JPH08141087A - Oxygen concentrator for medical purpose - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make it, possible to obtain an adequate humidification effect even in a season when an outside air temp. is low and relative humidity is low by eliminating the need for replenishing and exchanging water and cleaning a vessel and eliminating the leakage of gaseous oxygen and the producing sounds of air bubbles. CONSTITUTION: A membrane module having moisture permeable hollow fiber membranes as diaphragms is installed as a humidifying means 3 to an oxygen concentrator by a pressure fluctuation adsorption method (PSA method). The oxygen concentrator is so constituted that the compressed air or the waste gases discharged by desorption at the time of a reduced pressure desorption stage of adsorption cylinders are supplied to the membrane module and that the moisture contained therein is separated away by the hollow fiber membranes. This moisture is applied to the oxygen enriched gases concentrated by the adsorption cylinders 12, 13 to humidify these gases. The humidifying means is housed together with an electric motor which attains a temp. higher than the ambient temp. at time of operation, a compressed air supplying means 2, a heat generating source, such as fan means and apparatus to be noise sources, into a casing having a soundproof function.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to patients with respiratory failure (hereinafter referred to as
The present invention relates to a medical oxygen concentrator mainly used for home oxygen therapy by a patient (also simply referred to as a patient), and in particular, an oxygen gas (including an oxygen-rich gas) concentrated by a pressure fluctuation adsorption method (hereinafter, also referred to as a PSA method). , The same shall apply hereinafter).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A medical oxygen concentrator is mainly used as a source of oxygen gas used by the patient for home oxygen therapy. Therefore, various conditions are required for the oxygen concentrator, and the contents thereof include the following matters. High reliability because it is used for medical purposes. Since it is often used continuously for long periods of time regardless of whether it is day or night, the device should be quiet and quiet so that it will not interfere with the sleep of the patient as well as the family members living in the same room. The oxygen gas discharged from the oxygen concentrator by the PSA method is
It is a very dry gas with almost completely removed water, so if this is directly used by the patient for breathing,
Since the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity and respiratory tract are dry and painful, it must have a function of humidifying the oxygen gas. Low power consumption because it uses a household power supply.

With respect to the humidification of oxygen gas, the oxygen gas is often passed through a container containing water in the form of bubbles to be humidified and then inhaled for breathing. However, for the patient, it takes a lot of time and labor to humidify the oxygen gas coming out of the oxygen concentrator, so it is desired to release it from the replenishment and replacement of water in the humidifier and the cleaning work of the container. There is a strong demand.

Humidifiers that have been widely used in the past include:
There are the following problems. The water in the humidifier evaporates and is consumed as it is used, so it is necessary to replenish it.In addition, various bacteria and algae may propagate in the container of this humidifier, and dirt due to adhesion of dust, etc. Cleaning is required about once a week. When the humidifier is cleaned or water is replenished / replaced, unless the lid of the humidifier is tightly and securely tightened, oxygen gas leaks and the humidifier cannot reach the patient. Patients who use oxygen concentrators and humidifiers have relatively weak physical strength and many elderly people may not tighten the lid of the humidifier sufficiently securely, so this problem is a serious and serious matter. is there.

[0007] This humidifier is attached to the housing that constitutes the outer shell of the oxygen concentrator by traveling in a convex shape from the housing to the outside, and is installed in the recess by providing a concave recessed portion in the housing. However, when the person walks near the device, the former one that is installed in a convex shape accidentally bumps into the humidifier installation part (often also serves as the oxygen gas supply port). There is an accident that breaks. Further, if the latter is installed in the recess, dust and the like are likely to be accumulated, which makes the medical machine unsanitary. For this reason, there is a method of attaching a door in front of the recess to prevent dust and the like from entering, but there is also a problem that the door is damaged and it is troublesome at the time of replenishing or exchanging water.

The oxygen concentrator used for home oxygen therapy is
Since it is used day and night, the noise generated from the air bubbles of the humidifier, which was not so noticeable during the daytime when the background noise is relatively large, is heard as noise at night when the surroundings are quiet. Therefore, some patients are disturbed by their noise to prevent their sleep. Therefore, as described above, some humidifiers are housed in the recesses of the housing of the oxygen concentrator, and a door is attached to the front of the humidifier to prevent dust and the like from entering, and there is also an expectation that this noise will be reduced.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A variety of problems encountered with such conventional humidifiers have been solved, no replenishment or replacement of water is required, and a quiet medical oxygen concentrator with less operating noise is provided. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

