JP2019017671A - Oxygen concentrator - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an oxygen concentrator which can achieve weight reduction and power saving of an oxygen concentrator, and supply a proper amount of oxygen concentrated gas to a patient or the like.SOLUTION: An oxygen concentrator 1 calculates a valve open time of a sixth electromagnetic valve 33 on the basis of a function, according to pressure (inside of tank pressure Pt) of oxygen concentrated gas detected by a pressure sensor 41, and an arrangement coefficient of a function (F) set for calculating a valve open time of the sixth electromagnetic valve 33 according to a parameter of a prescribed function (F) preset, namely, a target oxygen amount X. Then, according to the valve open time, an operation of the sixth electromagnetic valve 33 is controlled. Therefore, without using a flow meter, a proper amount of oxygen concentrated gas can be supplied to a user such as a patient. Namely, the flow meter is not provided so that the oxygen concentrator 1 can be reduced in weight and can save power, and it is possible to accurately supply a proper amount of oxygen concentrated gas to a patient.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present disclosure relates to an oxygen concentrator having a breathing synchronization function that adjusts a supply state of an oxygen-enriched gas according to a user's breathing state. For example, a portable type that can be transported or carried by a user such as a patient or the like The present invention relates to a portable oxygen concentration device.

  Conventionally, as a device for supplying high-concentration oxygen to patients such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), for example, a medical oxygen concentrator for supplying oxygen-enriched gas obtained by adsorbing and removing nitrogen from the air, An oxygen cylinder filled with gas is known.

Among these, the oxygen concentrator can supply the oxygen-enriched gas for a long time, and is used for patients who are treated for a long time at home, for example.
In addition to a stationary oxygen concentrator used at home, etc., as a device for supplying oxygen-concentrated gas outdoors, a lightweight portable oxygen concentrator that can be worn on the shoulder, etc. A portable oxygen concentrator that can be easily moved is known.

  Such a portable or portable oxygen concentrator (that is, a small-sized device) usually has a function of supplying an oxygen-enriched gas in accordance with a patient's breathing (so-called breath synchronization) in order to effectively use the oxygen-enriched gas. Function).

In this type of oxygen concentrator, various techniques have been proposed in order to supply the oxygen-enriched gas to a patient, for example (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3 below).
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an oxygen concentrator provided with correction means for correcting the valve opening time of the pressure equalization valve in accordance with the oxygen concentration and the flow rate.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an oxygen concentrator in which a flow rate control unit that controls a gas flow rate uses a measurement result of a flow rate measurement unit that measures a gas flow rate, and controls the opening of a control valve by PID control or PI control. Is disclosed.

  Furthermore, in Patent Document 3, the time ratio between inspiration and expiration is 1: 2, and oxygen is supplied in the first 1/3 period of one breathing time, and the oxygen supply amount at that time is set by the patient. A technique for adjusting the oxygen flow rate to an amount divided by the number of breaths per minute is disclosed.

JP 2004-344241 A JP 2003-144550 A Japanese Patent No. 5134743

  By the way, when the patient uses the oxygen concentrator outdoors, for example, it is preferable that the oxygen concentrator is light in weight so that it can be easily transported and the power saving can use the oxygen concentrator for a long time. However, the countermeasures are not always sufficient, and further improvement is required.

For example, in an oxygen concentrator equipped with the breathing synchronization function described above, a flow meter such as a thermal mass flow meter is usually used to measure the flow rate of oxygen-enriched gas (oxygen flow rate). It is conceivable that this flow meter is not installed for power saving.

  However, in an oxygen concentrator without a flow meter, the amount of oxygen-concentrated gas supplied to the patient by opening and closing the solenoid valve on the outlet side of the oxygen concentrator while measuring the oxygen flow rate in real time (oxygen supply amount) It is difficult to control.

