Patent Publication Number: US-2022226554-A1

Title: Oxygen supplying apparatus having circulation facilitating

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority from Taiwan Patent application No. TW 110102271 filed on Jan. 21, 2021, entitled “OXYGEN SUPPLYING APPARATUS HAVING CIRCULATION ASSISTING DEVICE”, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to an oxygen supplying apparatus, and particularly to an oxygen supplying apparatus having an auxiliary device which facilitates local blood circulation of an user during the supplying of oxygen to the user. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     One primary function of an oxygen supplying apparatus is to provide oxygen-containing gas at a substantially higher oxygen concentration than that of ambient air (hereinafter, oxygen-containing gas) to an user for medical and/or healthcare purposes. Usually, the oxygen concentration in ambient air is around 20%, but in the case that the oxygen concentration is raised to about 25% to 50%, it would be helpful for a person on recovering from tiredness and pressure relief after high-intensity exercises. Moreover, oxygen-containing gas with even higher oxygen concentrations (such as 70% or more, or pure oxygen) is often used in medical or health care for respiratory diseases, for example. 
     Common methods for supplying oxygen-containing gas include: 1) pressure swing adsorption (PSA) methods, 2) electrolysis methods, and 3) usage of oxygen tanks. In PSA methods, oxygen is extracted from ambient air through the work of a molecular sieve mechanism in the oxygen supplying apparatus, and nitrogen in the ambient air is absorbed, so as to increase oxygen concentration. The electrolysis method utilizes liquid water electrolysis to generate oxygen and hydrogen, the generated oxygen is then extracted for use. When using oxygen tanks for supplying oxygen-containing gas, the oxygen-containing gas is stored in liquid state and under high pressure in steel cylinders used as oxygen tanks, and the stored oxygen-containing gas can be released from the tanks when it is needed. 
     The oxygen inhaled by the user is brought to various parts of the user&#39;s body through blood circulation. However, when the blood circulation of the user is gentle, and/or when the blood circulation at a specific body portion of the user is relatively poorer than other body portions of the user, the benefit of the oxygen supplying apparatus cannot be fully obtained due to gentle or poor blood circulation, even if the oxygen supplying apparatus provides gas having higher oxygen concentration to the user. In view of this, in order to improve the efficiency of the oxygen supplying apparatus, it is desired to facilitate blood circulation of specific body portion(s) of the user when supplying gas having higher oxygen concentration to the user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, an oxygen supplying apparatus is provided. The oxygen supplying apparatus is configured to supply an oxygen-containing gas having an oxygen concentration equal to or higher than that of ambient air to an user for direct inhalation, and facilitate blood circulation at a specific body portion of the user in the meantime. The oxygen supplying apparatus comprises: a power supply; an oxygen-containing gas source configured to receive electrical energy from the power supply and thereby provide the oxygen-containing gas; a gas catheter having one end thereof connected to the oxygen-containing gas source; an inhalator connected to the other end of the gas catheter, the oxygen-containing gas being arranged to flow from the oxygen-containing gas source to the inhalator via the gas catheter for reaching an inhaling portion of the user; and a circulation facilitating device configured to be at least partially attached to a surface of the specific body portion of the user. The circulation facilitating device includes a sonic oscillation circuit and a housing. The sonic oscillation circuit is configured to receive electrical energy from the power supply and thereby generate oscillation at a frequency ranging from 20 Hz to 10 MHz. The housing is configured to enclose the sonic oscillation circuit in a watertight manner 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the oxygen supplying apparatus further comprises a controlling section configured for controlling the oscillation of the circulation facilitating device. Further, the controlling section controls the oscillation generated by the sonic oscillation circuit of the circulation facilitating device based on predetermined voltages. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the oxygen supplying apparatus further comprises a potential balancing device configured for balancing a body potential of the user. The potential balancing device includes a conducting element, a grounding plate, and a lead. The conducting element is configured to be attached to the body of the user and connected to the grounding plate via the lead. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  schematically illustrates an oxygen supplying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  schematically illustrates an oxygen-containing gas source according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  schematically illustrates a gas catheter according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2C  schematically illustrates an inhalator according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  schematically illustrates a circulation facilitating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a circulation facilitating device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  schematically illustrates a sonic oscillation circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an oxygen supplying apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     In the accompanying drawings of the present invention, numeral may be repeatedly utilized to identify similar and/or same components. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Several preferred embodiments are set forth herein to provide better understanding of the technical features and advantages of the present invention. It should be understood that the embodiments provided in the figures are illustrative only, and may not be drawn to scale. In the figures, various details have been omitted in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an oxygen supplying apparatus  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the oxygen supplying apparatus  1  includes an oxygen-containing gas source  11 , a gas catheter  21 , an inhalator  31 , a power supply  41 , and a circulation facilitating device  51 . 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates the structure of the oxygen-containing gas source  11 . oxygen-containing gas source  11  is configured to receive electrical energy supplied by the power supply  41 , and provide oxygen-containing gas O with an oxygen concentration equal to or higher than that of ambient air. In one embodiment, the oxygen-containing gas source  11  may be a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen concentrator, which is capable of providing oxygen-containing gas O having an oxygen concentration of 33%˜42%. In another embodiment, the oxygen-containing gas source  11  may be an air compressor driven by the electricity supplied from the power supply  41 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2A , the oxygen-containing gas source  11  includes: an inlet port  13 , a molecular sieve  15 , and a gas supply port  17 . When the oxygen-containing gas source  11  is activated, ambient air A is sucked into the oxygen-containing gas source  11  through the inlet port  13 . By using the molecular sieve  15 , a portion of nitrogen is filtered out from the ambient air A sucked into the oxygen-containing gas source  11  for increasing oxygen concentration. This generates oxygen-containing gas O with an increased oxygen concentration, which will then be supplied through the gas supply port  17 . 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates the structure of the gas catheter  21 . The gas catheter  21  is a hollow tube which allows the oxygen-containing gas O to flow therethrough. One end  23  of the gas catheter  21  is connected to the gas supply port  17  of the oxygen-containing gas source  11  ( FIG. 2A ), while the other end  25  of the gas catheter  21  is connected to a gas inlet  35  of the inhalator  31  ( FIG. 2C ), which will be described in detail below. 
