TW202039018A - Systems and methods for therapeutic gas delivery for personal medical consumption having safety features - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for gas delivery for personal medical consumption having safety features. A hydrogen or oxygen gas delivery system herein can include electrolytic cores performing electrolysis-based reactions, and obtain free hydrogen (H2) gas for collection and delivery to a user. In aspects, the electrolytic core(s) can be scaled to produce a sufficient amount of hydrogen (H2) or oxygen (O2) gas so that the user can ingest that gas directly, without a need for storage. The system can be portable, and configured with a delivery tube for transmitting hydrogen or oxygen gas to a user. While safety risks are generally minimal, the system can be configured with sensors to detect fault conditions or hazards such as combustion or overpressure, which can only be caused by deliberate user action to expose gaseous products to flame or spark, and even then would not be likely to trigger violent combustion.

Description

Therapeutic gas transmission system and method with safety device or function for personal medical purposes

This case claims the benefits of the U.S. application filed on September 25, 2017, the application number is 15/714,053, and the title is "Systems and Methods for Therapeutic Gas Delivery for Personal Medical Consumption", including its priority. At least one inventor is the same as this case. The entire content of this application and some continuations arising from this application will be incorporated herein by reference.

This case is about a method and system for delivering therapeutic gas for personal medical purposes. Especially with regard to the platforms and technologies used to generate, purify and deliver hydrogen for human use to achieve health and medical benefits and effects. Platforms or technologies with safety devices or functions can prevent potential hazards, such as gas leakage or fire.

In the health and medical fields, it has been known to use treated water to produce health benefits, and this method has been used for some time. Specifically, the use of ionized water as drinking water and treatments for producing health and medical benefits and effects have been developed and researched.

In common ionized water applications, drinking water can be subjected to an ionization process in which the water can be treated to become alkaline. In a common ionization process, acidic water will be produced near the anode; alkaline water will be produced at the cathode. A common ionized water generator is obtained by taking out alkaline water near the cathode. Such water has a higher pH value (that is, more alkaline). Generally, the pH of alkaline or ionized water can be greater than 7, for example in the range of 7-10. Based on various scientific and health-related research and investigations, alkaline or ionized water is believed to bring certain health or medical benefits to users. The reasons for these benefits include that ionized water (including water that has been injected or treated with hydrogen) can have and exhibit antioxidant properties, which help reduce free radicals in the body and provide other health benefits. The beneficial effects on digestion, metabolism, immune system and other body reactions have also been proposed or proven.

The current known systems used to deliver alkaline or ionized water are generally expensive for general consumers. Hard equipment for the production of alkaline water or ionized water is also not easy to obtain. In addition, many or most household users may use tap water as a source of ionized water. If the water source or other water sources are contaminated, the quality of ionized water may also be impaired. The volume of the hardware equipment of ionized water may also be too large to be used in personal medical applications.

Therefore, there is a need to develop therapeutic gas delivery systems and methods with safety devices or functions for personal medical purposes. With this system or method, other types of treatments or changes can be performed on the water, and hydrogen can be delivered in a more convenient gaseous form and/or in the form of water injected with gaseous hydrogen. According to the content of this case, individual users use portable, transportable, and/or other convenient and effective hardware designs, and provide safety measures to prevent combustion, or other unprone but potential hazards, to transmit hydrogen-containing Gas and/or water can produce health and medical benefits and effects.

The embodiment of this case relates to a therapeutic gas delivery system and method with a safety device that can be used for personal medical purposes. Specifically, the embodiment of this case relates to a platform or technology for generating, separating, removing water and/or other purifying or transmitting hydrogen and/or oxygen to human users, and consuming the aforementioned substances to achieve or achieve health and health Medical benefits and efficacy. According to some embodiments, ingestion or use of hydrogen gas is believed to provide many important health and medical benefits and effects. One of these benefits and effects is to reduce the harmful symptoms that may be caused by diabetes, including reducing the concentration of A1C (glycosylated hemoglobin) in the blood.

Other potential beneficial effects include reducing and/or alleviating symptoms caused by Alzheimer's disease. It is generally believed that by ingesting hydrogen gas and/or drinking hydrogen-infused water, other health benefits and effects such as anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, immune enhancement, and/or other health benefits and effects can be obtained. In some embodiments, based on multiple purposes, the platform and technology provided in this case can be similarly or alternatively used to deliver oxygen to users.

Hereinafter, the exemplary embodiments in this case will be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. When circumstances permit, the same or similar component numbers will be used in all drawings to indicate the same or similar components.

FIG. 1 is a system 100 as a whole drawn according to some embodiments of the present case, and the system and method of therapeutic gas transmission applicable to personal medical use can run in it. Generally speaking, the system 100 can be constructed or configured to produce hydrogen as the output 124, the purity and quantity of which are sufficient for a human user to directly and continuously inhale hydrogen gas and/or drink hydrogen-infused water, and use the intake Enter to obtain health and medical benefits and efficacy. In some embodiments, the system 100 can be constructed and configured to have integral components that make the system 100 portable, transportable, and/or easy for users to operate, manage, use, and run.

In some embodiments, the system 100 can also be constructed and configured to have the ability to generate sufficient hydrogen flow rate to deliver the gas to human users for continuous use or ingestion, and/or output in an immediate or near-real-time manner , For example, including an output flow rate of 50 to 250-300 cm³/min. By adjusting the hydrogen gas generation rate to be immediately, continuously, and/or instantaneously or nearly instantaneously used by human users, the need to accumulate or store any hydrogen gas in the container for subsequent acquisition or use can be avoided. Conversely, the system 100 can be used personally, independently, and/or on demand at a time selected by the user.

Generally speaking, in an embodiment, the system 100 using the water core 106 can generate hydrogen gas at a rate of about 50 to 200-300 cm³ per minute and/or flow rate, which is enough to directly provide hydrogen gas for a user. , Used in a personal, continuous, on-demand, and/or immediate or near-real-time manner. In some embodiments, the system 100 may be configured to generate the aforementioned flow rate and/or other flow rates during a continuous or longer period of use (for example, 10 hours, during sleep, and/or other periods). The hydrogen generated by the system 100 can be processed or purified to remove water (and/or water vapor) and/or other impurities from the hydrogen gas output 124, and can be configured to be discharged or removed during the electrolysis process or The free oxygen accumulated in other internal reactions can thereby ensure and manage the safety of the system 100. Other features or advantages of the operating system 100 will be described in the following description and the accompanying drawings, or according to the description and the accompanying drawings, those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field of this case may be known.