  Further, as a method not using a flow meter, it is conceivable to control the flow rate by adjusting the opening time of the solenoid valve by associating the pressure of the oxygen-enriched gas (for example, the pressure of the oxygen tank) with the opening time of the solenoid valve. . However, in this case, even if the time for opening the solenoid valve is the same, the oxygen flow rate (and hence the oxygen supply amount) supplied to the patient will not be the same if the pressure condition of the oxygen tank upstream is different.

In addition, since the patient's respiratory pace is not constant but varies depending on the situation, it is not easy to supply an appropriate amount of oxygen-enriched gas to the patient.
In other words, the patient's respiratory pace is not constant and varies depending on the situation, and the pressure in the oxygen tank also varies during the oxygen generation process, etc. It's not easy.

  The present disclosure has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. The purpose of the present disclosure is to reduce the weight and power consumption of an oxygen concentrator and to supply an appropriate amount of oxygen-enriched gas to a patient or the like. It is to provide an oxygen concentrator that can be used.

  (1) The first aspect of the present disclosure is a configuration that generates oxygen-enriched gas by concentrating oxygen from the air, a tank that stores the oxygen-enriched gas, and an oxygen-enriched gas that is supplied downstream from the tank to the user. The present invention relates to an oxygen concentrator provided with a solenoid valve that is arranged in a path and opens and closes the path and has a breathing synchronization function that adjusts a supply state of an oxygen-enriched gas according to a breathing state of a user.

  This oxygen concentrator has a pressure sensor that detects the pressure of the oxygen-enriched gas in the path from the tank to the solenoid valve, and a target supply amount of the oxygen-enriched gas that is supplied in accordance with the timing of each intake of the user. A first calculation unit to calculate; a second calculation unit to obtain a parameter of a function set in advance to calculate the valve opening time of the electromagnetic valve according to the target supply amount; and oxygen-enriched gas detected by the pressure sensor According to the pressure and the parameter of the third operation unit that calculates the valve opening time of the electromagnetic valve based on the function, and the operation of the electromagnetic valve according to the valve opening time calculated by the third operation unit A control unit for controlling.

  Thus, in the first aspect, the pressure of the oxygen-enriched gas detected by the pressure sensor and the parameters of the function set in advance to calculate the valve opening time of the electromagnetic valve according to the target supply amount Accordingly, based on the function, the valve opening time required to supply the target supply amount is calculated, and the operation of the electromagnetic valve is controlled according to the valve opening time.

  Therefore, an oxygen-enriched gas in an appropriate amount (that is, a target supply amount) can be supplied to a user such as a patient without using a flow meter. That is, the flow meter is omitted, and the oxygen concentrator can be reduced in weight and power can be saved, and an appropriate amount of oxygen-enriched gas can be accurately supplied to the user.

Examples of the target supply amount include the amount of oxygen-enriched gas (for example, target oxygen amounts X and Y described later) supplied to the user during one breath (specifically, the inspiration period).
(2) In the second aspect of the present disclosure, the second calculation unit may obtain the parameter based on a map in which one or more parameters corresponding to the target supply amount are set.

  In the second aspect, parameters are obtained based on a map in which one or more parameters corresponding to the target supply amount are set. Therefore, an appropriate valve opening time corresponding to the target supply amount can be set from the function using the parameter. Therefore, there is an advantage that an appropriate amount of oxygen-enriched gas can be provided.

  (3) In the third aspect of the present disclosure, the function is a function for calculating a valve opening time of the solenoid valve from the pressure of the oxygen-enriched gas and the parameter, and at least the product of the pressure of the oxygen-enriched gas and the parameter It may have the term of.

  In the third aspect, a function having a product term of the pressure of the oxygen-enriched gas and the parameter is used as the function, so that a more appropriate valve opening time can be set. Therefore, there is an advantage that an appropriate amount of oxygen-enriched gas can be provided with higher accuracy.