       FIG. 2C  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the inhalator  31 . The inhalator  31  enables an user  2  to inhale the oxygen-containing gas O directly. In one embodiment, the inhalator  31  is designed to have a nose bracket shape to facilitate attachment to an inhaling portion (e.g., mouth and/or nose) of the user  2  ( FIG. 1 ). The inhalator  31  includes an inhalator body  33 , a gas inlet  35 , a gas outlet  37 , and an internal duct  39 . As shown in  FIG. 2C , the inhalator body  33  is provided with the gas inlet  35 , at least one gas outlet  37  and the internal duct  39 . As mentioned above, the gas inlet  35  is configured to be connected to one end  25  of the gas catheter  21 , allowing the oxygen-containing gas O to flow into the inhalator  31 . The gas outlet  37  may be connected to the inhaling portion (e.g., mouth and/or nose) of the user  2 , allowing the user  2  to inhale the oxygen-containing gas O directly. In an embodiment, the gas outlet  37  may be positioned in nostril(s) of the user  2 . The internal duct  39  is formed inside the inhalator body  33 , and connected to the gas inlet  35  and gas outlet  37 . For example, the internal duct  39  may be formed as a hollow portion of the inhalator body  33 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the structure of the circulation facilitating device  51 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the circulation facilitating device  51  includes a sonic oscillation circuit  52  and a housing  53 . One end of the circulation facilitating device  51  is connected to the power supply  41 , so the sonic oscillation circuit  52  of the circulation facilitating device  51  can generate sonic oscillation using the electrical energy provided by the power supply  41 , as will be described in detail below. The housing  53  encloses the sonic oscillation circuit  52 , and has an opening that allows the end of the sonic oscillation circuit  52  connected to the power supply  41  to penetrate therethrough. The housing  53  encloses the sonic oscillation circuit  52  in a water-tight manner, in order to keep moisture from entering the inside of the housing  53  and prevent the sonic oscillation circuit  52  from being damaged by moisture. The housing  53  may be made of, such as, but not limited to silicone rubber. Although in  FIG. 3 , the housing  53  is shown to be rectangular in its shape, it can be formed into various shapes, depending on different specific body portions of the user to which the circulation facilitating device  51  is to be applied. The housing may be formed to be, for example, but not limited to cylindrical (as shown in  FIG. 4 ), hemispherical, etc., in its shape. Although it is shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  that one sonic oscillation circuit  52  is provided within the housing  53 , this is only illustrative, and there may be a plurality of sonic oscillation circuits  52  provided within the housing  53 . Further, as an example, the circulation facilitating device  51  is attached to the oxygen supplying apparatus  1  in a detachable manner, but it is not limited thereto. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary construction for the sonic oscillation circuit  52  of the circulation facilitating device  51 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the sonic oscillation circuit  52  is a digital sonic oscillation circuit, but this is only illustrative, and other sonic oscillation circuits may be used. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the sonic oscillation circuit  52  includes a controlling section  52   a  and a piezoelectric oscillating element  52   b,  where the piezoelectric oscillating element  52   b  is coupled to the power supply  41  through the controlling section  52   a.  The controlling section  52   a  may be a digital oscillation controlling circuit, but it is not limited thereto. The piezoelectric oscillating element  52   b  produces piezoelectric effect using the electric field generated by the power supply  41 , thereby causing electrostriction. In this manner, when predetermined frequencies and/or voltages are regularly applied to the piezoelectric oscillation element  52   b,  the piezoelectric oscillation element  52   b  can be caused to produce mechanical vibrations (i.e., oscillations). Moreover, in order to make the oscillation of the piezoelectric oscillation element  52   b  meet the requirements of the user  2 , the controlling section  52   a  coupled between the power supply  41  and the piezoelectric oscillation element  52   b  can receive an electric field from the power supply  41  for generating predetermined voltages, and output these predetermined voltages to the piezoelectric oscillation element  52   b.  This causes the piezoelectric oscillation element  52   b  to oscillate in a resonant manner, and predetermined oscillation frequencies and intensities can thus be provided to the user  2 . Since the piezoelectric oscillation element  52   b  is employed in the sonic oscillation circuit  52  as an element for producing oscillations having desired frequencies and intensities, the sonic oscillation circuit  52  of the present invention can be quiet, downsized and lightweight, in comparison with conventional oscillation devices provided with vibration motors. 