In the illustrated embodiment, the system 100 may be configured or constructed to have an electrolytic core or water core 106, which may be connected to the water tank 102. The water tank 102 can receive, store, and distribute water for electrolysis or other reactions, and finally generate hydrogen output 124 for use by users. The water contained in the water tank 102 can be added manually, and/or added using valves or other connections and channels. In some embodiments, the water added or stored in the water tank 102 may be purified water, such as distilled water, deionized water, and/or other treated water. In the configuration shown, the water tank 102 can be connected to the water core 106 via the first port 104. The first port 104 may be or include, for example, a water pipe, a pipe, a conduit, a delivery pipe, a race, a funnel, an orifice, and/or other passages or structures to allow fluid communication between the water tank 102 and the water core 106. In some embodiments, the first port 104 may also include valves, filters, gaskets, and/or other structural accessories. In some embodiments, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the one-way valve 110 (or check valve) can be inserted between the first port 104 and the first chamber 120 or other positions to reduce or eliminate Unexpected backflow to ensure the smooth flow of water and/or related materials. Other flow controllers or other flow control mechanisms can also be used.

Generally speaking, water from the water tank 102 may be allowed to enter, receive, and/or enter the water core 106 in other ways. In some embodiments, the water from the water tank 102 can be discharged by gravity and enter the water core 106 through the first port 104. In some embodiments, the water from the water tank 102 can also be transported from the water tank 102 to the water core 106 by using a pump or other fluid driving device. In the illustrated embodiment, the vertical height or gap between the bottom opening of the water tank 102 leading to the first port 104 and the bottom opening of the water core 106 for receiving water can be set to various heights or distances. So that the water in the water tank 102 can be completely emptied or discharged to the water core 106 due to gravity. The water provided by the water tank 102 can be received to the water core 106, and in some embodiments, the water core 106 can include a first chamber 120 and a second chamber 122 separated by a fluid permeable membrane 114 . Generally speaking, the first chamber 120 may include an internal space provided in a housing or a surrounding member. The positive electrode 108 may be installed or fixed in the first chamber 120. The positive electrode 108 may include a terminal or accessory to receive the applied electric field and/or current, and may be installed or configured to be combined with water and water by a titanium plate or other metal plate and/or mesh provided in the first chamber 120 The fluid permeable membrane 114 contacts. In some embodiments, the positive electrode 108 may be or include a titanium electrode plated with platinum, but other materials and/or configurations may also be used.

The water core 106 may include the membrane 114 as described above, which may be disposed between the first chamber 120 and the second chamber 122. The membrane 114 can generally be used as a proton conductor or a proton exchange membrane (PEM). The membrane 114 can allow positively charged hydrogen ions to pass from the first chamber 120 to the second chamber 122 in a single direction, as described herein. Generally speaking, the second chamber 122 may similarly contain or enclose the internal space provided in the housing or surrounding member. The negative electrode 112 may be installed in the second chamber 122. The negative electrode 112 may include terminals, contacts, or accessories to receive the applied electric field and/or current. The negative electrode 112 may be installed or configured to be in contact with the gas diffusion layer (GDL) and the fluid permeable membrane 114 by a titanium plate or other metal plate provided in the second chamber 122. In some embodiments, the negative electrode 112 and the positive electrode 108 may have the same, similar, or different configuration. In some embodiments, the positive electrode 108 can also be constructed as a conductive mesh structure. When a mesh electrode is used, two mesh members can be used as the positive electrode 108 or the like, one of which has a coarse mesh structure and the other has a fine mesh structure to increase the contact area. In some embodiments, the negative potential on the negative electrode 112 can attract hydrogen ions to the second chamber 122, where the hydrogen ions can be collected for final transmission to the user.

It should be noted that although the illustrated embodiment shows that the membrane 114 divides the first chamber 120 and the adjacent second chamber 122 into equal and/or symmetrical volumes, in some embodiments, the membrane 114 may The first chamber 120 and the second chamber 122 are divided into different volumes. It should also be noted that although it is shown in the illustrated embodiment that the first chamber 120 and the second chamber 122 are formed in a regular quadrilateral chamber, in some embodiments, the first chamber 120 and the second chamber Either or both of the two chambers 122 may be formed in other regular polygonal or non-regular polygonal chambers.

Generally speaking, the water core 106 can operate to perform electrolysis and/or other reactions in the water in the water core 106 to generate the hydrogen output 124. According to some embodiments, when a sufficient amount of water enters the water core 106, the power control circuit and/or software or logic gate can operate to apply a positive voltage to the positive electrode 108 and/or to ground or apply the negative electrode 112 Negative voltage. Through the application of the potential and/or the power flow generated between the positive electrode 108 and the negative electrode 112, an electrolysis reaction can occur in the water core 106. In some embodiments, oxygen can be separated from water molecules in the water. Generally speaking, the electrolysis reaction system proceeds according to the following reaction: Formula 1: Reduction: (-) anode: 4H ⁺ _(aq) + 4e ^- à 2H _2(g) oxidation: (+) cathode: 2H ₂ O à O _{2( g)} + 4H+ 4e ^- As shown in the above formula, the amount of hydrogen produced by the electrolysis reaction in the water core 106 will be twice the amount of oxygen, and both are released into the water in the water core 106 in the form of bubbles.

In some embodiments, oxygen can be attracted by the positive electrode 108 and move to or collect in the area of the positive electrode 108. In some embodiments, oxygen can be discharged or released into the open atmosphere through vents or other channels. In some embodiments, when a current is applied between the positive electrode 108 and the negative electrode 112, cations in the form of hydrogen are attracted to the negative electrode 112. The hydrogen gas can move to or gather in the area of the negative electrode 112 and accumulate to be finally transmitted to the user.