(4) In the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the operation of the electromagnetic valve is controlled according to the valve opening time after a predetermined time has elapsed from when the oxygen concentrator is started or when a predetermined number of breaths are detected. May be.
Normally, when supplying oxygen-enriched gas in accordance with the timing of each inspiration of the user, for example, when the oxygen concentrator is started, the user's breathing state (for example, the breathing rate per minute) is obtained, and this breathing state is determined. Correspondingly, for example, a target supply amount to be supplied at the time of one intake is calculated.

  Here, for example, when detecting the respiration rate for one minute, it is necessary to detect respiration for a predetermined time or a predetermined number of times (that is, to perform sampling). Therefore, in the fourth aspect, in order to detect the breathing state of the user, sufficient sampling is performed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the oxygen concentrator or when a predetermined number of breaths are detected. For example, the above-described solenoid valve is controlled.

Thereby, since an appropriate target supply amount can be calculated, it is possible to control an appropriate solenoid valve according to the target supply amount.
(5) In the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, the valve opening time may be adjusted according to the physical characteristics and / or health of the user.

  When the user's physical characteristics and health conditions are different, the amount of oxygen-enriched gas to be supplied to the user (and hence the target supply amount) is different. Therefore, by adjusting the opening time of the solenoid valve according to the user's physical characteristics and health condition, and controlling the supply amount of the oxygen-enriched gas, etc., the oxygen-enriched gas is supplied to the user as much as necessary. Can supply.

  Accordingly, there is an effect that the oxygen-enriched gas can be supplied over a long period. That is, for example, when a portable oxygen concentrator is used outdoors, the oxygen concentrator can be driven for a long time.

Physical characteristics include age, sex, height, and weight, and health status includes the type of disease and the degree of disease.
(6) In the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, depending on the user's physical characteristics and / or health condition, when a predetermined time has not elapsed or when a predetermined number of breaths have not been detected since the start of the oxygen concentrator. The operation of the solenoid valve may be controlled based on a preset initial valve opening time.

At the time of starting the oxygen concentrator, since the respiratory state is not sampled, it is not easy to accurately calculate the target supply amount.
However, in this sixth aspect, immediately after starting the oxygen concentrator, the operation of the solenoid valve is controlled according to the physical characteristics and / or health of the user, so even if sampling cannot be performed immediately after starting, There is an advantage that a necessary amount of oxygen-enriched gas can be supplied.

(7) In the seventh aspect of the present disclosure, a flow meter that measures the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas may not be provided.
As described above, when the oxygen concentrator does not include a flow meter such as a thermal mass flow meter, it is possible to promote weight reduction and power saving of the oxygen concentrator as much as the flow meter is omitted. it can.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the basic composition of the oxygen concentration apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical structure of the oxygen concentrator of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control processing by the electronic controller of the oxygen concentrator of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the map A for extracting the target oxygen amount Y from the grade of disease, sex, and age. It is explanatory drawing which shows the map B for extracting an arrangement | sequence coefficient from the target oxygen amount X. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the control processing by the electronic controller of the oxygen concentrator of 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the map C for extracting the adjustment coefficient (alpha) from the grade of disease, sex, and age.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an oxygen concentrator according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.
[1. First Embodiment]
The oxygen concentrator of the first embodiment is a portable oxygen concentrator having a weight of, for example, 10 kg or less. In addition, this 1st Embodiment is applicable also to the portable oxygen concentration apparatus whose weight is 3 kg or less, for example.

This oxygen concentrator concentrates oxygen by adsorbing and removing nitrogen from the air, and for example a patient who is a user, for example, a predetermined continuous flow rate (first flow rate; for example, 2 L / min) of oxygen. The concentrated gas can be continuous. Further, by switching to respiratory synchronization as necessary, it is possible to supply oxygen-enriched gas at a predetermined flow rate (second flow rate; for example, 6 L / min in terms of continuous flow rate) only during the patient's inspiration period. Note that the oxygen-enriched gas may always be supplied by breathing synchronization. [1-1. Overall configuration of oxygen concentrator]
a) First, the basic configuration of the oxygen concentrator will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the oxygen concentrator 1 according to the first embodiment is accommodated in a main body case 3, and an air introduction path 5 is an air intake 7 from the upstream side, a compressor that compresses air. 9. Four first to fourth electromagnetic valves 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d (collectively referred to as “11”), a pair of adsorption cylinders 13a, 13b (collectively referred to as “13”), and the like for opening and closing the flow path are provided. .

