JP2777025B2 - Oxygen-enriched gas supply system and device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a respiratory gas supply device for connecting a respiratory gas supply device for supplying respiratory gas to a patient with respiratory disease or the like via a communication control device and a central information means. It provides a system for monitoring and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, oxygen therapy supplied from an oxygen cylinder to a patient with respiratory disease has been performed. Recently, an oxygen concentrator for separating and concentrating oxygen in air to obtain an oxygen-enriched gas has been developed. Oxygen therapy using it has been developed and is becoming increasingly popular.

[0003] Such oxygen concentrators include, for example, an adsorption type oxygen concentrator using an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing oxygen as an oxygen concentrating function section, and a membrane using an oxygen selective permeable membrane as an oxygen concentrating function section. There is a type oxygen concentrator.

[0004] As another oxygen supply system using oxygen therapy, there is known a method in which oxygen evaporated from liquid oxygen at a suitably controlled rate is supplied to a patient.

[0005] Oxygen concentrators are increasingly used not only in hospitals but also in homes for home care. These oxygen concentrators are individually arranged in hospitals and homes, and the operating conditions are separately grasped and managed.

[0006] These respiratory gas devices are devices for maintaining the life of a patient (user). Therefore, device reliability is a very important factor. For example, in the case of an adsorption type oxygen concentrator, control is performed by a microcomputer circuit so that concentrated oxygen is supplied as stably as possible.

[0007] However, if a performance defect or failure occurs due to deterioration of parts during long-term operation, the life of the patient is threatened. In particular, when the patient is an elderly person living alone or living in a remote place such as an isolated island, a failure should not be tolerated, and a device that does not cause anxiety is strongly required.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a pressure fluctuation adsorption-type oxygen concentrator such as a respiratory gas supply device used for home oxygen therapy in a remote place, which is monitored in an abnormal state by remote monitoring. An improved oxygen-enriched gas supply system and an oxygen suitable for it that can be detected as early as possible so that they can respond with a margin before the emergency stop, and can be centrally controlled by communication means It is an object of the present invention to provide a concentrated gas supply device.

[0009]

The present inventor has conducted intensive studies to provide an improved respiratory gas supply system capable of grasping the operating state of the operating state by such remote monitoring. The inventors have found that it is effective to combine specific communication control means, and arrived at the present invention.

That is, the present invention provides a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrating means having at least one adsorbent bed filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing oxygen or nitrogen, and an oxygen enriched gas for use. Oxygen-enriched gas supply means, information detection means for detecting information on the operating state of the oxygen-enrichment means and converting it to digital information as necessary, and determination for determining whether the detected information is normal or abnormal Means, and an oxygen-enriched gas supply device comprising first communication means for transmitting the determination result, and (ii) second communication for receiving the determination result transmitted from the oxygen-enriched gas supply device. Means, storage means for storing the determination result received from the second communication means, third communication means for transmitting the determination result by modem using a telephone line, and third communication if necessary. Through means A communication control device having communication control means for transmitting the stored determination result; and (iii) a central information processing device having a fourth communication means for receiving the determination result transmitted from the communication control device by modem. The present invention provides an oxygen-enriched gas supply system having the following.

According to the present invention, the determining means compares the detected operating information with a preset alarm operating point and / or forecast operating point to determine whether the operating state is a normal state or a state corresponding to the forecast. An oxygen-enriched gas supply system is characterized in that it can determine which of the states corresponds to an alarm.

In the present invention, the information detecting means may include at least one of a high-pressure side pressure sensor, a low-pressure side pressure sensor, and an oxygen concentration sensor in an oxygen-enriched gas to be used in the pressure fluctuation adsorption operation. An oxygen-enriched gas supply system according to claim 1 is provided.

Further, in the present invention, the detecting means may include:
A high pressure side pressure sensor and a low pressure side pressure sensor are provided, and the high pressure side pressure sensor is activated immediately before switching to desorption of the adsorption bed in the oxygen concentrating means, and the low pressure side pressure is detected immediately before switching to adsorption of the adsorption bed. An oxygen-enriched gas supply system is provided that includes control means for causing the sensor to operate.