Specifically, in some embodiments, the mill 114 may be composed of a conductive polymer membrane of a proton exchange membrane (proton exchange membrane, PEM), for example, commercially available from DuPont Co., Chestnut Run, DE) Nafion ^TM filter membrane. Other brands or types of proton exchange membranes can also be used. According to some embodiments, when a current is applied to the positive electrode 108 located in the first chamber 120, hydrogen ions flow through the membrane 114 again and reach the second chamber 122. The hydrogen ions can receive electrons from the negative electrode 112 and form hydrogen gas on the shell on the side of the second chamber 122 of the water core 106. In some embodiments, the membrane 114 can be formed on a square filter membrane having an active area of about 5 cm x 5 cm, but it should be understood that other sizes or shapes can also be used. In some embodiments, the membrane 114 with a size of about 5 cm x 5 cm can separate and/or generate hydrogen gas at a rate of 50 to 250-300 cm³ per minute or other.

It is understood that the hydrogen generation rate that the system 100 can achieve or produce may be affected by many factors, including the amount of water contained in the water core 106. According to some embodiments, the production rate can be calculated and measured by the running time and the surface area of the electrodes 108, 112 and other elements in contact with water in the water core 106 or the like. The hydrogen gas formed in the second chamber 122 can be collected to generate a hydrogen output 124 for transmission to the user. In some embodiments, the hydrogen may be guided or guided to the second port 118 via the coalescing unit 116 to communicate with the user. The second port 118 may have the same or similar structure as the first port 104. The condensing unit 116 may be configured to remove water or water vapor in the hydrogen gas. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, the coalescence unit 116 may be or may include a hydrophobic membrane 206 for separating water or water vapor. This can reduce or eliminate the water content of the hydrogen that reaches the second port 118 and become dehydrated hydrogen or dry hydrogen.

After the hydrogen has passed through the coalescing unit 116, it can be transmitted to the user as a hydrogen output 124 for use. The hydrogen output 124 can be transmitted to or used by the user in various ways. In some embodiments, for example, a medical-grade tube or a breathing mask may be used to deliver the hydrogen output 124 in the form of gas for direct inhalation to the user.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the hydrogen output 124 can be transmitted or communicated through the transmission tube 128. In some embodiments, oxygen can also be similarly or alternatively delivered to the user through the delivery tube 128. In some embodiments, the transmission tube 128 may use, for example, snap-on or push-on fittings to connect plastic parts or other tubular parts to a small flange, mounting seat , Port, or lumen to transport gas out of the system 100. In some embodiments, the flange, the mounting seat, the port, or the inner cavity may be equipped with electronic contacts or connectors to allow the wiring or logic circuit described in this case to communicate with it. In some embodiments, the system 100 may, for example, additionally or alternatively be equipped with optical fibers or other optical contacts or connectors for signal transmission. According to some embodiments, it can be understood that since both hydrogen and oxygen are natural products of the system and method taught in this case, the system 100 described in this case can be configured or adjusted to deliver oxygen output instead of hydrogen output, or In addition to transmitting hydrogen, oxygen is transmitted to the user.

In any case or in other rare cases, it can be noted that although the possibility of combustion of the output gas still exists, even so, the system 100 as a whole is not prone to accidental combustion or other accidents. This is because more than one safety factor is set in the system 100, including the total amount or flow rate of hydrogen generated, making it difficult or impossible for the system 100 to initiate certain types of combustion. Under the conditions of hydrogen production and flow rate, even if gas leakage occurs, hydrogen and oxygen will tend to evaporate or disappear. In addition, users almost have to deliberately apply heat or flame to cause the combustion of these gaseous products, and even in this very rare case, the gaseous products are likely to only burn gently in the blue flame. Instead of burning violently or spontaneously. In addition to being applied to the transmission tube 128 described so far, these limiting factors and operating safety ranges can also be applied to the system 100 or other areas near the system 100.

Nevertheless, the configuration taught in this case is intended to include safety devices and fault detection to generate the maximum operating safety range. For example, when the gas is accidentally exposed to a heat source, flames from cigarettes, candles, or other sources, sparks, or when the system 100 encounters other possible hazards in a general environment.

Therefore, according to an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, according to certain aspects of the case, it may be beneficial to equip the transmission tube 128 and/or other components with the sensor set 130 in an attempt to detect, prevent, and/or strain dangerous conditions . According to some embodiments of the present case, the sensor set 130 may be or include electronic components connected by the circuit 132, such as a wire that can be embedded in the transmission tube 128, which is formed by connecting the circuit 132 when the transmission tube 128 is formed. It is embedded in thermoplastic, resin, or other materials used to form the transmission tube 128 and manufactured. In the illustrated embodiment, the circuit 132 is arranged along the length direction, but it should be understood that other physical structures may also be used, such as being arranged in a concentric spiral. After the transfer tube 128 is completed, the circuit 132 may additionally or alternatively be fixed to the inner surface of the transfer tube 128, for example, by gluing or otherwise adhered to the inner wall of the transfer tube 128. The sensor set 130 in this case may be or may include, for example, electronic sensors (such as resistance sensors or thermistor sensors), pressure sensors, acoustic wave sensors, chemical sensors, optical sensors, and/or various other types The sensor. In the embodiment, it can be noted that the transmission tube 128 can be configured to have multiple same or different sensors in the length direction of the transmission tube 128, so as to detect, identify, and/or locate different sensors on the transmission tube 128. Cutting or damage to the location. With this configuration, the sensor groups 130 can be separated by the same or different distances. Other construction methods or configurations of the transmission tube 128, the circuit 132, the inductor group 130 and other components are also feasible.

During operation, the power control unit (PCU) 310 or other programs and logic circuits can monitor various conditions or parameters in the transmission tube 128 and/or other parts of the system 100 to detect and/or prevent the use of the system Dangerous conditions or events that may occur during the 100th period. For example, a possible hazard stems from the possibility of burning the mixed hydrogen/oxygen mixture when exposed to sparks or flames. However, as mentioned earlier, this requires the user to deliberately expose gaseous products to sparks or flames. It may be caused in flames. Even in this rare case, the most likely result is only a certain type of blue flame or limited combustion. In some embodiments, the sensor set 130 may be or may include, for example, a temperature sensor capable of detecting that the temperature in the conveying pipe 128 reaches a preset limit or threshold. In some embodiments, the power control unit 310 or other programs and logic circuits can be configured to monitor the electrical continuity (whether the circuit is turned on) in the sensor group 130 and/or the circuit 132 to detect, for example, the potential The transmission tube 128 is broken, kinked, or separated due to burning, accidental damage, cuts, or other factors. In some embodiments, the sensor set 130 may be similarly configured or include one or more pressure sensors, for example, to detect sound waves and overpressure or negative pressure in the transmission tube 128. For example, when the transmission tube 128 is blocked, bent, folded, stretched, cut, bulged, and/or blocked or damaged in other forms, an overpressure or negative pressure may occur. The detection of various fault conditions can be applied to cut off the power of the system 100 or part of the system 100.