That is, the present invention provides at least one adsorption cylinder filled with an adsorbent, compressed air supply means driven by the power of an electric motor for supplying compressed air to the adsorption cylinder, In an oxygen concentrator by a pressure fluctuation adsorption method (PSA method) basically composed of an electric motor and / or a fan means for cooling a compressed air supply means, a membrane having a hollow fiber permeable membrane as a membrane. Oxygen-enriched gas supplied to the module, water contained in the compressed air is separated and removed by the hollow fiber permeable membrane, and water separated from the compressed air is concentrated in the adsorption column and supplied to the humidifying means. The membrane module humidifying means has a soundproof function together with the above-mentioned electric motor and / or compressed air supply means, fan means, and other equipment that generate noise during operation. A medical oxygen concentrator for, characterized in that accommodated in the housing to be. Further, the compressed air supply means, the humidification means by the membrane module, and the passage through which the compressed air from the compressed air supply means to the humidification means pass are configured to be maintained at a temperature higher than the outside air temperature by a certain value or more. In order to maintain a temperature higher than the outside air temperature, by accommodating each means together with the above-mentioned electric motor and / or compressed air supply means and the like which generate heat during operation in the housing. There is.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 are flow charts of an oxygen concentrator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the internal configuration of the external housing of the oxygen concentrator (right half part). FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the internal structure of a housing having a soundproof function (stored in the left half of the outer housing).

The oxygen concentrator by the PSA method is a compressed air supply means 2 driven by the power of an electric motor, one or a plurality of adsorption cylinders 12 and 13 filled with an adsorbent, and an electric motor and / or compressed air supply means. 2, which is basically composed of fan means 31 for cooling, and if necessary, a buffer tank 16 for storing the oxygen-enriched gas generated in the adsorption columns 12 and 13, and water for the oxygen-enriched gas. The humidifying means 3 for giving and humidifying is added.

The air taken in from the suction filter 1 is first compressed and compressed by the compressed air supply means 2,
For example, when there are two adsorption cylinders, the valve means 11 for controlling the operation of the PSA method supplies the two adsorption cylinders 12 and 13 alternately. Nitrogen or the like is adsorbed and removed in the adsorption column to generate oxygen gas (pressurized adsorption step), and this oxygen-enriched gas is stored in the buffer tank 16, and a part of it is passed through the orifice 14 to complete the pressurized adsorption step. The exhaust gas is discharged back to the atmosphere through the silencer 17 by causing the adsorbent to regenerate by adsorbing desorbed nitrogen and the like to regenerate the adsorbent by depressurizing the adsorbent column in the exhaust under reduced pressure. Buffer tank 1
The oxygen-enriched gas stored in 6 is reduced by the pressure reducing valve 10 and the throttle valve 9.
The pressure and flow rate are adjusted so that they are supplied to the patient.

Each of these devices is housed in an external housing 23. However, since it is noisy during operation, the outer shell of the external housing 23 is made of a soundproof material to provide sound insulation. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a sound insulating plate 33 is provided in the atmosphere inflow passage 34 or the air exhaust passage 35 for cooling the electric motor, the compressed air supply means 2, etc., or a sound deadening duct is provided at the bottom of the external housing 23. Various measures have been taken to reduce noise, such as provision of 36.

In order to further enhance the soundproofing function, compressed air supply means 2 including an electric motor which is a source of noise during operation, fan means 31, valve means for controlling the flow of compressed air, exhaust gas, oxygen-enriched gas and the like. 11 and the like are shown in FIG.
It is preferable that the external housing 23 is housed in the soundproof housings 29 and 30 having the soundproofing function as shown in FIG.
The air taken in from the air intake 24 passes through the air inflow passage 34, the air supply port 25, and the air intake port 2
6 enters the soundproof housing 30, and further the fan means 31 enters the soundproof housing 29 from the communication opening 32, part of which is taken into the compressed air supply means 2 as raw air, and most of the compressed air includes an electric motor. The hot air that has been heated by cooling the supply means and other heat-generating devices that consume electric energy and exchanging heat is discharged from the air outlet 27 to the atmosphere through the air outlet 28 and the muffling duct 36. However, although the temperature inside the housing is higher than the outside air temperature, the cooling means is configured so that the temperature higher than the outside air temperature is usually 30 ° C. or less, appropriately about 20 ° C., and the humidification by the membrane module is performed. Means are also housed within the enclosure at this temperature. In the example of FIG. 5, the two soundproof housings 29 and 30 are used in combination, but the fan means 31 may be housed inside the soundproof housing and configured with one soundproof housing.

