Oxygen flow control system and method

Abstract

The present invention provides an oxygen control system for supplying a predetermined rate of flow from an oxygen source to a person in need of supplemental oxygen comprising an input manifold, an output manifold and a plurality of gas conduits interconnecting the input manifold to the output manifold. The oxygen source is arranged in flow communication with the input manifold, and a needle valve is positioned in flow control relation to each of the conduits so as to control the flow of oxygen from the input manifold to the output manifold. A plurality of solenoid valves, each having a first fully closed state corresponding to a preselected level of physical activity of the person and a second, fully open state corresponding to another preselected level of physical activity of the person, are positioned in flow control relation to all but one of the conduits. Sensors for monitoring the level of physical activity of the person are provided, along with a control system that is responsive to the monitored level of physical activity, for switching the solenoids between the first state and the second state. A method for supplying supplemental oxygen to a person according to the level of physical activity under taken by that person is also provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An oxygen control system for supplying a predetermined rate of flow from an oxygen source to a person in need of supplemental oxygen comprising: 
 an input manifold, an output manifold and a plurality of gas conduits interconnecting said input manifold to said output manifold, wherein said oxygen source is arranged in flow communication with said input manifold and said person is in oxygen flow communication with said output manifold;    a needle valve positioned in flow control relation to each of said plurality of gas conduits so as to control the flow of oxygen from said input manifold to said output manifold;    a plurality of solenoid valves each having a first closed state and a second open state wherein one of said plurality of solenoid valves is positioned in flow control relation to each but one of said plurality of gas conduits;    means for monitoring the level of physical activity of said person; and    means responsive to said physical activity monitoring means for sequentially switching said solenoid valves between said first state and said second state.    
     
     
         2 . An oxygen flow control system according to    claim 1    wherein said solenoids are disposed in said second state when said system is unpowered so that supplemental oxygen is free to flow through all of said plurality of gas conduits.  
     
     
         3 . An oxygen flow control system according to    claim 1    wherein said input manifold comprises a gas input port disposed in flow communication with a gas distribution tunnel and includes three output ports disposed in flow communication with said gas distribution tunnel.  
     
     
         4 . An oxygen flow control system according to    claim 3    wherein said gas input port is interconnected to said oxygen gas source by an elongate tubular conduit.  
     
     
         5 . An oxygen flow control system according to    claim 3    wherein said output manifold comprises a output port arranged in flow communication with a gas distribution tunnel and includes three input ports disposed in flow communication with said gas distribution tunnel, wherein said output port is interconnected to a nasal cannula adapted for delivery of oxygen to said person.  
     
     
         6 . An oxygen control system for supplying a predetermined rate of flow from an oxygen source to a person in need of supplemental oxygen comprising: 
 an input manifold, an output manifold and at least one gas conduit interconnecting said input manifold to said output manifold, wherein said oxygen source is arranged in flow communication with said input manifold and said person is in oxygen flow communication with said output manifold;    at least one needle valve positioned in flow control relation to said at least one gas conduit so as to control the flow of oxygen from said input manifold to said output manifold;    at least one solenoid valve having a first closed state and a second open state wherein said at least one solenoid valve is positioned in flow control relation to at least one of said at least one conduits;    means for monitoring the level of physical activity of said person; and    means responsive to said physical activity monitoring means for sequentially switching said at least one solenoid valve between said first state and said second state.    
     
     
         7 . An oxygen flow control system according to    claim 1    including three gas conduits each comprising a tube having an input end sealingly interconnected to said input manifold, an output end sealingly interconnected to said output manifold, one of said plurality of needle valves operatively installed on each of said gas conduits so as to control the flow of oxygen between said input manifold and said output manifold, and further wherein one of said solenoid valves is operatively installed on each of two of said gas conduits.  
     
     
         8 . An oxygen flow control system according to    claim 1    wherein said means for monitoring the level of physical activity of said person comprise a sensor positioned on a portion of said persons body and interconnected to said switching means.  
     
     
         9 . An oxygen flow control system according to    claim 8    wherein said sensor comprises a motion detector.  
     
     
         10 . An oxygen flow control system according to    claim 9    wherein said sensor comprises a pressure actuated switch located on the bottom of said persons foot.  
     
     
         11 . An oxygen flow control system according to    claim 8    wherein said sensor comprises a proximity switch.  
     
     
         12 . An oxygen flow control system according to    claim 8    wherein said sensor comprises a radio control motion sensor.  
     
     
         13 . An oxygen flow control system according to    claim 8    wherein said sensor comprises a hand held control module for direct input to said switching means.  
     
     
         14 . An oxygen flow control system according to    claim 8    wherein said sensor comprises an open/close pressure switch located in a foot pad portion of a slipper so that when the person walks, said pressure switch is actuated thereby sending signals to said switching means which activates said solenoid valves according to a preselected and timed regimen.  
     
