Patent ID: 6394088
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
An oxygen-delivery system comprisinga portable oxygen meter including a low-pressure oxygen inlet, a low-pressure oxygen outlet, and an exhale-inhale sensing port, an oxygen-supply source including a discharge outlet and configured to discharge low-pressure oxygen through the discharge outlet, a flexible supply tube having an inlet end coupled to the discharge outlet of the oxygen supply source and an outlet end coupled to the low-pressure oxygen inlet of the portable oxygen meter to conduct low-pressure oxygen from the oxygen-supply source into the portable oxygen meter through the low-pressure oxygen inlet, a nasal cannula coupled to the low-pressure oxygen outlet and the exhale-inhale sensing port and adapted to be inserted into the nasal cavities of a patient, the portable oxygen meter further including a pneumatic demand oxygen conserver including a diaphragm valve member movable between a flow-delivery position allowing flow of low-pressure oxygen from the low-pressure oxygen inlet to the low-pressure oxygen outlet and a flow-blocking position blocking flow of low-pressure oxygen from the low-pressure oxygen inlet to the low-pressure oxygen outlet, control means coupled to the exhale-inhale sensing port for causing the diaphragm valve member to move to the flow-delivery position in response to inhalation of the patient breathing through the nasal cannula and to move to the flow-blocking position in response to a lack of inhalation by the patient during exhalation through the nasal cannula, and an oxygen flow passage located between the low-pressure oxygen inlet and the diaphragm valve member and arranged to pass low-pressure oxygen through an oxygen flow-metering aperture having a predetermined internal diameter to meter low-pressure oxygen flowing in the portable oxygen meter from the low-pressure oxygen inlet to the low-pressure oxygen outlet at a selected oxygen flow rate, and a mount including a flange coupled to the portable oxygen meter and a clip adapted to be coupled to an item of clothing worn by the patient.