Once any one or more of these or other fault conditions are detected, the power control unit 310 and/or other programs or logic circuits can initiate or perform various actions as described above as a response. For example, the power control unit 310 and/or other programs or logic circuits can completely cut off the power provided to the system 100 to prevent further damage to the system 100 and protect the safety of users, and other measures can also be taken. In some embodiments, the power control unit 310 and/or other programs or logic circuits can obtain information related to the detected fault condition to report the information to a network monitoring service or system, such as cloud-based ) Or other forms of services or systems.

When delivering in a gaseous form, the user can fix the delivery tube 128 to any attached mask, cannula, and/or other breathing apparatus for use at a desired time. In some embodiments, a breathing mask may be worn during sleep time to conveniently use the hydrogen output 124 throughout the night or other time periods. In some embodiments, the delivery rate of hydrogen and/or oxygen output can be adjusted during sleep. Other delivery methods can also be used, such as using a tube that is attached or installed near the user's nose.

According to various further considerations of the case, FIG. 8 shows an exemplary flowchart of safety and related processing steps. In step 802, processing can begin. In step 804, the power control unit 310 and/or other control logic circuits can be activated, for example, to confirm the existence or integrity of the circuit 132, the sensor set 130, and/or other hardware or operations of the system 100. In step 806, the power control unit 310 and/or other control logic circuits can monitor the circuit 132, the sensor set 130, and/or other elements or operating parameters of the system 100 to detect one or more potential fault conditions, such as Sudden or other changes in resistance, temperature, pressure, and/or other operating details related to the system 100.

In step 808, the resistance, temperature, current, and/or other parameters can be compared with predetermined safe values or thresholds, and/or these or other signals or states (such as pressure or sound waves) can be detected in other ways. Signal) to detect the fault condition of the system 100 including the transmission tube 128.

In step 810, the power control unit 310 and/or other logic control circuits can trigger or perform a response to the fault condition, such as performing protective measures or debugging actions. For example, the power control unit 310 and/or other logic control circuits can cut off the power to the system 100 or to various components of the system 100 to eliminate or reduce the generation of oxygen or hydrogen, and/or perform other actions. In step 812, the processing may be repeated, jump to a subsequent processing point, return to a previous processing point, or end. For example, when the fault condition is relatively minor or unconfirmed, the power control unit 310 and/or other control logic circuits may be reset to a non-fault state, or other measures may be taken.

In some embodiments, the hydrogen output 124 may be injected into the drinking water to dissolve the hydrogen in the water the user will drink, and the hydrogen output 124 is transmitted to the user. When water is used for delivery, nozzles or other structures can be used to guide the hydrogen output 124 into the container to introduce the hydrogen output 124 into the water, and the hydrogen output 124 will be dissolved there. In some embodiments, an optional microporous element 126 may be provided before the drinking water is injected, which will force the hydrogen gas to become small bubbles and increase the contact surface area with water. The micro-size (in micrometers) of the microporous element 126 can help dissolve hydrogen into the water. It can be noted that the saturation point of hydrogen in water at room temperature is about 1.6 mg per liter, which means that part of the hydrogen generated will enter the water, while the rest of the hydrogen will escape into the surrounding air. If necessary, the user can breathe in the hydrogen evaporated from the water to maximize the absorption or use of hydrogen.

One method for testing or characterizing treated hydrogen-rich water for human consumption is to detect or measure the oxidation reduction potential (ORP) of the water. In some embodiments, the IOT control unit 312 and/or other logic circuits may be configured to measure ORP by detecting the potential in the water. General water or tap water usually measured values can be in the positive ORP range (for example, 100 mV to 300 mV (positive potential)), although the value may change under different locations or conditions. It is generally accepted that the ORP of treated water must be at least -250 millivolts to produce health benefits. In some embodiments, it takes about 1-2 minutes to reach the ORP interval of -250 to -500 millivolts when injecting half a liter of water with about 200-300 cm³ of hydrogen per minute.

In some embodiments, additional or residual water can be returned to the water tank 102 to provide more water to the water tank 102 to supply the entire electrolysis reaction. According to some embodiments, when the water tank 102 is loaded with water (for example, pure water), gravity is usually sufficient to make the water in the water tank 102 drain into the water core 106 through the first port 104.

In some embodiments, as described above, the system 100 as a whole may include a coalescer to remove water from the hydrogen output. FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate exemplary configurations of the coalescing unit 116 and similar units, which can be used to remove water and/or water vapor from the hydrogen output 124 generated for use by the user. As shown in FIG. 2A, the agglomeration unit 116 may include an inlet port 210. After untreated, water vapor, or humid hydrogen is generated in the water core 106 or the like, the hydrogen gas may enter the inlet port 210. The coalescing unit 116 can be constructed in the form of a screwable tank. The structure disposed in the agglomeration unit 116 on the inlet end 210 may include a condenser 204 and a hydrophilic membrane 206, which may have a diameter of 13 mm, 25 mm, and/or other diameters or sizes. The hydrogen gas can enter the agglomeration unit 116, and due to the hydrophobicity of the hydrophobic membrane, the water and/or water vapor contained in the hydrogen gas can be trapped, repelled, or otherwise guided downward to the tank 202. When hydrogen flows to the user through the outlet port 212, water and/or water vapor will be collected in the tank 202.

