Patent ID: 6427690
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A combination flow regulator and conservation device for supplying oxygen gas or oxygen concentrated gas to a user during the breathing cycles of the user, the device comprising means for regulating flow of the gas through the device, means for attaching the device to a tank containing or an outlet of a system supplying the oxygen or oxygen concentrated gas, and means for controlling both an effective rate and timing of the flow of gas through the device to selectively supply the gas to the user in one of at least three selectable modes of operation, the modes of operation including (a) first means for supplying a continuous flow of gas through at least the inhalation cycles of the user, (b) second means for providing an intermittent pulse of gas supplied to the user on at least the initial stage of inhalation of substantially every breathing cycle of the user, the second means including means for supplying the pulse of gas at selectively different periods of time during the initial stage of inhalation, and (c) third means for supplying an intermittent pulse of gas to the user at selectively different effective rates of flow of the gas, the pulse supplied by the third means being of a fixed time period for at least two of the selective effective rates, and the effective rates of the third means being determined by supplying the gas at selectable inhalation stages of the breathing cycles of the user.