Further, the sound deadening duct 36 is provided in the external housing 23.
It effectively utilizes the space between the external housing and the ground or floor surface created by the casters attached to the bottom surface of the external housing, and is made of a sound insulating material in contact with the bottom surface of the external housing 23. A sound absorbing material is attached to the inner surface of the atmosphere passage, and a sound insulating plate is also attached. The sound-insulating plate used in the present invention is a sound-insulating material having a sound-absorbing material attached on both sides or one side and having a plurality of through holes formed in the surface, which has the function of passing cooling air while absorbing sound waves. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to this, and other embodiments may be used.

The oxygen-enriched gas supplied from the buffer tank 16 under reduced pressure and supplied to the patient is in a dry state in which moisture is almost completely removed. A humidifier such as a bubble type that provides water by passing through water is provided, but even the sound of the bubbles popping is subject to noise reduction. In the present invention, the humidifying means 3 using a hollow fiber permeable membrane is used in place of the conventional bubble type humidifier, but in order to further reduce noise as well and for the reason described later, a soundproofing having a temperature higher than that of the outside air is used. Case 2
It is housed in 9.

The humidifier 3 using a membrane module having a hollow fiber permeable membrane as a diaphragm, which is used as a means for solving the problems in the present invention, will be described in more detail.

[0017]

The function of the hollow fiber permeable membrane that constitutes the membrane module is that which is most permeable to moisture in the atmosphere, and its permeability is proportional to the partial pressure difference of moisture in the atmosphere between the outside and the inside of the hollow fiber permeable membrane. . The moisture partial pressure is high on the primary side and low on the secondary side when the outer side is the primary side through which pressurized air containing water passes and the inner side is the secondary side through which the dry oxygen-enriched gas passes through the hollow fiber permeable membrane wall. . The principle of water permeation is that the water molecules diffuse and move from the primary side through the membrane wall of the permeable membrane, and are diffused from the secondary side wall surface so that the water molecules permeate through the membrane wall. Since the amount of water permeated per unit area of the permeation membrane by the perfluoro ion exchange membrane is considerably large, efficient permeation can be obtained even if the partial pressure difference between the primary side and the secondary side is small. Further, in order to humidify the secondary side to high humidity, it is necessary to increase the water partial pressure on the primary side.

Since the moisture contained in the atmosphere is used to humidify the dry oxygen-enriched gas, the moisture partial pressure on the primary side of the moisture supply is determined by the amount of moisture contained in the atmosphere, that is, the temperature of the outside air and its relative humidity. When the temperature is low and the relative humidity is low, the secondary side may not be sufficiently humidified. The average monthly relative humidity of major cities in Japan, from Hokkaido to Okinawa, is mostly 60 to 90%. The season with low humidity is March and April, and the relative humidity of cities such as Tokyo, where there is little green, is low. In addition, the monthly average temperature throughout the year is distributed in a wide range of -9 to 29 ° C, and in the winter such as Hokkaido, it is dried by indoor heating and the relative humidity is considerably low. The partial pressure of water contained in the atmosphere at 0 ° C. and 80% relative humidity is 4.89 mbar. This 4
When the pressure is increased to kgf / cm ² G, the volume becomes ⅕, and the water partial pressure becomes 5 times, 24.45 mbar. In this low temperature experiment, the relative humidity of the oxygen-enriched gas to be humidified sometimes did not reach the calculated target value with the water that permeated to the secondary side. As a result of diligent research, the pressurized air on the primary side is cooled in the path leading to the humidifying means, and the temperature becomes low, so that dew condensation occurs, and a sufficient water partial pressure of the gas necessary to humidify the secondary gas is obtained. It turns out that there are things I can't get.

Therefore, the primary water partial pressure shown in this example is 2
In order to maintain 4.45 mbar, the water content in the air is condensed unless the temperature is raised to 22 ° C. or higher, and the saturated water vapor pressure at that temperature is not exceeded. Therefore, in order to increase the water partial pressure on the primary side, not only the air is pressurized, but also the temperature must be set higher than the temperature of the outside air to take in, so that the high water partial pressure cannot be maintained. The value of the temperature to be increased can be determined by the temperature of the secondary gas, which is the gas to be humidified, and the target humidification value. The temperature of the oxygen-enriched gas obtained by the oxygen concentrator by the PSA method is several degrees higher than the ambient temperature. Usually, the range of 1 to 2 ° C is most. If it is 2 degrees higher than the outside air,
In order to raise this to 90% relative humidity, the permeation performance of the moisture permeable membrane is greatly affected, but at the permeation performance at the current technical level, the temperature is raised to about 5 to 16 ° C or higher and the primary side is raised. It is necessary to maintain a partial pressure of water.