An exhaust port 17 is provided in the exhaust path 15 for exhausting nitrogen from the pair of adsorption cylinders 13 to the outside.
Further, as a configuration of the supply path 19 for supplying the oxygen-enriched gas from the pair of adsorption cylinders 13, from the upstream side, the fifth electromagnetic valve 23 that opens and closes the flow path 21 between the pair of adsorption cylinders 13, the adsorption cylinder 13 side A pair of check valves 25a and 25b for preventing backflow to the product, a product tank 27 for storing oxygen-enriched gas, a regulator 29 for adjusting the pressure of the oxygen-enriched gas, a flow rate setting device 31 for adjusting the flow rate of the supplied oxygen-enriched gas, A sixth electromagnetic valve 33 that opens and closes the flow path immediately before the oxygen outlet, an oxygen outlet 35 to which oxygen-enriched gas is supplied, and the like are provided.

Note that the oxygen-enriched gas is supplied to or stopped from a user such as a patient by opening / closing the sixth electromagnetic valve 33.
Further, an oxygen sensor 37 that detects the oxygen concentration of the oxygen-enriched gas is disposed between the flow rate setting device 31 and the sixth electromagnetic valve 33. Between the sixth electromagnetic valve 33 and the oxygen outlet 35, a breathing pressure sensor 39 for detecting the pressure of the oxygen-enriched gas at the oxygen outlet 35 (and hence the pressure during breathing) is disposed. The product tank 27 is provided with a pressure sensor 41 that detects the pressure of the oxygen-enriched gas in the product tank. In addition, the oxygen concentrator 1 is provided with an atmospheric pressure sensor 43 that detects atmospheric pressure and a temperature sensor 53 that detects ambient temperature. A cannula (nasal cannula) 45 is connected to the oxygen outlet 35.

In the oxygen concentrator 1 of the first embodiment, a flow meter such as a thermal mass flow meter that measures the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas in real time is not attached.
The oxygen concentrator 1 is also provided with a display device 47 that also serves as a touch panel, an electronic control device 49 that controls the operation of the oxygen concentrator 1, a battery 51 that supplies power to the oxygen concentrator 1, and the like. .

b) Next, each configuration described above will be described in more detail.
The first to fourth solenoid valves 11 are open / close valves that are controlled and driven by the electronic control unit 49. Accordingly, the opening / closing operation of each solenoid valve 11 causes the compressor 9 and the one suction cylinder 13 to communicate with each other and the one suction cylinder 13 and the exhaust passage 15 to be shut off, It is possible to switch to a state in which the space between the adsorption cylinder 13 and the one adsorption cylinder 13 and the exhaust passage 15 are communicated with each other.

  The pair of adsorption cylinders 13 is filled with a zeolite-based adsorbent, and this adsorbent preferentially adsorbs nitrogen in the air when pressurized to a predetermined pressure, and lowers the pressure to, for example, atmospheric pressure. And the adsorbent itself is regenerated by releasing the adsorbed nitrogen.

The flow rate setting device 31 can set the flow rate when supplying the oxygen-enriched gas by operating the touch panel of the display device 47.
Specifically, the continuous flow rate can be set by adjusting the orifice up to the maximum continuous flow rate, for example, 2 L / min. Further, when the flow rate exceeding the maximum continuous flow rate is set, the continuous flow rate cannot be supplied. In that case, the control is switched to the control by breathing synchronization. In the oxygen concentrator that performs only breathing synchronization, the flow rate setting device 31 can be omitted.

The operation of the touch panel of the display device 47 enables the setting of the flow rate and switching between supply at a continuous flow rate and supply at respiratory synchronization.
[1-2. Electrical configuration of oxygen concentrator]
Next, the electrical configuration of the electronic control unit 49 that controls the oxygen concentrator 1 will be described.