The present invention also provides a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrating means having at least one adsorbent bed filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing oxygen or nitrogen, and a method for using the oxygen-enriched gas for use. Oxygen-enriched gas supply means, information detection means for detecting information on the operating state of the oxygen-enrichment means and converting it to digital information as necessary, and determination for determining whether the detected information is normal or abnormal It is an object of the present invention to provide an oxygen-enriched gas supply device comprising means and a first communication means for transmitting the determination result.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings as necessary. The oxygen-enriched gas supply system of the present invention includes an oxygen-enriched gas supply device, a communication control device, and a central information processing device.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the oxygen-concentrated gas supply system according to the present invention and the flow of information. In FIG. 1, information on the operation state and usage status of the oxygen-enriched gas supply device 1 used in each patient's home, that is, monitoring data, is transmitted via a communication circuit in the device 1 or a cable means 2 such as an RS232C cable. The data is always taken into the communication circuit of the communication control device 3 and processed. The data processed by the communication control device 3 is transmitted to the central information processing device via the public telephone line 4 at a fixed cycle. The data transmitted from each patient's home to the central information processing device 5 is processed by a computer dedicated to communication processing, and the data is recorded in a database. In this computer dedicated to communication processing, data for a new fixed period, such as one day, is collectively stored on a floppy disk, and data is read from the floppy disk as necessary, and the data is processed using a computer dedicated to data processing. It is desirable to record the data in a database. By doing so, the data stored in the database of the central information processing device 5 enables the operation state of the device, the use status of the patient, and the like to be grasped, thereby facilitating various operations.

The system of FIG. 1 includes a pressure swing adsorption type oxygen concentrating function unit 10 and a nasal cannula 11 as a means for supplying a respiratory gas as an oxygen-enriched gas therefrom. In addition, the oxygen concentrating function unit 10 includes a pressure sensor using a semiconductor sensor in an adsorption bed or the like as an information collecting function unit for quantitatively grasping information on an operation state and a use state of a patient, and a gas to be used. An information collection system including a concentration sensor, a means for recognizing a measured value of a gas flow measuring device to be used, and the like is included. The analog information obtained here is converted into digital information by an A / D converter, sent to a communication circuit for outputting the data via an SIO (serial input / output device),
-Serial transmission from the 232C communication port 12. That is, data obtained by the information processing system is processed by the CPU directly or after A / D conversion, sent to the communication circuit via the SIO, and serially transmitted from the RS-232C communication port.

[0018] The oxygen-enriched gas supply apparatus of the present invention comprises a pressure fluctuation adsorption-type oxygen enrichment means provided with an adsorbent bed filled with an adsorbent such as zeolite; a supply means for using the oxygen-enriched gas for use; Information detecting means for detecting information relating to the operating state of the enrichment means and converting it to digital information as necessary; determining means for determining whether the detected information is normal; and transmitting the determination result. It has communication means.

The pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrating means is filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing oxygen or nitrogen as an oxygen concentrating function section for separating oxygen-enriched gas having an increased oxygen concentration from air. One or more adsorbent beds are used, and pump means with a motor as a compressor for introducing compressed air to each adsorbent bed are usually used.
Further, if necessary, a fan means for generating cooling air for cooling these pump means is provided. Further, a conduit means for operatively connecting the oxygen concentrating function section and the pump means, and an automatic or manual opening / closing valve required for the conduit means are provided.

The means for supplying the respirable gas for use includes those provided with a conduit means, a nasal cannula, a mask and the like.

The normal methods detected by the information detecting means include those relating to pressure, oxygen concentration, flow rate, temperature in the concentrator, current, power supply decompression, abnormalities in the built-in computer, etc., and oxygen measured as necessary. Concentration, flow rate, pressure,
Information on temperature and the like can be given.

FIG. 2 shows a specific example of a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrating means applicable to the oxygen condensed gas supply device of the present invention.

That is, after the raw air A is compressed by the compressor 43 through the flow path 61 of the solenoid type four-way switching valve 44,
The gas is supplied to the adsorption bed 41 through the flow path 62 of the switching valve 44.
Nitrogen is adsorbed by the adsorption bed 41 and the oxygen concentration becomes 9
The oxygen-enriched gas having an abnormal volume of 0% by volume flows into the storage tank 42 through the solenoid valve 45. In addition, from the storage tank to the solenoid valve 4
6. After passing through the pressure reducing valve 47, passing through the sterilization filter 49, and passing through the flow controller 51, it is used as an oxygen-enriched gas. In the step of desorbing the adsorbent bed 41, the electromagnetic valve 45 is closed and the switching valve 44 is switched to allow the oxygen-enriched gas or the like in the adsorbent bed 41 to pass through the flow path 63 using a compressor as a depressurizing means. It is released as B from the flow path 64 of 44.
By adjusting the switching valve 44 and the solenoid valve 45 in this manner, the pressure fluctuation direction adsorption separation is performed. In addition, the compressor and the electric conductor attached thereto are cooled by the air flow by a fan (not shown). The oxygen-enriched gas C is usually humidified through an underwater bubbling humidifier, and then supplied to a user's nasal cavity or the like by an oxygen-enriched gas supply means such as a nasal cannula.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 52 denotes a pressure sensor for the adsorption bed, which is provided with a high pressure side pressure sensor and a low pressure side pressure sensor. Further, 53 in FIG. 2 is a pressure sensor for oxygen-enriched gas used for adsorption or the like, and 54 is an oxygen concentration sensor for such oxygen-enriched gas.

