An oxygen concentrator 100 apparatus and a method thereof implement operations control to efficiently release oxygen enriched gas to reduce potential waste. The control methodology may include generating a profile such as a minimum inhalation flow profile of the user. The profile may be based on a size parameter of the user. The method may determine one or more control parameters characterizing a bolus of oxygen enriched gas based on the generated flow profile. The control methodology may then generate a bolus release control signal, such as for a supply valve, according to the determined one or more control parameters. The oxygen concentrator may then, with the control signal, release and deliver a bolus of oxygen enriched gas for a user such as for reducing waste.

A gas valve is adapted for controlling the flow of a medical gas for oxygen therapy in case of spontaneous breathing. The gas valve comprises a connection component for connecting the gas valve to an external supply; and a regulating system configured for selecting and supplying a pulsating flow of medical gas or a continuous flow of medical gas, in which the regulating system comprises a first sub-regulating system for supplying a pulsating flow and a second sub-regulating system for supplying a continuous flow.

A portable medical ventilator using pulse flow from an oxygen concentrator to gain higher oxygen concentration includes a positive pressure source to deliver pressurized air to the patient and a negative pressure source to trigger the oxygen concentrator. A patient circuit attached to a patient interface mask connects the ventilator to the patient. The ventilator includes a controller module that is configured to generate a signal to the negative pressure device to trigger the concentrator to initiate one or more pulses of oxygen from the oxygen concentrator. The oxygen pulses are delivered to the patient interface directly through multi-tube or a multi lumen patient circuit. The oxygen does not mix with air in the ventilator or in the patient circuit and bypasses the leaks in the patient circuit and/or patient interface.

A user-replaceable receptacle for an oxygen concentrator includes a containment structure and a desiccant disposed within the containment structure. An inlet end of the containment structure allows feed gas to be introduced into the desiccant. An outlet end of the containment structure allows the feed gas to exit the containment structure. A connection mechanism couples the outlet end of the containment structure to a gas separation adsorbent. The connection mechanism is operable between an unconnected position and a connection position. The desiccant in the user-replaceable receptacle removes water moisture from the feed gas prior to exiting the outlet end of the containment structure, thereby reducing exposure of the gas separation adsorbent to water.

Oxygen concentrator apparatus provides variation in therapy gas during a breathing cycle such as by varying flow rate and/or oxygen purity of enriched air. The apparatus may include a compressor and a valve set that operates sieve bed(s) for the enriching air and to vent exhaust gas from the bed(s). The therapy gas may include released enriched air and exhaust gas. The apparatus has a supply valve to selectively release enriched air from an accumulator via a primary path to a delivery conduit. The apparatus may include a secondary path, such as with a valve, to release a portion of exhaust gas to the delivery conduit. A controller actuates the valve set to produce the enriched air, and the supply valve to release enriched air to the delivery conduit. The controller may actuate the secondary valve in anti-sync with the supply valve to release exhaust gas to the delivery conduit.

A method and apparatus deliver a variable flow of oxygen to a patient. The apparatus may include a flow control valve, a pressure sensor to detect a patient's breathing pressure and ambient pressure, an oxygen flow analyzer to measure oxygen flow to the patient, and a processor to analyze the breathing pressure values, ambient pressure value, and oxygen flow rate values and to determine when a patient is inhaling. When the processor determines the patient is inhaling, the processor calculates an optimal oxygen flow rate to deliver to a patient, which may depend on a pre-selected flow rate and an oxygen backlog, and the processor sends a signal to the flow control valve to deliver the optimal oxygen flow rate to the patient.

Methods and apparatus may implement controlled generation of oxygen enriched air in an oxygen concentrator while implementing control that reduces pneumatic imbalance between the concentrator's canisters, such as dynamic pressure imbalance or other pneumatic characteristic. One or more controllers may regulate operation of a compressor that feeds a pressurised air stream to the concentrator's canisters. This may regulate speed of the compressor to a speed set point for generating the pressurised stream. The regulating may involve generating a compressor control signal having a characteristic parameter such as a power parameter. The controller(s) may operate valve(s) in a cyclic pattern so as to produce oxygen enriched air in an accumulator. A cycle of the cyclic pattern may include a plurality of phases, where each of the plurality of phases has a duration. The controller(s) may then generate a dynamic adjustment to the duration(s) based on an evaluation of the characteristic parameter.

A gas delivery conduit adapted for fluidly connecting to a respiratory gases delivery system in a high flow therapy system. In one embodiment, a nasal cannula includes a base portion defining a first therapeutic gas passageway, a nozzle disposed adjacent the base portion and defining a second therapeutic gas passageway, the first passageway being in gaseous communication with the second passageway and a conduit configured to facilitate sensing that has an inlet side that is independent of and axially spaced apart from an outlet side of the nozzle. The conduit inlet side can extend beyond the nozzle outlet side of the nasal cannula. Additionally, the nasal cannula has a feature adapted to prevent one of the conduit and the nozzle from creating a seal with a user's rare and a feature adapted to prevent one of the conduit and the nozzle from creating a seal with a user's nare.

A portable oxygen concentrator designed for medical use where the sieve beds, adsorbers, are designed to be replaced by a patient. The concentrator is designed so that the beds are at least partially exposed to the outside of the system and can be easily released by a simple user-friendly mechanism. Replacement beds may be installed easily by patients, and all gas seals will function properly after installation.

A method of determining a duration of safe apnoea. Information is obtained relating to a respiratory indicator, and a duration of safe apnoea is determined from the obtained information. A respiratory therapy system has one or more patient interfaces. A processor is configured to determine a duration of safe apnoea based on obtained information relating to a respiratory indicator.