     The oscillation frequency of human bodies falls within a range from 1 Hz to less than 20 Hz, so it is desired that the sonic oscillation circuit  52  produces frequencies higher than the oscillation frequency of human bodies. For example, the oscillation frequency produced by the sonic oscillation circuit  52  can be in the range of 20 Hz˜10 MHz, preferably 20 Hz˜2 MHz, and more preferably 20 Hz˜20 KHz. 
     An operational process of the oxygen supplying apparatus  1  is explained below. 
     First, the inhalator  31  is attached to a corresponding body portion of the user  2 , so that the gas outlet is connected to the user  2 . Next, the user  2  can place the circulation facilitating device  51  to a specific body portion where circulation facilitation is required, such as but not limited to, arms, shoulders, neck, back, legs, mouth, anus, vagina, etc. When being placed to the specific body portion, the circulation facilitating device  51  is at least partially attached to the surface of the specific body portion. During the operation of the oxygen supplying apparatus  1 , the oxygen-containing gas source  11  generates the oxygen-containing gas O as described above, and provides the oxygen-containing gas O through the gas supply port  17 . The oxygen-containing gas O is then flowed to the inhalator  31  through the gas catheter  21 , allowing the user  2  to inhale the oxygen-containing gas O directly. Also, during the operation of the oxygen supplying apparatus  1 , the circulation facilitating device  51  receives electrical energy from the power supply  41  for causing the sonic oscillation circuit  52  to produce sonic oscillations, and transfer such sonic oscillations to the specific body portion of the user  2  where the circulation facilitating device  51  is attached to. Thus, the blood circulation at the specific body portion can be improved. In this manner, oxygen in the inhaled oxygen-containing gas O can arrive the specific body portion sooner, and the overall performance of the oxygen supply apparatus  1  can therefore be effectively improved. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an oxygen supply apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the oxygen supplying apparatus  1  further includes a potential balancing device  61 . The potential balancing device  61  includes: a conducting element  63 , a grounding plate  65 , and a lead  67 . In the oxygen supplying apparatus  1  shown in  FIG. 6 , the conducting element  63  is formed of a conductor having good electrical conductivity, and connected to the grounding plate  65  via the lead  67 . Specifically, the conducting element  63  may be formed of metal, for example, and is preferably formed of materials which will not result in any allergic reaction of the user  2 , such as gold, silver, platinum, titanium, alloys thereof, etc. With such a configuration, during the operation of the oxygen supplying apparatus, the conducting element  63  can be placed, for example, directly on the skin of the user  2 . The grounding plate  65  is formed of a conductor having good electrical conductivity and a large volume, so that the balancing for a body potential V of the user  2  can be performed using the potential balancing effect of such a large volume conductor. The grounding plate  65  may additionally be connected to ground outside the potential balancing device  61 . From the aspect of safety, it is preferable to provide safety protection measures by employing Zener diodes or the like in the potential balancing device  61 . For example, the potential balancing device  61  may be attached to the oxygen supplying apparatus  1 , or may be a built-in device of the oxygen supplying apparatus  1 . 
     An operational process of the potential balancing device  61  is described below. When the conducting element  63  is placed on, for example, the skin of the user  2 , the body potential V of the user  2  can be conducted from the conducting element  63  to the grounding plate  65  via the lead  67 , and the body potential of the user  2  can thereby be balanced. 
     With the aforementioned configuration, it is possible for the oxygen supplying apparatus  1  to keep the body potential of the user  2  balanced, while supplying oxygen-containing gas having an oxygen concentration equal to or higher than that of ambient air to the user  2 . Thus, the blood circulation of the user  2  can be facilitated, and the benefit of healthcare of the oxygen supplying apparatus  1  can also be maximized 
     In one embodiment, the oxygen supplying apparatus  1  is designed to be portable, and the power supply  41  for such an oxygen supplying apparatus  1  may be a battery. With this configuration, the user will be able to store the oxygen supplying apparatus  1  in a carrying bag or a carrying box for carrying the oxygen supplying apparatus  1  around, and take the oxygen supplying apparatus  1  out of the carrying bag or carrying box when required, without being limited by factors such as places or power sources. 
     Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments and drawings, those with ordinary skill in the art may understand that various modifications, changes, and equivalents can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. However, these modifications, changes, and equivalents should also be included in the scope of the present invention.