The oxygen-enriched gas supply apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that it has means for determining whether or not the detection information regarding the operation is normal. A more preferable example of the means uses a forecast operating point. Hereinafter, the forecast operation point will be described in detail.

Pressure sensor 5 indicating the pressure of the adsorption bed in FIG.
FIG. 3 shows a change in the normal operation state of No. 2. FIG.
(A) shows the whole pressure fluctuation pattern, and FIG.
(B) shows the details.

As described above, the maximum pressure of the adsorbent bed in the normal operation state is immediately before switching from the adsorption operation to the desorption operation, but is repeatedly stabilized at a constant pressure every time for the following reason.

That is, (i) the capacity of the adsorbent bed and the amount of the adsorbent filled in the adsorbent bed, (ii) the performance of the adsorbent,
(Iii) gas volume (air volume) supplied by the compressor, (iv) gas volume discharged by the compressor,
(V) The amount of generated gas taken out from the adsorption bed to the surge tank, (vi) The operation time cycle (time for adsorption and time for desorption) which repeats these operations is all constant. Therefore, as long as the oxygen concentrator operates normally, the pressure in the adsorbent bed (the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 52) is as shown in FIG.
(A) shows a constant change in pressure as shown in one example. That is, the maximum pressure of the adsorption bed also shows the same value every time.

One example of the cause of a decrease in oxygen concentration in a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator that normally repeats a constant pressure change in normal times is deterioration in adsorption / desorption performance of an adsorbent.

That is, in a normal adsorption operation, the adsorbent undergoes a large volume change when adsorbing N ₂ in the supplied air. The change is though reduced as the gas N ₂ is liquefied.

However, when the adsorption performance is deteriorated, the volume reduction ratio is deteriorated, and N ₂ not adsorbed in the adsorption bed remains as a gas. Then the adsorbent bed within the pressure at the end of adsorption operation (toggle its immediately preceding desorption) (P1) is increased or, N ₂ gas flows that were not adsorbed to the product gas surge tank from the adsorbent bed as compared to the normal This causes a decrease in the oxygen concentration in the produced gas. However, the adsorbent in the adsorbent bed is extra-filled so that it can cope with some deterioration in addition to the minimum required amount, and the oxygen concentration in the product gas tank does not immediately decrease. Rises.

Therefore, by observing the rise in the pressure in the adsorption bed, it is possible to predict in advance the decrease in the concentration of the produced gas.
In this case, the prediction is made by measuring the pressure rise situation.The set value of the predicted pressure is higher than the normal value so that the pressure can be detected earlier with some allowance for the pressure upper limit. Set a value lower than the value.

Thus, it is possible to predict a pressure abnormality using the high-pressure sensor according to the present invention.

Here, the upper limit value is defined as (1) a setting for protecting the apparatus, and (2) a pressure at which N ₂ gas starts flowing into the generated gas surge tank, that is, a decrease in the oxygen concentration in the generated gas is an allowable value. It is determined in consideration of both the lower limit pressure. When the pressure reaches the upper limit pressure value, the device is stopped urgently, an abnormal alarm (using a lamp, a buzzer, or the like) is issued, and at the same time, notification is made by the communication means.

Here, the forecast value is set in consideration of taking a measure with a margin before reaching the upper limit value (abnormal value).

Further, the following specific examples are given for the prediction by detecting the pressure drop using the low pressure side sensor in the present invention. That is, when the amount of air blown to the adsorption bed is reduced for some reason, it is intended to make a prediction before reaching an abnormal state.

In the description of the normal state, for example, assuming that the blowing capacity of the compressor is reduced,
As the amount of air blown to the adsorption bed decreases, the amount of generated gas decreases. However, when the generated gas amount is larger than the oxygen gas amount taken out of the system as the consumed gas amount (product gas flow rate), the pressure in the adsorption bed at the end of the adsorption operation (immediately before switching to desorption) compared to the normal value (Fig. 2), but the operation can be continued.

Next, when the amount of air blown by the compressor further decreases, the amount of generated gas also decreases, and is eventually taken out of the system as a consumed gas amount (product gas flow rate). When the generated gas amount is smaller than the oxygen gas amount, the product gas pressure (detected by the pressure sensor 53 in FIG. 2) decreases.

