Patent ID: 8439034
Filing Date: 2013-05-14
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. An oxygen delivery system operative to regulate a flow of oxygen during an inspiration event of a respiratory cycle, and comprising: an oxygen source; a first portion of a conduit pneumatically coupling the oxygen source to a first port of an electronically controlled valve; a second portion of the conduit pneumatically coupling the electronically controlled valve to an oxygen output device and to a microphone; wherein the electronically controlled valve has at least an open setting that permits the flow of oxygen from the first port to the second port and having at least a closed setting that prevents the flow of oxygen from the first port to a second port; wherein the microphone is configured with a diaphragm and a transducer, movement of the diaphragm influenced by audible sound in the second portion of conduit, pneumatically induced noise in the second portion of the conduit, and pressure changes associated with user breathing at the oxygen output device, movement of the diaphragm resulting in a microphone signal having a sound component corresponding to the audible sound, a pneumatically induced noise component corresponding to the pneumatically induced noise, and a user breathing component corresponding to the pressure changes associated with user breathing, the transducer configured to convert diaphragm movements into microphone output electrical signals; a microcontroller electrically connected to the microphone, the microcontroller for regulating operation of the oxygen delivery system so as to conserve oxygen, wherein the microcontroller is also electrically connected to a valve assembly that controls the electronically controlled valve via an electrical connection, the microcontroller configured to indicate to the valve assembly when the electronically controlled valve is to transition from the closed setting to the open setting, when the electronically controlled valve is to maintain the open setting, when the electronically controlled valve is to transition from an open setting to a closed setting, and when the electronically controlled valve is to maintain the closed setting, the microcontroller further configured to: