to M4. It is possible to stop at a halfway position between adjacent marks. For such a case, as illustrated in FIG. 5, in step P6, the oxygen supply operation performed immediately before is continued.

  Then, the alerting means 226 is based on the determination signal from the index position determination means 221, and the time during which the index 31b exists at a position not facing any of the marks M1 to M4, that is, the operation member (dial 31A or index 31b) When the time stopped at the halfway position between the marks continues for a predetermined time T3 longer than the predetermined time T2 (Y in P7), for example, the operation member (31A or index 31b) is instructed to the user. Attention such as requesting confirmation of the position is performed by voice from the speaker 50. Alternatively, it is desirable to display on the display section that the dial operation is abnormal (P8). As a result, the user can know that the operation is inappropriate, and can expect a correct operation.

  The effect is enhanced when alerting by light emission is performed in parallel, for example, by flashing the confirmation display lamp 35e in orange instead of or by alerting by voice. It is also effective for users who are deaf.

  As shown in FIG. 5, an automatic correction means may be provided in the arithmetic control unit 22 of the control device 20 instead of or together with the alerting means 226. This automatic correction means uses a determination signal from the index position determination means 221 and the time during which the index of the operation member (31A or index 31b) is stopped at a halfway position between marks exceeds a predetermined time T3. In this case, it is regarded that the mark is stopped at a position indicating one of the marks on both sides of the stop position of the index of the operation member (31A or index 31b), and the index position determination means 221 The index position is determined. Accordingly, the flow rate control means 223 performs flow rate control based on the flow rate setting data stored corresponding to the viewed mark. For example, when the index of the dial 31A exists between the marks M1 and M2 beyond a predetermined time T3, the dial 31A is configured to be operated so as to supply oxygen at the bedtime prescription flow rate corresponding to the mark M2. it can.

  When the index of the dial 31A is stopped at a halfway position between marks after a predetermined time T3, it is stopped at a position corresponding to the mark next to the mark before being moved to the halfway position. It can also be configured to be considered. For example, when the dial 31A is moved from the mark M1 to the M2 direction and the index is stopped for a predetermined time T3 during that time, oxygen is supplied at the prescription flow rate when the mark M2 goes to bed. Can do. In this case, for example, when the index of the dial 31A is moved from the mark M4 to the M3 direction and is stopped for a predetermined time T3 during that time, oxygen at the prescribed flow rate at the time of rest of the mark M3 is supplied.

  When the index of the dial 31A is stopped at a halfway position between the marks for a predetermined time T3, it corresponds to the mark corresponding to the position information output means that has been operated before being moved to the halfway position. It can also be configured to be regarded as stopped at a position. In this case, for example, when the index of the dial 31A is moved from the mark M1 to the M2 direction and stopped for a predetermined time T3 between the marks M1 and M2, the power supply corresponding to the mark M1 is forcibly cut off. Done. Further, for example, when the index of the dial 31A is moved from the mark M4 to the M3 direction and stopped for a predetermined time T3 between the marks M4 and M3, the supply of oxygen at the prescription flow rate during the work of the mark M4 is not performed. Forced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Medical oxygen concentrator 11 Filter 12 Air compressor 13 Adsorption cylinder 14 Oxygen gas tank 15 Flow path 17 Flow control valve 18 Flow rate sensor 19 Oxygen gas discharge port 20 Controller 21 Memory | storage part 211 1st memory 212 2nd memory 213 3rd Memory 22 Arithmetic control unit 221 Index position determination means 222 Flow rate setting means 223 Flow rate control means 224 Display control means 225 Voice guidance means 226 Attention means 24 Adjustment valve control circuit 30 Mark selection means 31 Operation member 31A Dial 31B Slider 31b Index M1 1st 1 mark M2 2nd mark M3 3rd mark M4 4th mark S1-S4 Position information output means 40 Flow rate input means 41 Increase switch 42 Decrease switch