  In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, an electronic control device having a microcomputer including a well-known CPU, ROM, RAM, input / output unit, bus line, and the like as a main part inside the oxygen concentrator 1. 49 is arranged.

  In addition, in the memory 49a of the electronic control unit 49, as will be described later, for example, the valve opening time of the sixth electromagnetic valve 33 is set for the purpose of adjusting the amount of oxygen-enriched gas supplied to a user such as a patient. Various data (for example, a map of FIG. 4 etc.) used at the time are stored.

  The electronic control device 49 includes an oxygen sensor 37, a respiratory pressure sensor 39, a pressure sensor 41, an atmospheric pressure sensor 43, a temperature sensor 53, first to sixth electromagnetic valves 11, 21, 33, a display device 47 that also serves as a touch panel, Various switches (not shown) such as a power switch are connected.

  As is well known, it is possible to determine whether the user is in the inspiration state or the expiration state based on the pressure detected by the respiratory pressure sensor 39. Therefore, the respiration synchronization can be controlled based on this pressure. it can.

This control of breathing synchronization is to detect a slight negative pressure (for example, 0.4 mmH ₂ O) when the user inhales the oxygen-enriched gas through the cannula 45, and the oxygen-enriched gas is detected during the inspiration period in the patient's respiratory cycle. It is control which opens and closes the 6th solenoid valve 33 so that it may supply.

For example, when the negative pressure is detected by the respiratory pressure sensor 39, the supply of the oxygen-enriched gas can be started during the inhalation period of the user by opening the sixth electromagnetic valve 33.
[1-3. Control processing of oxygen concentrator]
Next, control processing performed by the electronic control unit 49 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  This control process calculates the amount of oxygen-enriched gas to be supplied to the user (target oxygen amount) when breathing synchronization is performed, and controls the opening and closing of the sixth electromagnetic valve 33 during the inspiration period. This is a process for supplying an oxygen-enriched gas having an oxygen amount to the user.

  First, in step (S) 100 of the flowchart of FIG. 3, when the operation of the oxygen concentrator 1 is started and the specifications of the user (patient) are input by the input means (for example, a touch panel), the specifications of the specifications are displayed. Data is stored in the memory 49a.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4 to be described later, the patient's specifications include, for example, physical characteristics such as age and gender, health conditions such as the degree of COPD disease (eg, mild, moderate, severe), etc. It is. It should be noted that the display device 47 may be provided with a column for displaying physical characteristics and health status, and the specification can be input by pressing the corresponding column.

  In the subsequent step 110, the respiratory pressure sensor 39 detects the patient's breathing (for example, inspiration). That is, since the state of exhalation and inspiration can be known from the change in pressure during breathing, the state of exhalation and inspiration can be detected based on the signal from the respiratory pressure sensor 39.

  In the following step 120, it is determined whether or not the respiration data for a predetermined number of respirations (for example, 10 times) from the start of operation of the oxygen concentrator 1 is measured. If an affirmative determination is made here, the process proceeds to step 130, whereas if a negative determination is made, the process proceeds to step 200.

The respiratory data includes, for example, the state of occurrence of exhalation and inspiration (specifically, the number of occurrences and the time at the time of occurrence).
In step 200, since respiration data for the necessary number of breaths has not been obtained, an initial value (target oxygen amount Y) is set as the amount of oxygen-enriched gas supplied to the patient, and the process proceeds to step 150. The initial target oxygen amount Y is the amount supplied to the patient during one inspiration.

  Specifically, using the map A as shown in FIG. 4, the target oxygen amount Y corresponding to the specifications entered by the patient, that is, gender (male M, female F), age, and degree of disease. (In other words, an average target oxygen amount Y) is obtained.

For example, when the degree of the disease is moderate, the male (M), and the age is 41 to 65 years old, the target oxygen amount Y ₂₄ is selected.
Note that a map A as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained in advance by experiments or the like, and shows an average target oxygen amount Y that is preferable according to each specification.