Therefore, in a humidifying means comprising a compressed air supply means for taking in and compressing an atmosphere containing water vapor and a membrane module having a hollow fiber permeable membrane as a diaphragm, the compressed air supply means is provided on one side of the diaphragm of the humidifying means. The compressed air compressed by, and the humidified gas on the other side of the diaphragm are connected to each other, and the temperature of the compressed air supply means and the humidification means, and the path of the compressed air from the compressed air supply means to the humidification means Is higher than the atmospheric temperature by a certain value or more.

According to the present invention, in order to maintain the temperature,
The heat generated in the oxygen concentrator by the SA method is efficiently used. This is performed by accommodating the humidifying means by the membrane module inside the casing accommodating the compressed air supply means including the electric motor and other heat-generating devices that consume electric energy. In addition, this case has a soundproof structure,
It is preferable that the electric motor, which is also a device that generates noise, and / or the air supply unit, the fan unit, and the like also have an effect of preventing leakage of noise. However, it is not necessary to use a soundproof housing in a device that does not require soundproofing. Further, in the outer passage 5 and the inner passage of the hollow fiber permeable membrane 4 in the membrane module (humidifying means 3), the larger the cross-sectional area, the smaller the ventilation resistance and the easier the compressed air flows, but the membrane module has the outer passage. Since a wider cross-sectional area can be created without increasing the number of hollow fibers, the compressed air and exhaust gas containing water have less ventilation resistance when flowed to the outer passage 5 and the compressed air is efficiently transferred to the adsorption cylinder. Since the air can be supplied well and the air pressure generated by the compressed air supply means can be reduced by that much, the load on the electric motor can be reduced and the power consumption can be reduced.

With this structure, the compressed air containing a large amount of water passes through the outer passage, and the inner passage contains almost no water that has been concentrated and produced.
The low-pressure oxygen-enriched gas whose pressure has been adjusted through passes through, and only moisture in the atmosphere permeates from the outside to the inside, so the moisture obtained by separating it from the atmosphere becomes concentrated oxygen-enriched gas. Since it is given and humidified, it is not necessary to replenish and replace water as in the conventionally used bubble type humidifier, thereby eliminating the cause of unsanitary condition.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. In particular, the construction centering around the humidifying means 3 will be described below. However, the present invention is not limited to this example.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, all the compressed air compressed by the compressed air supply means 2 is made to flow to the outer passage 5 of the humidifying means 3 using the hollow fiber permeable membrane 4. Is. In the compressed air, the moisture contained while passing through the outer passage 5 is permeated to the inner passage of the hollow fiber to be separated and removed, and the inlet of the adsorption cylinder 12 or 13 is passed through the valve means 11 for controlling the operation of the PSA method. Supplied on the edge. Then, nitrogen or the like is adsorbed and removed in the adsorption column to generate oxygen gas, and this oxygen-enriched gas is stored in the buffer tank 16. The oxygen-enriched gas stored in the buffer tank 16 is supplied to the pressure reducing valve 1
0 and the throttle valve 9 so that the pressure and flow rate are adjusted to appropriate values, the moisture is supplied to the inner passage of the hollow fiber permeable membrane 4 of the humidifying means 3, and the moisture separated and removed from the compressed air is given to humidify. And is supplied to the patient from the outlet 8.

Here, the suction filter 1 is for removing dust in the air and supplying clean air to the compressed air supply means 2. The pressure reducing valve 10 is for adjusting the pressure of the oxygen gas stored in the buffer tank 16 to a value suitable for use (for example, about 0.3 kgf / cm ² · G), and the throttle valve 9 is It is for adjusting the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas that is taken out from the take-out port 8 and is supplied to the patient, and may be any one that can adjust the flow rate of the gas, such as a needle valve type or an orifice selection type. Good. When it is necessary to adjust the degree of humidification, a variable throttle valve 20 is attached between the inlet side and the outlet side of the inner passage of the hollow fiber permeable membrane 4 of the humidifying means 3 so that the unhumidified oxygen rich It is sufficient to bypass a part of the converted gas and mix it with the humidified oxygen-enriched gas.