As shown in FIG. 2B, hydrogen can be communicated to the separator housing 208 and then exit from the outlet end 212 as a dry gas. After this adjustment, the water and/or water vapor in the hydrogen gas will be reduced or eliminated before the user uses or consumes it.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the separator housing 208, the tank 202, and other elements of the coalescence unit 116 may be attached or fixed using the accessory set 214 (such as gaskets, O-rings, and nuts). However, it should be understood that other accessories, accessories, and overall structures can also be used in the coalescing unit 116. In some embodiments, the water collected in the tank 202 may be collected for discharge, disposal, or recirculation back to the water tank 102. In some embodiments, valve 328 or other fluid control means controlled by power control unit 310, IOT control unit 312 (as shown in FIG. 3), or other logic circuits or controllers can be used to manually and / Or electronically remove coalesced water.

FIG. 3 illustrates the overall system 300 provided according to some embodiments of the present application. According to some embodiments, the system 300 of FIG. 3 can be generally constructed to be the same as or similar to the structure shown in FIG. 1, and further illustrates the control logic circuit and other components that can be combined with the system 300. FIG. 3 describes the system 300 as a block diagram as a whole, which includes modules, hardware and/or logic circuits for controlling the production and operation of the hydrogen gas 42. In the illustrated embodiment, the water tank 302 may be fluidly connected to the at least one water core 306 via the first port 304 (eg, pipe, channel, and/or other conduit). On the output side of the electrolysis core 306, the hydrogen output 124 and water or water vapor may be connected to the coalescence unit 316 via a second connection or other channels. The agglomeration unit 316 may have the same or similar structure as the agglomeration unit 116 shown in FIG. 1, and can generate "dry" hydrogen gas 42 for output for use by the user. In some embodiments, the hydrogen generation rate using a water core 306 can be approximately in the range of 250-300 cm³ per minute, but it can also be generated in other ranges or rates. In the illustrated embodiment, the coalescing unit 316 can transfer or divert water and/or water vapor to the container 326 or other containers to drain water or perform other processing.

In terms of operation and control of the system 300, in the illustrated embodiment, the water core 306 may be electrically connected to the power control unit 310. The power control unit 310 may be a programmed processor or other equipped or configured with other logic circuits to manage the power transmission to the water core 306, including directing to the positive and negative electrodes (not shown) arranged in the water core 306 The positive electrode and the negative electrode may include the same or similar electrodes as the positive electrode 108 and the negative electrode 112 shown in FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the power control unit 310 can receive an input voltage in the range of 9V to 32V, and deliver current to the water core 306 or through the water core 306 in the range of, for example, at most 40 amperes (direct current). The example shows that the peak power consumption is about 120 watts. However, although some ranges of voltage, current, and wattage are stated, it should be noted again that other ranges or values, or combinations of ranges or values, are also usable.

In some embodiments, the power control unit 310 may be configured to maintain a constant voltage and/or constant current supply to the electrolysis core 306, although a variable voltage and/or variable current can also be used in the embodiment as required . In some embodiments, the power control unit 310 can be configured to receive direct current converted from a standard AC wall socket by using a direct-in AC-DC conversion transformer (not shown) built into the power cord. In some embodiments, the power control unit 310 may also or alternatively be configured to directly use a DC power source (for example, an external battery, an internal battery, or other batteries or power sources) for operation. In some embodiments, the system 300 may be configured to operate outside the range of a standard car battery that produces 12 or 24 volts. In some embodiments, if a battery is used, the battery unit may be integrated into the mid-level of the system 300/or as an external unit of the system 300. In some embodiments, if it is desired to make the system 300 portable and/or easily transportable, battery power may be used. However, it should be understood that various other power sources or types (AC or DC) can also be used to make the system 300 that is portable and/or easy to transport. In some embodiments, if a battery is used as a power source, the battery may be or include one or more types of batteries or battery packs, such as lead-acid batteries, and/or other types or types of energy storage batteries or battery packs.

According to similar aspects shown, in some embodiments, an Internet of Things (IOT) control unit 312 may be provided to communicate with the power control unit 310 and/or other components of the system 300 by means of electronic and/or logical communication. Components or resources are connected. In some embodiments, the IOT control unit 312 may be equipped with hardware and/or software resources to perform logical control on the system 300. The IOT control unit 312 may include, for example, one or more processors, electronic memories, hard disks or other storage devices, and other resources such as a network connection interface 320. The network connection interface 320 may be or include a wired connection, such as an Ethernet connection, and/or a wireless connection, such as a Bluetooth (BlueTooth ^TM ) or Wi-Fi wireless interface.

The network interface 320 can communicate with a network 322 such as the Internet, a cloud network or service, and/or other public or private networks, channels, or links. In some embodiments, the network 322 may be or include the Internet of Things (IOT) and/or other networks or services.

In some embodiments, data related to the transmission and/or use of hydrogen consumption can be stored in the system 300, and/or uploaded or stored in the monitoring service 330 hosted in the network 322, for example, to create A user record or configuration file that monitors the overall status and operation of the system 300, including such things as running time, generation rate, system temperature, fault events and/or other operating parameters.

In some embodiments, the user record or configuration file may also include other medical data related to the user, and be stored in or connected to the monitoring service 330 to help better assess the user’s health or health over time. Medical status, and operation of the system 300. The additional medical information may include, for example, but not limited to, pulse rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and/or other vital signs, readings, or the like according to requirements. In some embodiments, additional or auxiliary equipment or devices configured to work with the system 300 may be used to collect this or other medical information, such as blood pressure equipped with BlueTooth ^TM , Wi-Fi or other network interfaces Monitor or pulse oximeter. In some embodiments, these or other similar measurement devices can be integrated into the system 300 itself. In some embodiments, the system 300 can therefore be used as a gateway for acquiring or transmitting personal medical information to, for example, cloud or other monitoring services and/or other destinations. In some embodiments, the acquisition or transmission of life signs and/or other information may be performed by the system 300 during the operation of generating hydrogen, or may also be performed at other times, including the period when the system 300 is not performing the operation of generating hydrogen.

In some embodiments, the system 300 can be similarly configured to receive data and/or configuration commands from the network 322, such as to periodically update any firmware, software, or other components included in the system or related to the system. Software resources. In some embodiments, other information or data, such as patient images in the facility, motion detection data, and/or others, can be obtained by or through the system 300 and related services.