In this case, the apparatus is brought to an emergency stop, an abnormal alarm (a lamp and a buzzer) is issued, and at the same time, notification is made via the communication control unit. Assuming that such a state is the lower limit value of the adsorption bed pressure, the predicted pressure drop value is set lower than the normal value, reaches the lower limit value, and may be set with some allowance.

As described above, in the case of the forecast by the high pressure side pressure sensor, the pressure is detected immediately before switching to the desorption,
In the case of the forecast by the low pressure side pressure sensor, it is desirable to control the control means so as to detect the pressure immediately before switching to the adsorption.

A description will be given below of a prediction example based on a decrease in the oxygen concentration when the oxygen concentration sensor according to the present invention is used as the detecting means.

This is a method for predicting an abnormality corresponding to a case where both the above-described deterioration of the adsorbent and a decrease in the compressor capacity occur simultaneously. In other words, when the adsorbent deterioration causes the adsorbent bed pressure to rise and the blower capacity decreases due to the compressor deterioration, the apparent adsorbent bed pressure does not show a normal value. Leads to. In such a case, it cannot be detected only by monitoring the pressure. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, an oxygen sensor 54 is preferably provided near the product gas outlet to detect the oxygen concentration.

Further, the central information processing device in the system of the present invention has a fourth communication means for receiving digital information transmitted from the communication control device by modem.

That is, as shown in FIG.
Is composed of two computers, a communication processing unit and a data processing unit, as an information processing computer in addition to a modem as a fourth communication unit. If the communication processing unit is prepared for emergency alert communication in addition to the periodic communication sent from each patient's home, it becomes easy to take a four-hour operation system. In addition, it is desirable to prepare for an emergency such as backing up the power by an uninterruptible power supply. The data processing unit is for performing history management of the respiratory gas supply device and processing of information relating to the patient's use status based on the recorded data.

The communication between the central information processing device 5 and the communication control device 3 is preferably performed by the telephone line 4.
In particular, it is practically convenient to use a public telephone line. When a public telephone line is used, the communication control device includes a storage unit for storing a telephone number of a destination, a transmission schedule, and the like, and further includes a connection unit with a telephone line, and is used from a telephone connected thereto. A device having a network control function including a transmission control means for enabling transmission only when the transmission is not performed is practically advantageously used.

As the system of the present invention, there is a system in which a plurality of sets in which an oxygen-enriched gas supply device and a communication control device are combined are connected to one central information processing device via a telephone line. Thus, a large number of respiratory gas supply devices can be connected via a telephone line to one central information processing device, which is a central device incorporating computer means, and the operation status of each device is abnormal (including a forecast). ) Etc. can be easily grasped intensively. Note that a plurality of respiratory gas supply devices may be combined with one communication control device to form one set.

[0047]

According to the oxygen-enriched gas supply system of the present invention, it is possible to grasp the abnormality of the apparatus by remote monitoring, and particularly to predict the abnormality, thereby improving the reliability of the apparatus and reducing the maintenance burden. It is also possible to expect the excellent effect of giving patients and doctors the security of online monitoring.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the oxygen-enriched gas supply system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a specific example of an oxygen concentrating unit applicable to the oxygen-concentrated gas supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a schematic pattern (a) and a detailed pattern (b) of pressure fluctuation in an adsorption bed in a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrating means.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrating means having at least one adsorption bed filled with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing oxygen or nitrogen, and an oxygen enriched gas for use. Oxygen-enriched gas supply means and pressure fluctuation adsorption operation
High pressure side pressure sensor and / or low pressure side pressure sensor
Comprising a service and information detecting means for converting the digital information as necessary detection result, pressure from the detected information
An oxygen-enriched gas supply device including a determination unit for predicting a force abnormality and a first communication unit for transmitting the determination result; and (ii) the determination transmitted from the oxygen-enriched gas supply device. Second communication means for receiving the result, storage means for storing the determination result received from the second communication means, and third communication means for transmitting the determination result by modem using a telephone line And a communication control means for transmitting the stored determination result via a third communication means as necessary; and (iii) transmitting the determination result transmitted from the communication control apparatus. Oxygen-enriched gas having a central information processing device having a fourth communication means for receiving a modem
A feed system, wherein the adsorbent bed in the oxygen concentrating means is provided.
The high-pressure side pressure sensor operates immediately before switching to desorption
Immediately before switching the adsorption bed to adsorption, the low pressure side pressure cell
Equipped with control means for operating the sensor
Oxygen enriched gas supply system, characterized in that those.