     
         15 . An oxygen control system for supplying a predetermined rate of flow from an oxygen source to a person in need of supplemental oxygen comprising: 
 an input manifold, an output manifold and a plurality of gas conduits interconnecting said input manifold to said output manifold, wherein said oxygen source is arranged in flow communication with said input manifold and said person is in oxygen flow communication with said output manifold;    a needle valve positioned in flow control relation to each of said plurality of gas conduits so as to control the flow of oxygen from said input manifold to said output manifold;    a plurality of solenoid valves each having a first closed state and a second open state wherein one of said plurality of solenoid valves is positioned in flow control relation to each but one of said plurality of gas conduits; and    a hand control module interconnected to said solenoids for manually sequentially switching said solenoid valves between said first state and said second state.    
     
     
         16 . An oxygen flow control system according to    claim 1    comprising an oxygen gas flow rate gauge operatively interconnected with said output manifold so as to provide the person with a readily available indication of the oxygen flow rate output.  
     
     
         17 . An oxygen control system for supplying a predetermined rate of flow from an oxygen source to a person in need of supplemental oxygen comprising: 
 an input manifold, an output manifold and three gas conduits interconnecting said input manifold to said output manifold, wherein said oxygen source is arranged in flow communication with said input manifold and output manifold is in oxygen flow communication with said person;    a needle valve positioned in flow control relation to each of said conduits so as to control the flow of oxygen from said input manifold to said output manifold;    a plurality of solenoid valves each having a first closed state corresponding to a preselected level of physical activity of said person and a second, open state corresponding to another preselected level of physical activity of said person, wherein said solenoid valves are positioned in flow control relation to two of said conduits and are disposed in said second state when said system is unpowered so that supplemental oxygen is free to flow to said person;    a pressure actuated switch located in a portion of foot wear worn by said person so that when said person walks, said pressure switch is actuated thereby sending signals to a programmable controller for switching said solenoid valves between said first state and said second state.    
     
     
         18 . An oxygen flow control system according to    claim 17    wherein said output manifold comprises a output port arranged in flow communication with a gas distribution tunnel and includes three input ports disposed in flow communication with said gas distribution tunnel, wherein said output port is interconnected to a nasal cannula adapted for delivery of oxygen to said person.  
     
     
         19 . An oxygen flow control system according to    claim 18    wherein each of said gas conduits is arranged so that one conduit corresponds to, and extends between, a single one of said output ports of said input manifold and a single input port of said output manifold so as to provide for gas flow communication between said input manifold and said output manifold.  
     
     
         20 . An oxygen control system for supplying a predetermined rate of flow from an oxygen source to a person in need of supplemental oxygen comprising: 
 an input manifold, an output manifold and three gas conduits interconnecting said input manifold to said output manifold, wherein said oxygen source is arranged in flow communication with said input manifold and a nasal cannula is in oxygen flow communication with said output manifold;    a needle valve positioned in flow control relation to each of said three gas conduits so as to control the flow of oxygen from said input manifold to said output manifold;    two solenoid valves each having a first closed state and a second open state wherein one of said solenoid valves is positioned in flow control relation to a first one of said three gas conduits and one of said solenoid valves is positioned in flow control relation to a second one of said three gas conduits;    a sensor capable of detecting the physical activity level of said person and providing a signal that corresponds to said detected physical activity level; and    a programmable controller responsive to said signals for sequentially switching said solenoid valves between said first state and said second state.    
     
     
         21 . A method for supplying supplemental oxygen to a person according to the level of physical activity under taken by that person comprising the steps of: 
 (A) providing a minimum flow of oxygen to said person and at least one clock to measure sequential time periods;    (B) monitoring said person during each of said sequential time periods so as to detect an increase in said physical activity level;    (C) providing an additional flow of oxygen to said person for a discrete period of time in response to an increased level of physical activity detected during one or more of said monitored sequential time periods; and    (D) withdrawing said additional flow of oxygen from said person after the termination of said discrete period of time in response to a reduction in the detected level of physical activity.    
     
     
         22 . A method for supplying supplemental oxygen to a person according to the level of physical activity under taken by that person comprising the steps of: 
 (A) providing a minimum flow of oxygen to said person and at least one clock to measure sequential time periods;    (B) monitoring said person during each of said sequential time periods so as to detect an increase in said physical activity level;    (C) providing a first additional flow of oxygen to said person for a first period of time in response to an increased level of physical activity detected during one or more of said monitored sequential time periods;    (D) monitoring said person during each of said sequential time periods following the provision of said first additional flow of oxygen so as to detect a continuation of said increased physical activity level;    (E) providing a second additional flow of oxygen to said person for a second period of time in response to a detected continuation in the increased level of physical activity detected during one or more of said monitored sequential time periods; and    (F) withdrawing said first and second additional flows of oxygen from said person after the sequential termination of said first and second periods of time in response to a reduction in the detected level of physical activity.