  On the other hand, in step 130, which proceeds with an affirmative determination in step 120, since respiratory data for the required number of breaths has been obtained, the patient's respiratory pace N is obtained. This breathing pace N is the number of breaths per minute, and can be obtained by dividing the number of breaths or inspirations by the time (minutes) required for the number of breaths.

In the following step 140, the target oxygen amount X supplied to the patient at the time of one inspiration is calculated.
For example, when the amount of oxygen-enriched gas supplied from the oxygen concentrator 1 (that is, the oxygen supply amount in minutes) is 420 ml / min, the oxygen supply amount in minutes is divided by the respiratory pace N, The amount of oxygen-enriched gas to be supplied to the patient during the inspiration period (namely, target oxygen amount X) is obtained.

  The oxygen supply amount in units of minutes is determined by a doctor or the like according to the state of the patient's disease, for example, and is previously input to the oxygen concentrator 1 and stored in the memory 49a.

In the subsequent step 150, a map B shown in FIG. 5 stored in the memory 49a of the oxygen concentrator 1 is referred to.
This map B is a map showing the relationship between the target oxygen amount X and each parameter (a, b, c, d) that defines the following predetermined function (F). That is, this is a map showing the relationship between the target oxygen amount X and the array coefficients (an, bn, cn, dn), which are coefficients of each term of the function (F). Each of X0, X1,... Xn in this map B indicates the range of the target oxygen amount, and the larger the subscript X, the greater the target oxygen amount X.

Note that, even in the case of the target oxygen amount Y, the target oxygen amount X is handled in the same manner, and therefore, the target oxygen amount X will be described below as an example.
In the subsequent step 160, the actual arrangement coefficient (an, bn, cn, dn) corresponding to the target oxygen amount X is extracted using the map B. That is, the array coefficients (an, bn, cn, dn) are extracted as values that are actually substituted into the function (F) described later.

In the subsequent step 170, the pressure (that is, the tank internal pressure) Pt of the product tank 27 is acquired based on the signal from the pressure sensor 41.
In the following step 180, the opening time T [ms] is determined by the function (F) for calculating the opening time T [ms] of the sixth electromagnetic valve 33.

This function (F) is expressed by the following formula (1), specifically by the following formula (2).
T = Function (an, bn, cn, dn, Pt) (1)
T = anPt ³ + bnPt ² + cnPt + dn (2)
That is, the opening time T [ms] of the sixth electromagnetic valve 33 is calculated by substituting the arrangement coefficient (an, bn, cn, dn) and the tank internal pressure Pt into the equation (2).

The equation (2) is an equation actually obtained through experiments or the like.
In the subsequent step 190, the oxygen-enriched gas having the target oxygen amount X is supplied to the patient by opening the sixth electromagnetic valve 33 for the opening time Tm [ms] during the patient's inspiration. Thereafter, the process returns to Step 110.

Note that, as described above, the timing at which the sixth electromagnetic valve 33 starts to open can be the timing at which the respiratory pressure sensor 39 has decreased to a predetermined respiratory pressure (negative pressure) indicating the start of inspiration.
[1-4. effect]
(1) In the first embodiment, the pressure Pt of the oxygen-enriched gas detected by the pressure sensor 41 and the parameter (array coefficient) of the function (F) corresponding to the target oxygen amount X obtained from the map B The valve opening time of the sixth electromagnetic valve 33 is calculated by applying to the function (F). And according to the valve opening time, the operation of the sixth electromagnetic valve 33 is controlled.

  Therefore, an appropriate amount of oxygen-enriched gas can be supplied to a user such as a patient without using a flow meter. In other words, the flow meter is omitted, and the oxygen concentrator 1 can be reduced in weight and power saving, and an appropriate amount of oxygen-enriched gas can be accurately supplied to a patient or the like.