The hollow fiber permeable membrane used in this example is composed of a perfluoro ion exchange membrane, but it may be an ion exchange membrane other than this. Further, in the figure, the hollow fiber permeable membrane 4 is shown as a single double line from the inlet side to the outlet side, but actually, the outer diameter is 0.3 mm and the inner diameter is 0.15 m.
A bundle of about 3,500 hollow fibers having a length of m and a length of about 25 cm was used.

Further, in the humidifying means 3, the inlet and the outlet of the outer passage 5 and the inner passage of the hollow fiber permeable membrane 4 which communicate with the outside of the humidifying means 3 may be on either side of the humidifying means 3, and structurally. Although there is no direction of the passage, it is preferable that the flow of the compressed air containing water and the flow of the dried oxygen-enriched gas are arranged to face each other. The reason is that the rate of water permeation through the membrane of the hollow fiber is not proportional to the pressure difference between the two gases as described above, but is proportional to the partial pressure difference between the water in the gas, so the water content is gradually removed. Compressed air, in which the partial pressure of water decreases, and oxygen-enriched gas, in which the partial pressure of water gradually increases due to being humidified, have their flowing directions opposite to each other, so that both inside and outside of the humidifying means 3 are This is because the partial pressures of the moisture of both gases are almost equal over almost the entire area of the passage, so that the humidifying effect can be further enhanced. However, in this embodiment and the second embodiment described below, the amount of compressed air and exhaust gas flowing through the outer passage 5 of the hollow fiber is about 3 as compared with the amount of oxygen-enriched gas.
The effect is not so remarkable because it is as many as 0 times.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is basically the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but a part of the compressed air compressed by the compressed air supply means 2 is stored in the humidifying means 3. This is an example in which the hollow fiber permeable membrane 4 is configured to flow into the outer passage 5. Moisture contained in the compressed air while passing through the passage in the humidifying means 3 permeates into the inner passage of the hollow fiber permeable membrane for separation and removal, and thereafter, through the throttle valve 20 and the silencer 21, the soundproof function described above. It is released into the soundproof housing 29 having. The compressed air used for humidification is discharged to the atmosphere and discarded because it is wasted, so it is better to reduce it as much as possible. The flow rate may be substantially the same as the flow rate of the oxygen-enriched gas flowing to the humidifying means 3. Further, if the flow rate is higher than that, the amount of compressed air supplied to the adsorption cylinder decreases, and the performance of the oxygen concentrator as a whole deteriorates. Therefore, the flow rate of the throttle valve 20 is low and the degree of humidification is low. Adjust to the optimum. Further, since noise is generated if the noise is emitted to the atmosphere immediately after the throttle valve 20, the silencer 21 is provided, but the silencer 21 may be omitted if the housing has a sufficient soundproof function.

On the other hand, the balance that occupies most of the compressed air is
It is supplied to the adsorption column 12 or 13 via the valve means 11 which controls the operation of adsorption separation by the PSA method. Then, nitrogen or the like is adsorbed and removed in this adsorption column to generate an oxygen-enriched gas, and this oxygen-enriched gas is stored in the buffer tank 16. The oxygen-enriched gas stored in the buffer tank 16 is supplied to the inside passage of the hollow fiber permeable membrane 4 of the humidifying means 3 by adjusting the pressure reducing valve 10 and the throttle valve 9 to an appropriate pressure and flow rate. The water separated and removed from the compressed air is humidified and supplied from the outlet 8 to the patient.

In this embodiment, the amounts of gas flowing in the outer passage and the inner passage of the hollow fiber are set to be substantially equal to each other.
It doesn't matter which channel you use. In such a case, it is preferable that the flowing directions of the gases are opposite to each other as described above. (In Fig. 2, the directions are the same for convenience of drawing.)

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is basically the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but the compressed air from the compressed air supply means 2 is passed through the valve means 11 to the adsorption cylinder 12 or Thirteen
Is supplied to and concentrated to generate an oxygen-enriched gas, which is stored in the buffer tank 16. And
When the adsorption column 12 or 13 enters the depressurization desorption process, a part of the adsorption column 12 is made to flow back through the orifice 14 to the adsorption column to assist desorption of adsorbed nitrogen and the like, and the desorbed exhaust gas is discharged to the valve means 11. It is introduced into the outer passage 5 of the hollow fiber of the humidifying means 3 via the. Moisture contained in the exhaust gas is permeated into the inner passage of the hollow fiber to be separated and removed, and the exhaust gas dried through the inside of the membrane module is passed through the silencer 17,
It is discharged into the soundproof housing 29 having the soundproof function.
On the other hand, it is characterized in that the oxygen-enriched gas is supplied to the inner passage of the hollow fiber in the wetting means 3 to give the water separated and removed from the exhaust gas to humidify it.