In some embodiments, the IOT control unit 312 can be configured to monitor and/or control the power control unit 310, the sensor set 130, and/or other components, controllers, or devices installed in or used by the system 300 . According to some embodiments, the IOT control unit 312 may be connected to an integrated display 314, such as a light emitting diode (LED), a liquid crystal display (LCD) and/or other types of displays or monitors . In some embodiments, the display 314 may be configured to display various data and parameters related to the operation of the system 300, including providing a numerical display of the hydrogen generation rate generated and output by the user. In some embodiments, the cloud monitoring service can be configured to transmit system or medical data to networked devices for display, for example, to a smartphone or other device running a compatible application.

The generation rate can be refreshed every 15 seconds, every minute, or other intervals. In some embodiments, cubic centimeters of hydrogen delivered to the user can be used to express the production rate, but other units can also be used. Although various control operations have been described as being performed by the power control unit 310 and/or the IOT control unit 312, it should be understood that, in some embodiments, the power control unit 310 itself, the IOT control unit 312 itself, or the power control unit 310 and the IOT control unit 312 perform and/or share different combinations of operations, and/or use other circuits, modules, or logic circuits to perform the same or other control operations.

In some embodiments, the IOT control unit 312 may also control or manage other operations or parameters related to the system 300, and generate and/or display other messages or data. For example, in some embodiments, the IOT control unit 312 and/or the monitoring service 330 may be configured to be monitored when the hydrogen generation rate and/or other parameters are out of range, and/or the condition is abnormal or becomes a fault, an error state, or is monitored. When the life sign of the person reaches an important state and/or meets other conditions, it will warn the user. In some embodiments, the alert may be provided, for example, by lighting a red light or icon on the display 314 and/or a user interface of an application linked to the monitoring service 330 and/or other interfaces. In some embodiments, the IOT control unit 312 can display text (such as “error”, “warning”, and/or other words or messages) on the display 314. In some embodiments, the IOT control unit 312 and/or the monitoring service 330 may also or alternatively generate sound alarms or warnings, such as buzzers, computer-generated voices, and/or other sound notifications or alarms. In some embodiments, the IOT control unit 312 can also be configured to transmit or communicate status messages, including alarms or status messages, to additional remote stations, services, and/or data storage via the network connection interface 320 and the network 321 Notice.

According to some embodiments, the IOT control unit 312 and/or other logic circuits may also use electronic parameters or other variables of the system 300 to calculate, estimate, and/or monitor the hydrogen generation rate. In some embodiments, the amount of current applied to the water core 306 can be used to calculate or estimate the hydrogen gas generation rate at a known, estimated, or measured temperature. Generally, a hydrogen generation rate model can be established to be proportional to the amount of applied voltage and/or current. In addition, the amount of water required to perform the electrolysis operation and generate the desired hydrogen generation rate can be calculated or estimated.

According to some further embodiments, the IOT control unit 312 may be configured to identify a low hydrogen flow rate and/or a water supply level to the system 300 when the IOT control unit 312 or other logic circuits detect that the electrode current is reduced or zero. Lower. In this case, the IOT control unit 312 can generate alarms or notifications (such as flashing lights, text or sound alarms), and/or send fault status messages to the network 322, monitoring service 330, and/or other nodes and services Or destination.

According to some further embodiments, the IOT control unit 312 may be configured with timing circuitry or timing logic circuits (for example, a chip designed as a timer or clock) to program the system 300 for certain times or Operate at certain intervals. In some embodiments, the IOT control unit 312 may be configured to allow a user to program operations or set a desired time or interval, and/or provide other settings for the use or operation of the system 300.

As mentioned above, in some embodiments, using an adjustable or programmable single electrolysis core, the hydrogen generation rate can be approximately within an adjustable range of 50 to 250-300 cm³ per minute. However, it should be understood that this range is only illustrative, and different lower and upper limit values can be used or implemented. The output hydrogen can be transmitted or communicated again through the outlet port, pipe, mask, dissolver or other mechanism, and used as gas or injected into drinking water for drinking or ingestion.

Although the foregoing embodiments, including the schematic embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and other drawings, describe embodiments in which only a single water core 106 is used for electrolysis reaction and hydrogen generation, in some embodiments, it can be combined Or combine two or more electrolysis cores to increase the production rate and/or other properties, or to increase the system function.

According to some embodiments, multiple water cores 106 or the like may be combined, combined, united, or stacked to increase the hydrogen generation rate in a single unit. In some embodiments, the generation rate of the aforementioned multiple water cores 106 can be scaled or increased compared to a single water core 106 having a similar capacity. Therefore, in some embodiments, the number of cores can be selected accordingly to achieve or generate a hydrogen generation rate that can be delivered to the user. Generally speaking, as mentioned above, according to some embodiments of the present case, a system using a single electrolytic core can generally generate a hydrogen flow rate of about 50 to 250-300 cm³ per minute and/or other flow rates and ranges. However, according to some embodiments, if required, a system using two electrolysis cores 106 in the core group can generally generate a hydrogen flow rate of about 500 to 600 cm³ per minute and/or other flow rates and ranges.

The electrical control provided by the power control unit 310 or the like, the control or monitoring provided by the IOT control unit 312 or the like, and/or other logic circuits or controls can be applied to serve multiple cores, for example, to ensure Each target core can maintain the desired voltage or current. When multiple cores are used, the outlet end can be configured to form a channel, and continuous fluid communication is maintained through the channel, so that all the hydrogen formed in the core group can be collected and delivered to the user as a single stream. It can also be understood that although multiple cores may have the same or similar configuration, such as size or size, in embodiments, the first, second, and/or other numbers of cores may be made with the same or different Construction, including size or size.

According to some embodiments, an exemplary structure of the water core 106 is shown in FIG. 4. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the internal structure of the water core 106 using the positive terminal 402 to connect to a positive voltage can be used to provide a voltage for the electrolysis reaction. Conversely, a negative (negative) plate can be used as the negative terminal 404, and the negative plate is usually arranged in parallel with respect to the positive terminal 402. Generally speaking, the potential difference between the positive terminal 402 and the negative terminal 404 and the generated current can be used to drive electrolysis and/or other reactions in the water core 106.

In the illustrated embodiment, the positive terminal 402 and the negative terminal 404 can be fixed, arranged relative to each other, installed, and/or connected by using accessories such as screws, bolts, nuts, and O-rings as shown in the figure. It should be understood, however, that other fasteners, connectors or technologies may also be used to assemble or connect the components of the water core 106, and/or other components or structures of the system 100 (300) or the like, and/or the water core 106 may Are stacked or combined, as described in this case.

