Patent ID: 6372026
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
An apparatus for producing an oxygen enhanced gas for use in oxygen inhalation therapy; comprising,an air source for supplying air; a plurality of columns for containing an adsorbent material for adsorbing nitrogen gas, each of the columns having first and second open ends; means for directing the air from the air source to the column through the first open ends of the respective columns; an oxygen enhanced gas tank, fluidly connected to the second open ends of the respective columns, for receiving oxygen enhanced gas from the columns; a switching mechanism, provided adjacent to the first open ends of the columns, for sequentially selectively switching columns to which the air is supplied from the air source and columns from which the adsorbed nitrogen is released for regeneration of the adsorbent material so that the respective columns repeatedly adsorb nitrogen gas and release the adsorbed nitrogen gas according to an adsorption-regeneration cycle; a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature representing the temperature of the adsorbent material; and a controller for controlling the adsorption-regeneration cycle based on the representative temperature detected by the sensor.