Claims (8)

Medical oxygen that discharges oxygen gas at a predetermined flow rate by controlling the opening rate of the flow rate adjusting valve provided in the flow path from the oxygen gas tank to the oxygen gas discharge port according to the flow rate selected by operation of the operation unit In the concentrator,
(a) One flow path is provided, and one flow rate adjusting valve is provided in the flow path.
(b) The operation unit includes mark selection means and flow rate input means for inputting a flow rate of oxygen gas discharged from the oxygen gas discharge port,
(c) The mark selecting means is provided on the operation panel so as to be able to rotate or move linearly, and has one operation member having an index or serving also as an index, and a position separated in the rotation direction or movement direction of the index of the operation member 4 and the four marks from the first mark to the fourth mark arranged on the operation panel, and position information output means for outputting when the operation member is moved to the position where the index points to each mark and stopped And consists of
(d) The first mark is a mark indicating the operation stop of the medical oxygen concentrator, and the second mark, the third mark, and the fourth mark are bedtime, rest, and effort, respectively. Is a mark indicating the living state of
(e) The control unit includes an index position determination unit, a flow rate setting unit, and a flow rate control unit,
(f) The index position determination means determines which of the four marks from the first mark to the fourth mark the index indicates by the output of the position information output means,
(g) The flow rate setting means operates the flow rate input means in a state where the index of the operation member points to any one of the second mark, the third mark, and the fourth mark. The flow rate setting data input in this manner is stored in association with the mark indicated by the index in the storage unit based on the determination signal output by the index position determination means,
(h) The flow rate control means is based on a determination signal output by the index position determination means when the index of the operation member indicates any one of the second mark, the third mark, and the fourth mark. The flow rate setting data stored in association with the mark indicated by the index in the storage unit is read to control the opening ratio of the flow rate adjustment valve.
A medical oxygen concentrator characterized by that.   2. The medical oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the operation member is configured by a rotatable dial having an index, and the first mark is located at a position indicated by the index of the dial at an initial position from the initial position. The medical oxygen, wherein the second mark, the third mark, and the fourth mark are arranged at respective positions indicated by indices of the dial rotated to a plurality of positions in one direction Concentrator.   The medical oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the operating member is configured by a slider having an index or serving also as an index, which is movably provided along a straight line or a curve, and the index of the slider at the initial position is The first mark is at the position indicated, and the second mark, the third mark, and the fourth mark are indicated at respective positions indicated by the slider index moved from the initial position to a plurality of positions in one direction. Is a medical oxygen concentrator.   4. The medical oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate value input from the flow rate input means, the second mark indicated by the index of the operation member, and the third mark A medical oxygen concentrator comprising an oxygen flow rate display unit for displaying a flow rate set value read from the storage unit or an oxygen flow rate detected by a flow sensor in association with a mark or the fourth mark.   5. The medical oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, wherein an index of the operation member is set to the second mark, the third mark, or the fourth mark. Sometimes, a medical oxygen concentrating device is provided, which includes guidance means for guiding, by voice or light emission, whether the living state represented by the mark is sleeping, resting or working.   The medical oxygen concentrator according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein when the state in which the index position determination means does not output a determination signal continues for a certain period of time or more, A medical oxygen concentrating device, to which a warning means for notifying operation abnormality by voice or light emission is added.   The medical oxygen concentrator according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, wherein the flow rate control means is configured such that the operation member index is the second mark, the third mark, and the like. When the state stopped at the middle position of the fourth mark continues for a certain time or longer, the flow rate setting data stored in association with the mark immediately opposite the mark among the adjacent marks is read. A medical oxygen concentrator for controlling an opening ratio of the flow rate adjusting valve.   The medical oxygen concentrator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second mark, the third mark, and the fourth mark indicate a living state of sleeping, resting, and working, respectively. A medical oxygen concentrator characterized in that it represents a pictogram.

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