According to some embodiments, FIG. 5 shows a flow chart 500 of power control, monitoring, gas generation, and other processing, which can be implemented in a therapeutic gas delivery system and method for personal medical use. In step 502, processing can begin. In step 504, the water provided by the water tank 102 can be received into the water core 106 via the first port 104. In some embodiments, the water received from the water tank 102 may be purified water that is distilled, deionized, or otherwise processed. In some embodiments, as previously described, the first port 104 may be or may include a pipe, a through pipe, a conduit, a delivery pipe, a funnel, and/or other channels or fluid connections between the water tank 102 and the water core 106 . In some embodiments, water can be directly discharged from the water tank 102 into the water core 106 under the action of gravity. In some embodiments, pumps and/or other fluid drive devices may also be used to transfer water from the water tank 102 to the water core 106.

In step 506, a power control unit and/or other controllers or logic circuits can be used to apply voltage to the positive electrode 108 and the negative electrode 112 in the water core 106 or similar electrodes or contact points. In some embodiments, the voltage difference between the positive electrode 108 and the negative electrode 112 can be set or maintained at a desired or predetermined value or range, such as 1-3 volts or other values. In some embodiments, the current between the positive electrode 108 and the negative electrode 112 can also be set or maintained at a desired or predetermined value or range, for example, to 40 amperes, and other values can also be used.

In step 508, the oxygen product and the hydrogen product produced by the electrolysis reaction performed in the water core 106 can be separated in the water core 106. In some embodiments, the positive electrode 108 can attract oxygen products, and the negative electrode 112 can attract hydrogen products. The membrane 114 can prevent oxygen and other products from entering the second or negative electrode side of the water core 106, but allows hydrogen products to pass through the membrane 114 to the second or negative electrode side. In step 510, gaseous oxygen can be exhausted from the first side of the water core 106 or the positive electrode side through, for example, a vent tube or a bleed valve.

In step 512, the hydrogen collected in the second chamber 122 as output to the user can be transferred to the coalescing unit 116 to remove water and/or water vapor from the hydrogen output. In some embodiments, the agglomeration unit 116 may include a hydrophobic membrane or membrane for transferring water and/or water vapor to a collection tank or other removable container or channel.

In step 514, hydrogen and/or oxygen can be delivered to the user for use. In some embodiments, hydrogen may be delivered through the second port 118 for the user to inhale through, for example, a medical grade catheter, a breathing mask, and/or a nasal cannula. In some embodiments, hydrogen and/or oxygen may also or alternatively be delivered through the second port 118 to be injected or dissolved in water for drinking. For example, medical grade catheters and injection nozzles or other mechanisms are used to deliver hydrogen to the water for the user to drink. In step 516, fault conditions such as threshold temperature (flame), pressure (combustion), and sonic state can be detected, and one or more response actions can be performed, such as cutting off the power of the system 100, and/or stopping hydrogen generation .

In step 518, the generation rate of hydrogen and/or oxygen generated by the device 100 can be detected through the IOT control unit 312 and/or other logic circuits, and/or displayed on or via the display 314 and/or other output interface or device . In some embodiments, various techniques such as estimating or determining the generation rate and/or flow rate of hydrogen and/or oxygen by directly measuring the volume of gas passing through the second port 118 or other points may be used.

In step 520, the processing can be executed repeatedly, return to a previous processing point, skip to a subsequent processing point, or end.

According to some embodiments, FIG. 6 illustrates various hardware, software, and other resources that can be used for hydrogen transmission for personal medical purposes. As shown in the figure, the IOT control unit 612 may be configured with certain hardware, software, links, or other resources. In some embodiments, the circuit and/or function of the IOT control unit 612 may be the same or similar to the IOT control unit 312 (for example, as shown in FIG. 3). In the illustrated embodiment, the IOT control unit 612 may include a platform that includes a processor 620 that communicates with a memory 630 (for example, electronic random access memory), which can be installed in the operating system 628 Operate under control or in conjunction with the operating system 628. The processor 620 in the embodiment may be integrated into one or more servers, clusters, and/or other computer or hardware resources, and/or may be implemented by cloud resources. The operating system 628 may be, for example, a Linux ^TM operating system, a Unix ^TM operating system, a Windows ^TM operating system family, and/or other open source or proprietary operating systems or platforms. The processor 620 can communicate with a data storage device 624 (such as a database stored in a local or remote hard disk or drive array) to store or obtain information related to power consumption or output, hydrogen and/or other gas Information related to the rate of production, and/or other messages, accompanied by related content, media, or other data. In some embodiments, the data storage device 624 may be configured to store the profile and/or other data of the individual user, such as the desired generation rate, transmission mechanism, and/or other information.

The processor 620 may further communicate with a network interface 610 such as an Ethernet or wireless data connection. The network interface 610 therefore communicates with one or more networks 632, such as the Internet or other public or private networks. A network, which may be or include a cloud network or service. In some embodiments, the processor 620 may also be connected to the display 614 to manage and generate hydrogen generation rate and/or other data display to the user through an integrated device or other interface. In some embodiments, the display 614 may be similar or the same as the display 314 (shown in FIG. 3). In some embodiments, it should be noted that the power control unit 312 and/or other circuits, modules, logic circuits, and/or controllers can be or include resources similar to those of the IOT control unit 312, and/or Including additional or different hardware, software, and/or other resources.

Other configurations of the IOT control unit 612 (and 312), the power control unit 310, related network connections, and other hardware, software, and service resources are feasible. It can be similarly understood that although in some embodiments the IOT control unit 612 (and 312) is described as being composed of independent hardware and other resources, or including independent hardware and other resources, in some embodiments, other Computing resources or communication resources, such as cloud networks, storage, and/or other services. In some embodiments, the data retrieved or stored in the system 100 can be uploaded or transmitted to a cloud service for storage or retrieval by users or others.