  (2) In the first embodiment, a function having the product of the tank internal pressure Pt and the arrangement coefficient is used as the function (F), so that a more appropriate valve opening time can be set. Therefore, there is an advantage that an appropriate amount of oxygen-enriched gas can be provided with higher accuracy.

  (3) In the first embodiment, when a predetermined number of breaths are detected from the start of the oxygen concentrator 1 (or after a predetermined time has elapsed), the valve opening obtained by the function (F) is used. The operation of the sixth electromagnetic valve 33 is controlled according to time. Therefore, an appropriate amount of oxygen-enriched gas can be supplied to the patient or the like.

  (4) In the first embodiment, immediately after the oxygen concentrator 1 is started (that is, a period during which sufficient sampling of the breathing state is not possible), the sixth solenoid valve depends on the physical characteristics and / or health of the user. 33 operations are controlled. Therefore, there is an advantage that a necessary amount of oxygen-enriched gas can be supplied to a patient or the like immediately after the oxygen concentrator 1 is started.

(5) In the first embodiment, since the flow meter for measuring the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas is not provided, the weight saving and power saving of the oxygen concentrator 1 can be promoted by the amount of omitting the flow meter. it can.
In the first embodiment, it is determined in step 120 whether or not breathing data for a predetermined number of breaths has been obtained since the start of driving. It may be determined whether or not the time (for example, 2 minutes) has elapsed.
[1-5. Correspondence of wording]
The oxygen concentrator 1, the product tank 27, the sixth electromagnetic valve 33, the pressure sensor 41, and the electronic control device 49 of the first embodiment are respectively an oxygen concentrator, a tank, an electromagnetic valve, This corresponds to the third calculation unit, the control unit, and the pressure sensor.
[2. Second Embodiment]
Next, the second embodiment will be described, but the description of the same contents as the first embodiment will be omitted or simplified. In addition, the same number is used about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment.

In the second embodiment, since the control process is different from that of the first embodiment, the different control process will be described.
In the second embodiment, after the operation of the oxygen concentrator 1 is started, after the specifications are input, the adjustment coefficient α for adjusting the valve opening time of the sixth electromagnetic valve 33 is extracted from the map C.

Details will be described below.
First, in step 300 of the flowchart of FIG. 6, when the operation of the oxygen concentrator 1 is started and patient specifications are input through the touch panel, the data of the specifications is stored in the memory 49.
stored in a.

In the subsequent step 310, the adjustment coefficient α is extracted based on the sex, age, and degree of disease using the map C (adjustment coefficient map) shown in FIG.
The adjustment coefficient α is a coefficient for adjusting the valve opening time of the sixth electromagnetic valve 33 based on sex, age, and degree of disease, as will be described later.

In the subsequent step 320, the breathing pressure sensor 39 detects the patient's breathing (for example, inspiration).
In subsequent step 330, it is determined whether or not the respiration data for a predetermined number of respirations has been measured from the start of operation of the oxygen concentrator 1. If an affirmative determination is made here, the process proceeds to step 340, while if a negative determination is made, the process proceeds to step 410.

  In step 410, since respiration data for the necessary number of breaths has not been obtained, an initial value (target oxygen amount Y) is set as the amount of oxygen-enriched gas to be supplied to the patient, and the process proceeds to step 360.

On the other hand, in step 340, which proceeds with an affirmative determination in step 330, respiratory data N for the required number of breaths has been obtained, and the patient's respiratory pace N is obtained.
In the subsequent step 350, the target oxygen amount X supplied to the patient at the time of one inspiration is calculated.

In the subsequent step 360, the map B stored in the memory 49a of the oxygen concentrator 1 is referred to.
In the subsequent step 370, the array coefficient (an, bn, cn, dn) corresponding to the target oxygen amount X is extracted using the map B.

In the subsequent step 380, the pressure (that is, the tank internal pressure) Pt of the product tank 27 is acquired based on the signal from the pressure sensor 41.
In the following step 390, the opening time T [ms] is determined by the function (F) for calculating the opening time T [ms] of the sixth electromagnetic valve 33.

