JPH11299894A - Oxygen concentrator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an oxygen concentrator for medical use for which miniaturization and weight reduction are requested especially among the oxygen concentrators. SOLUTION: In this pressure swing adsorption type oxygen concentrator provided with the generation means of oxygen concentrated gas, a supply means for supplying the gas to a patient and a discharge means for discharging unrequired gas other than the oxygen concentrated gas, components for constituting the respective means are fixed to a frame and further, a casing to be the other shell of the device is fixed to the frame.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an oxygen concentrator, and more particularly to a medical oxygen concentrator. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improvement in the structure of a medical oxygen concentrator for reducing its size and weight.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A medical oxygen concentrator is used when a patient suffering from a respiratory disease such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis receives a therapy of oxygen inhalation therapy. In recent years, it is said that the number of patients with these respiratory diseases tends to increase, and oxygen inhalation therapy is regarded as one of the most effective means of the treatment.

[0003] Oxygen inhalation therapy is a treatment method in which a patient inhales oxygen gas or oxygen-enriched gas. The means for supplying the oxygen gas or oxygen-enriched gas includes a high-pressure oxygen cylinder, a liquid oxygen cylinder, There is an oxygen concentrator etc.
Oxygen concentrators are becoming widespread in terms of ease of use.

[0004] The oxygen concentrator is a device for separating and concentrating oxygen in the air. As a method for separating and concentrating oxygen, a separation membrane system for obtaining an oxygen-enriched gas mainly using an oxygen permeable membrane and a method for selecting nitrogen and oxygen are used. There are two types of adsorption systems using adsorbents having specific adsorption performance, but the adsorption type oxygen concentrator is becoming mainstream in view of the obtained oxygen concentration.

[0005] The adsorption type oxygen concentrator mainly includes means for generating oxygen-enriched gas such as an adsorption bed and a solenoid valve for switching between adsorption and desorption of the adsorption bed, a compressor and a fan for cooling heat generated from the compressor. Supply means, and a discharge means for discharging unnecessary gas other than the oxygen-enriched gas obtained in the adsorption bed, etc., and all of the components constituting these components are relatively heavy components. In order to mount the components, there are many restrictions on the strength and restrictions on the arrangement, and the entire apparatus has to be large and heavy.

[0006] The oxygen concentrator is a device used for oxygen inhalation therapy as described above. In order to improve the quality of life of a patient using the device, a small and lightweight device which can be moved to any place is used. Although desired, it has been difficult to develop a compact and lightweight device due to the above-mentioned restrictions.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a medical oxygen concentrator which is required to be smaller and lighter among oxygen concentrators.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The inventor of the present invention has made intensive studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, and as a result, fixed the components constituting the oxygen concentrating device on a frame, and further mounted the outer casing of the device on the frame. The present invention has been found to be effective in reducing the size and weight of the entire device while securing the strength for mounting relatively heavy components by adopting a structure for fixing the housing that forms Is reached.
That is, the present invention relates to a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator having a means for generating an oxygen-enriched gas, a supply means for supplying the gas to a patient, and a discharge means for discharging an unnecessary gas other than the oxygen-enriched gas. An oxygen concentrator characterized in that constituent components are fixed to a frame, and a casing that is an outer shell of the device is fixed to the frame.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail. That is, the oxygen concentrating device of the present invention obtains oxygen-enriched gas from air using an adsorbent having selective adsorption performance, and uses a compressor as a means for supplying air as a raw material. Further, the compressor generates heat during its operation, and thus is provided with a fan for cooling the heat. Raw material air pressurized and supplied by a compressor is a device that selectively adsorbs specific components in the adsorption bed, and then reduces the pressure in the adsorption bed to perform desorption to obtain a gas with an increased oxygen concentration. It is.

[0010] In the apparatus of the present invention, the adsorption bed comprises:
One or two or more may be used. However, for a small and lightweight oxygen concentrator for medical use and home treatment, 2
It is desirable that the number is not more than the number. In general, various types of compressors are commercially available, but any type can be used as long as it can supply raw material air at a predetermined pressure and flow rate. However, an oil-lubricated compressor is preferably an oil-free compressor because compressed air may contain oil and requires post-processing. As a fan, a fan may be directly attached to a power shaft of a compressor. However, this alone is often insufficient in cooling capacity, and it is desirable to add another fan.

The oxygen concentrator of the present invention is characterized by an adsorption bed filled with an adsorbent having selective adsorption performance, a compressor for supplying compressed air as a raw material to the adsorption bed,
A fan for cooling the heat generated by the compressor, an oxygen-enriched gas supply means for using the oxygen-enriched gas obtained from the adsorption bed, and discharging unnecessary gases other than the oxygen-enriched gas obtained from the adsorption bed Pressure-absorption-type oxygen concentrator equipped with a discharge means for fixing the adsorption bed, compressor, fan, and other components constituting the oxygen concentrator to a frame, and fixing the outer casing to the frame. It is to have. Normally, heavy parts such as adsorption beds and compressors are placed on the bottom plate of the device or fixed to the partition in the device, but in this case, the thickness of the bottom plate and the partition is increased to ensure strength. I have to do it. In the present invention, these weight components are fixed on a frame, and the strength is given by using a frame structure such as a ladder-type frame, so that the strength and the weight can be balanced. As the material of the frame, any material may be used, but a material having high strength such as aluminum or reinforced plastic is desirable in consideration of the balance between strength and weight.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a frame, FIG. 2 is a diagram in which components are mounted on the frame, and FIG. 3 shows a state where a cover is attached to the frame on which the components of FIG. 2 are mounted. In these figures, 1 is a frame, 2 is an adsorption bed, 3 is an oxygen tank, 4 is a compressor, 5 is a solenoid valve, 6 is a front housing, and 7 is a rear housing. In FIG. 2, piping connecting each component, wiring for control, and other small components are omitted. In a conventional oxygen concentrator, for example, a partition wall is provided between the adsorption bed and other components, and the partition wall keeps the mounting strength of the adsorption bed or arranges the compressor on the bottom plate. By arranging the parts on the frame as in this example, the degree of freedom in arranging the parts is increased, and the arrangement can be performed efficiently. Further, since a partition or the like is not required, a small and lightweight design can be realized.

[0013]

By arranging on a frame as in the present invention, the degree of freedom in arranging parts is increased and efficient arranging is possible, and a partition and the like are not required, so that a small and lightweight design can be realized. . The degree of freedom in arranging parts is increased, so that efficient parts arranging is possible, and the constraints on the strength of the housing design are reduced, so that a small and lightweight oxygen concentrator can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of a frame according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an embodiment in which components are arranged on a frame according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a mounting relationship between the arrangement example of FIG. 2 and a housing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Frame 2 Adsorption bed 3 Oxygen tank 4 Compressor 5 Solenoid valve 6 Front case 7 Back case

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator comprising a means for generating an oxygen-enriched gas, a supply means for supplying the gas to a patient, and a discharge means for discharging an unnecessary gas other than the oxygen-enriched gas. An oxygen concentrator characterized by fixing constituent components to a frame, and further fixing a casing that is an outer shell of the device to the frame.