The preceding description is illustrative, and those with ordinary knowledge in the field to which this case belongs can think of other configuration or implementation changes. For example, although the embodiments have described the use of a single water tank to provide water to the system 100 or the like as the operating material, in some embodiments, two or more water tanks or water supplies or water sources may also be used. Other resources described as singular or integrated in the embodiments may be multiple or distributed in other embodiments; in the embodiments described as multiple or distributed resources, in other embodiments they may be combined. For some further embodiments, although the embodiments are described for use in medical gas transmission, the monitoring, safety, and related functions or features described in this case can be applied to non-medical and/or other applications as required. The scope of rights in this case is only defined by the scope of the attached patent application.

100: System 102, 302: water tank 104, 304: first port 106: Electrolysis core, water core 108: positive electrode 110: Check valve 112: negative electrode 114: fluid permeable membrane, membrane 116: Condensation Unit 118: second port 120: first chamber 122: second chamber 124: Hydrogen output 126: Microporous element 128: Transmission tube 130: sensor group 132: Circuit 202: Can 204: Condenser 206: Hydrophobic membrane 208: Separator housing 210: Entry side 212: Exit 300: System 306: water core, electrolysis core 310: Power Control Unit 312, 612: IOT control unit 314: Display 316: Condensation Unit 320: network connection interface 322: Network 330: Monitoring Service 402: Positive terminal 404: negative terminal 42: Hydrogen 500: flow chart 502, 504, 506, 508, 510, 512, 514, 516, 518, 520: steps 610: network interface 614: display 620: processor 624: data storage device 628: Operating System 630: memory 632: network 802, 804, 806, 810, 812: steps

The drawings, which are incorporated into the specification of the case and constitute a part of the specification of the case, illustrate some embodiments of the case, and will be used in conjunction with the description to illustrate the principle of the case. In the attached picture:

[Figure 1] is an overall system in a therapeutic gas delivery system and method that can be applied to personal medical purposes drawn according to some embodiments of this case.

[FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B] are examples of the structure of coalescer unit drawn according to some embodiments of this case, and this coalescing unit can be used to process the hydrogen output from the gas transmission system of this case.

[Figure 3] The overall system in the therapeutic gas delivery system and method for personal medical purposes drawn according to some embodiments of the present case, which includes logic control in multiple aspects.

[Figure 4] is a detailed structure of a hydro core structure that can be used according to some embodiments of this case.

[Fig. 5] is a flowchart of hydrogen transmission processing steps that can be used for personal medical purposes drawn according to some embodiments of this case.

[Figure 6] The hardware, software, and other resources that can be used for hydrogen transmission for personal medical purposes drawn according to some embodiments of this case.

[Fig. 7] A conveying pipe with safety device drawn according to some embodiments of this case.

[Figure 8] is a flow chart of the operation of the security device drawn according to some embodiments of this case.

100: System

102: water tank

104: first port

106: Electrolysis core, water core

108: positive electrode

110: Check valve

112: negative electrode

114: fluid permeable membrane, membrane

116: Condensation Unit

118: second port

120: first chamber

122: second chamber

124: Hydrogen output

126: Microporous element

Claims (21)

A gas generating device includes: A water tank A first port, connected to the water tank; An electrolysis core connected to the first port to receive water from the water tank; The electrolysis core includes: A first chamber, the first chamber includes a positive electrode configured to generate oxygen in a region of the positive electrode; A second chamber, the second chamber includes a negative electrode configured to collect hydrogen at the negative electrode; and A membrane, the membrane being disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber, the membrane being configured to transfer the hydrogen from the first chamber to the second chamber; and A second port is connected to the electrolysis core. The second port is configured to transmit at least one of the oxygen and the hydrogen at a flow rate through a transmission tube having a sensor group, wherein the flow rate is A flow rate for continuous use by a user, and the sensor set is used to detect at least one fault condition. The gas generating device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor group includes at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an optical sensor, an acoustic wave sensor, or an electronic sensor. The gas generating device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one fault condition includes at least one of an overpressure state, a negative pressure state, a sound wave state, a temperature state, or a combustion state. The gas generating device according to claim 1, wherein the positive electrode includes at least one of a platinum-plated electrode or a titanium electrode. The gas generating device according to claim 1, wherein the membrane includes a proton exchange membrane. The gas generating device according to claim 1, further comprising a water condensing unit connected to the second port, the water condensing unit configured to remove water or water vapor from the hydrogen delivered to the user for use . The gas generating device according to claim 1, further comprising a valve communicating with the first chamber located in the area of the positive electrode, and the third port is configured to collect and transfer water from the area of the positive electrode Collect the water to the water tank. The gas generating device according to claim 3, further comprising a power control unit configured to control the voltage or current of at least one of the positive electrode or the negative electrode. The gas generating device according to claim 8, wherein the power control unit is configured to monitor the sensor group and trigger a response action when the at least one fault condition is detected. The gas generating device according to claim 9, wherein the response action includes reducing power supply to the gas generating device. The gas generating device of claim 8, wherein the voltage is controlled to generate a predetermined oxidation-reduction potential of water outside the electrolysis core. The gas generating device according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate is adjustable. The gas generating device according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen gas is dissolved in a piece of water for the user to drink. The gas generating device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the hydrogen or the oxygen is transmitted for inhalation by the user. The gas generating device according to claim 1, wherein the electrolysis core includes a stackable electrolysis core group. The gas generating device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to monitor a generation rate of the hydrogen. The gas generating device according to claim 1, further comprising a display connected to the control unit, the display being configured to display at least a generation rate of the hydrogen. The gas generating device according to claim 1, further comprising a network interface, the network interface being configured to connect the gas generating device to a network. The gas generating device of claim 8, wherein the gas generating device is configured to obtain information about the fault condition for transmission to a monitoring service. A method of gas generation, including: A first port receives water from a water tank to an electrolysis core; Providing a voltage to the water located in the electrolysis core by a positive electrode and a negative electrode; Separating an oxygen gas and a hydrogen gas generated by an electrolysis reaction of the water, wherein the electrolysis reaction is generated by the voltage provided; Separating the hydrogen in the electrolysis core by a membrane; Transmitting the hydrogen gas, passing the hydrogen gas through a coalescing unit to remove water or water vapor from the hydrogen gas; Transmitting at least one of the hydrogen or the oxygen through a transmission tube to a user for use by the user; and At least one fault condition of the transmission tube is monitored. The gas generation method according to claim 19, further comprising triggering a response action based on detecting the at least one fault condition.

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