The function (F) is represented by the following formula (3), specifically by the following formula (4).
T = α × Function (an, bn, cn, dn, Pt) (3)
T = α × (anPt ³ + bnPt ² + cnPt + dn) (4)
That is, the opening time T [ms] of the sixth electromagnetic valve 33 is calculated by substituting the arrangement coefficient (an, bn, cn, dn) and the tank internal pressure Pt into the equation (4).

The equation (4) is an equation actually obtained through experiments or the like.
In the following step 400, the oxygen-enriched gas having the target oxygen amount X is supplied to the patient by opening the sixth electromagnetic valve 33 during the opening time Tm [ms] during the patient's inspiration. Thereafter, the process returns to step 320.

As the timing for starting the opening of the sixth electromagnetic valve 33, the timing at which the breathing pressure sensor 39 has decreased to a predetermined breathing pressure indicating the start of inspiration can be employed as in the conventional case.
The second embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment. Further, in the second embodiment, since the adjustment coefficient α is set based on the specifications after the operation is started, there is an advantage that an appropriate amount of target oxygen amount X can be calculated with higher accuracy.
[3. Other Embodiments]
It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the present invention.

(1) For example, the present disclosure may be applied to an oxygen concentrator equipped with a flow meter.
(2) In addition, when inputting specifications to the oxygen concentrator, a remote controller may be used in addition to the touch panel and various switches provided in the oxygen concentrator.

  (3) In addition, the function which one component in each said embodiment has may be shared by a some component, or the function which a some component has may be exhibited by one component. Moreover, you may abbreviate | omit a part of structure of each said embodiment. In addition, at least a part of the configuration of each of the above embodiments may be added to or replaced with the configuration of another embodiment. In addition, all the aspects included in the technical idea specified from the wording described in the claims are embodiments of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Oxygen concentrator 27 ... Product tank 33 ... 6th solenoid valve 41 ... Pressure sensor 49 ... Electronic control unit

Claims (7)

A configuration for generating oxygen-enriched gas by concentrating oxygen from the air;
A tank for storing the oxygen-enriched gas;
A solenoid valve disposed in a path for supplying the oxygen-enriched gas to a user downstream from the tank, and opening and closing the path;
With
In the oxygen concentrator having a breathing synchronization function for adjusting the supply state of the oxygen-enriched gas according to the breathing state of the user,
A pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the oxygen-enriched gas in a path from the tank to the solenoid valve;
A first calculator that calculates a target supply amount of the oxygen-enriched gas to be supplied in accordance with the timing of each intake of the user;
A second computing unit for obtaining a parameter of a function set in advance to calculate a valve opening time of the electromagnetic valve according to the target supply amount;
A third calculation unit that calculates a valve opening time of the solenoid valve based on the function according to the pressure of the oxygen-enriched gas detected by the pressure sensor and the parameter;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the electromagnetic valve according to the valve opening time calculated by the third calculation unit;
An oxygen concentrator comprising:   2. The oxygen concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the second calculation unit obtains the parameter based on a map in which one or more parameters corresponding to the target supply amount are set.   The function is a function for calculating a valve opening time of the solenoid valve from the pressure of the oxygen-enriched gas and the parameter, and has at least a product term of the pressure of the oxygen-enriched gas and the parameter. The oxygen concentrator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.   2. The operation of the solenoid valve is controlled according to the valve opening time after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the oxygen concentrator or when a predetermined number of breaths are detected. The oxygen concentrator according to any one of -3.   The oxygen concentrator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the valve opening time is adjusted according to a physical characteristic and / or health condition of the user.   When the oxygen concentrator is started, before the elapse of a predetermined time or when a predetermined number of breaths are not detected, an initial valve opening set in advance according to the physical characteristics and / or health of the user is opened. The oxygen concentrator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the operation of the electromagnetic valve is controlled based on time.   The oxygen concentrator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a flow meter for measuring the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas is not provided.

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