Provided is a system for adsorbing a gaseous component comprising nitrogen from a pressurized flow of air containing the gaseous component. The system comprises a first adsorption bed, and a second adsorption bed. Each of the adsorption beds are suitable for selectively adsorbing the gaseous component from the flow of air to produce a product gas having a higher oxygen concentration than that of the air. The system includes an adjustable feed gas supply which alternately supplies the first adsorption bed and the second adsorption bed with the air. The first adsorption bed is supplied with air during a first half cycle of operation of the system, and the second adsorption bed is then supplied with air during a second half cycle of operation of the system. The feed gas supply enables adjustment of at least one parameter relating to the amount or respective amounts of air being supplied to the first adsorption bed in the first half cycle and/or to the second adsorption bed in the second half cycle. A connection and valve assembly is provided between the first and second adsorption beds. The connection and valve assembly diverts a portion of the product gas, produced from the respective absorption bed being supplied with the flow of air during the respective half cycle, to the other adsorption bed. This causes previously adsorbed gaseous component to be released from latter. The released gaseous component then escapes from the system, e.g. to the atmosphere, via a vent. A sensor system determines a measure of the flow rate of waste gas, including the released gaseous component, escaping from the system via the vent. The at least one parameter can be adjusted based on the measure in order to tune the performance of the system. Further provided is a method for operating the system.

Provided is a system for adsorbing a gaseous component comprising nitrogen from a pressurized flow of air containing the gaseous component. The system comprises a first adsorption bed, and a second adsorption bed. Each of the adsorption beds are suitable for selectively adsorbing the gaseous component from the flow of air to produce a product gas having a higher oxygen concentration than that of the air. The system includes an adjustable feed gas supply which alternately supplies the first adsorption bed and the second adsorption bed with the air. The first adsorption bed is supplied with air during a first half cycle of operation of the system, and the second adsorption bed is then supplied with air during a second half cycle of operation of the system. The feed gas supply enables adjustment of at least one parameter relating to the amount or respective amounts of air being supplied to the first adsorption bed in the first half cycle and/or to the second adsorption bed in the second half cycle. A connection and valve assembly is provided between the first and second adsorption beds. The connection and valve assembly diverts a portion of the product gas, produced from the respective absorption bed being supplied with the flow of air during the respective half cycle, to the other adsorption bed. This causes previously adsorbed gaseous component to be released from latter. The released gaseous component then escapes from the system, e.g. to the atmosphere, via a vent. A sensor system determines a measure of the flow rate of waste gas, including the released gaseous component, escaping from the system via the vent. The at least one parameter can be adjusted based on the measure in order to tune the performance of the system. Further provided is a method for operating the system.

The invention provides new systems/methods for providing oxygen to chronically ill patients, such as COPD patients, through a more efficient portable oxygen concentrator (“POC”) that at least sometimes delivers an enriched airflow having a significantly lower overall oxygen concentration than that administered by typical POCs. In aspects, the methods/systems of the present invention are configured to automatically switch from pulse delivery to continuous delivery, from continuous delivery to pulse delivery, or any combination thereof, at least once per day, when certain conditions occur. Methods/system can comprise the ability to switch between mode(s) comprising delivery of a moderately enriched oxygen airflow (MEOA) and mode(s) comprising delivery of intensively enriched oxygen airflow, highly enriched oxygen airflow, or both, and back again, based on one or more parameters.

Systems and methods are provided for portable and compact nitric oxide (NO) generation that can be embedded into other therapeutic devices or used alone. In some embodiments, an ambulatory NO generation system can be comprised of a controller and disposable cartridge. The cartridge can contain filters and scavengers for preparing the gas used for NO generation and for scrubbing output gases prior to patient inhalation. The system can utilize an oxygen concentrator to increase nitric oxide production and compliment oxygen generator activity as an independent device. The system can also include a high voltage electrode assembly that is easily assembled and installed. Various nitric oxide delivery methods are provided, including the use of a nasal cannula.

Systems and methods are provided for portable and compact nitric oxide (NO) generation that can be embedded into other therapeutic devices or used alone. In some embodiments, an ambulatory NO generation system can be comprised of a controller and disposable cartridge. The cartridge can contain filters and scavengers for preparing the gas used for NO generation and for scrubbing output gases prior to patient inhalation. The system can utilize an oxygen concentrator to increase nitric oxide production and compliment oxygen generator activity as an independent device. The system can also include a high voltage electrode assembly that is easily assembled and installed. Various nitric oxide delivery methods are provided, including the use of a nasal cannula.

Systems and methods for nitric oxide generation are provided. In an embodiment, an NO generation system can include a controller and disposable cartridge that can provide nitric oxide to two different treatments simultaneously. The disposable cartridge has multiple purposes including preparing incoming gases for exposure to the NO generation process, scrubbing exhaust gases for unwanted materials, characterizing the patient inspiratory flow, and removing moisture from sample gases collected. Plasma generation can be done within the cartridge or within the controller. The system has the capability of calibrating NO and NO.sub.2 gas analysis sensors without the use of a calibration gas.

Systems and methods for nitric oxide generation are provided. In an embodiment, an NO generation system can include a controller and disposable cartridge that can provide nitric oxide to two different treatments simultaneously. The disposable cartridge has multiple purposes including preparing incoming gases for exposure to the NO generation process, scrubbing exhaust gases for unwanted materials, characterizing the patient inspiratory flow, and removing moisture from sample gases collected. Plasma generation can be done within the cartridge or within the controller. The system has the capability of calibrating NO and NO.sub.2 gas analysis sensors without the use of a calibration gas.

A configurable oxygen concentrator for providing various flow rates and volumes of concentrated oxygen to a patient includes an electro-mechanical assembly having a housing with a first face, a second face and an outer surface. The oxygen concentrator also includes a first battery, a second battery, a first adsorbent container and a second adsorbent container. The first and second batteries are removably mountable to the first face and the first and second adsorbent containers are removably mountable to the second face to permit modification of the concentrated oxygen capacity and operating life of the concentrator as the patient progresses through different stages of a breathing disease. The first battery has a first battery capacity that is less than a second battery capacity of the second battery. The first adsorbent container has a first adsorbent capacity that is less than a second adsorbent capacity of the second adsorbent container.

A configurable oxygen concentrator for providing various flow rates and volumes of concentrated oxygen to a patient includes an electro-mechanical assembly having a housing with a first face, a second face and an outer surface. The oxygen concentrator also includes a first battery, a second battery, a first adsorbent container and a second adsorbent container. The first and second batteries are removably mountable to the first face and the first and second adsorbent containers are removably mountable to the second face to permit modification of the concentrated oxygen capacity and operating life of the concentrator as the patient progresses through different stages of a breathing disease. The first battery has a first battery capacity that is less than a second battery capacity of the second battery. The first adsorbent container has a first adsorbent capacity that is less than a second adsorbent capacity of the second adsorbent container.

A cartridge comprising layers of adsorbent sheet is described. The cartridge includes an indicator that characterizes the consumption state of the adsorbent within the cartridge. The indicator is applied in a way such that discrete areas of indicator are visible. These discontinuous areas of indicator may be applied to the outside surface of the cartridge. Alternatively, the discontinuous areas may be formed by cutting windows in the outermost layer of the cartridge and either coating indicator on the layer beneath the window, placing an indicator layer between the window and the layer beneath it or filling the window with an indicating plug of material so that the indicator is visible from the outside of the cartridge. The indicator layer and indicator plug embodiments allow the use of any indicator with any adsorbent.