CYLINDER HOLDER, SUPPLY SYSTEM AND SUPPLY METHOD FOR THERAPEUTIC OXYGEN

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cylinder holder (10) for a cylinder (20) for pressurized storage of therapeutic oxygen, the cylinder holder (10) comprising a receptacle (11) arranged to hold the cylinder (20) in a holding position, characterized in that the cylinder holder (10) comprises at one or more than one cylinder switch (12) adapted to be actuated by the cylinder (20) when received in the receptacle (11) in the holding position. A corresponding supply system (100) for therapeutic oxygen and a corresponding supply method are also part of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cylinder holder (10) for a cylinder (20) for pressurized storage of therapeutic oxygen, the cylinder holder (10) comprising a receptacle (11) arranged to hold the cylinder (20) in a holding position, characterized in that the cylinder holder (10) comprises one or more than one cylinder switch (12) adapted to be actuated by the cylinder (20) when received in the receptacle (11) in the holding position.

2. A cylinder holder (10) according to claim 1 further comprising a transmitter (13) adapted to transmit a signal indicative of a switch state and/or a switching operation of the one or more than one cylinder switch (12).

3. A cylinder holder (10) according to claim 2 comprising at least two cylinder switches (12) wherein the transmitter (13) is adapted to transmit the signal only when all of the at least two cylinder switches (12) are in a defined state and/or operated within a predefined time frame.

4. A cylinder holder (10) according to claim 2 wherein the transmitter (13) is adapted to transmit a signal indicative of the number of cylinder switches (12) which are in a defined state and/or operated within a predefined time frame.

5. A cylinder holder according to claim 4 wherein the cylinder switches (12) are arranged in a way that depending on a size of the cylinder (20) which is held in the holding position, a different number of the cylinder switches (12) is operated.

6. A cylinder holder (10) according to claim 2 further comprising one or more user switches, wherein the transmitter (13) is adapted to transmit a signal indicative of the state of the one or more user switches.

7. A cylinder holder (10) according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle (11) is shaped to allow only for holding a cylinder (20) of a predetermined size in the holding position.

8. A cylinder holder (10) according to claim 1 wherein the transmitter (13) is further adapted to transmit a signal indicative of a malfunction and/or a maloperation and/or a power failure of the cylinder holder.

9. A supply system (100) for therapeutic oxygen, the supply system comprising at least one cylinder (10) holder for a cylinder (20) for pressurized storage of therapeutic oxygen, the cylinder holder (10) comprising a receptacle (11) arranged to hold the cylinder (20) in a holding position, characterized in that the cylinder holder (10) is a cylinder holder (10) as defined in claim 1.

10. A supply system (100) according to claim 8 further comprising a central unit (30), the central unit (30) being adapted to receive one or more than one signals of the transmitter (13) of the at least one cylinder holder (10).

11. A supply system (100) according to claim 9 wherein the central unit (30) is further adapted to perform a grouping of the cylinder holders (10) into two or more groups when a plurality of cylinder holders (10) is present.

12. A supply system (100) according to claim 11 wherein the central unit (30) is further adapted to calculate at least one characteristic of the two or more groups on the basis of the one or more than one signals received from the transmitter (13) of at least one of the cylinder holders (20).

13. A supply system (100) according to claim 9 further comprising at least one cylinder (20) adapted to transmit a signal indicative of at least one characteristic of the cylinder (20).

14. A supply system (100) according to claim 13 wherein the central unit (30) is further adapted to differentiate between cylinders (20) which are adapted to transmit a signal indicative of at least one characteristic of the cylinder (20) and cylinders which are not adapted to transmit such a signal.

15. A supply method for therapeutic oxygen, characterized in that at least one cylinder holder (10) according to claim 1 is used.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] FIG. 1 illustrates a supply system for therapeutic oxygen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0037] In FIG. 1, a supply system for therapeutic oxygen according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated and designated 100.

[0038] The system 100 comprises a cylinder holder 10 which, in the embodiment illustrated, comprises three receptacles 11 arranged to hold cylinders 20 for pressurized storage of therapeutic oxygen. The leftmost receptacle 11 is shown as being supplied with a corresponding cylinder 20, the two receptacles 11 on the right are shown empty. In the receptacles 11 shown on the right, cylinder switches 12 are visible (they are covered in the leftmost receptacle 11 by the cylinder 20).

[0039] The cylinder switches 12 are adapted to be actuated by the cylinder when the cylinder is received in the receptacles 11 in the holding position. In the embodiment shown, two cylinder switches 12 are present, allowing for an improved detection as explained above. A transmitter 13, which may be coupled to the cylinder switches 12, may be present, the transmitter 13 being adapted to transmit signals from the cylinder switches 12 and/or a user switch (not shown) as explained above.

[0040] The receptacles 11 of the cylinder holder 10 may be adapted to accommodate any size of cylinders, for example 2, 3, 5 and 10 litres. The cylinders may be secured to the receptacles 11 or the cylinder holder 10 via a securing mechanism (not shown).

[0041] The system 100 further comprises a central unit 30 which is adapted to receive and process the signal or signals for the cylinder holder 10 as explained above.