In this case, it is necessary to lower the pressure of the adsorption cylinder during the depressurizing / desorbing process as low as possible within a predetermined time, and the humidifying means which reduces the ventilation resistance when exhaust gas flows during desorbing as much as possible. Therefore, as in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 1, the inner passage of the hollow fiber was used as the oxygen-enriched gas passage, and the outer passage 5 was used as the exhaust gas passage. Further, the exhaust gas at the time of desorption has a higher relative humidity than that in the atmosphere, but has a low pressure because it is opened to the atmosphere and is decompressed, and the partial pressure difference between the moisture of both gases generated inside and outside the hollow fiber permeable membrane 4 is small. Since it is relatively low, the humidifying effect is somewhat lower than that of the embodiment of FIG. 1, but it is 50 to 90% (RH), and there is no problem in practical use. Further, also in the present embodiment, when it is necessary to adjust the humidification, a variable throttle valve is attached between the inlet side and the outlet side of the inner passage of the hollow fiber permeable membrane 4 of the humidifying means 3 to humidify. Bypass some of the oxygen-enriched gas,
As in the embodiment of FIG. 1, it is sufficient to mix with a humidified oxygen-enriched gas.

The mounting in the case of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is carried out by a method similar to the method shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the case where the temperature rise due to the internal heating devices is used as the heat source. A humidifying means by a membrane module is housed in the chamber so that the water partial pressure on the primary side can be kept high. Further, it also serves as a preventive housing for preventing noise from the noise source.

[0034]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION By using the oxygen concentrator of the present invention, the conventional bubble humidifier can be freed from the troublesome work such as replenishment and replacement of water, cleaning of the container, and the humidifier. It is possible to prevent the situation where oxygen gas leaks due to the incomplete lid, and there is no need to worry about the sound of bubbles popping or to take countermeasures. In addition to accommodating the electric motor, compressed air supply means, fan means, etc., which are the noise sources of the device, the humidifying means in a soundproof casing, the ventilation passages for cooling are uniquely designed. Since the operation sound is very quiet, it is suitable as a medical oxygen concentrator.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a flow sheet of an oxygen concentrator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow sheet of an oxygen concentrator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow sheet of an oxygen concentrator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the right half part, schematically showing an example of the configuration inside the outer casing of the oxygen concentrator.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an internal configuration of a housing having a soundproof function.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Inhalation Filter 2 Compressed Air Supply Means 3 Humidification Means 4 Hollow Fiber Permeable Membrane 5 Outer Passage 8 Outlet 9,20 Throttle Valve 10 Pressure Reduction Valve 11 Valve Means 12,13 Adsorption Cylinder 14 Orifice 16 Buffer Tank 17,21 Silencer 23 External Cabinet Body 24 Air inlet 25 Air inlet 26 Air inlet 27 Air outlet 28 Air outlet 29, 30 Soundproof housing 31 Fan means 32 Communication opening 33 Sound insulation plate 34 Air inflow passage 35 Air exhaust passage 36 Silence duct

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. At least one adsorption cylinder filled with an adsorbent, compressed air supply means driven by the power of an electric motor for supplying compressed air to the adsorption cylinder, and the electric motor and / or compressed air supply means. In an oxygen concentrator by a pressure fluctuation adsorption method (PSA method) basically composed of a fan means for cooling, a membrane module having a moisture permeable hollow fiber permeable membrane as a diaphragm is additionally provided as a humidifying means, The compressed air from the compressed air supply means, or the exhaust gas desorbed and discharged during the depressurizing desorption process of the adsorption cylinder is supplied to one side of the membrane of the membrane module, and the moisture contained in the compressed air or the exhaust gas is supplied. The moisture separated and removed by the hollow fiber permeable membrane is added to the oxygen-enriched gas concentrated in the adsorption column and supplied to the other side of the membrane module to humidify it. In addition, the humidifying means by the membrane module is housed in a housing having a soundproof function together with the above-mentioned electric motor and / or compressed air supply means, fan means, and other devices that generate noise during operation. Characteristic medical oxygen concentrator. 2. At least one adsorption cylinder filled with an adsorbent, compressed air supply means driven by the power of an electric motor for supplying compressed air to the adsorption cylinder, and the electric motor and / or compressed air supply means. In an oxygen concentrator by a pressure fluctuation adsorption method (PSA method) basically composed of a fan means for cooling, a membrane module having a moisture permeable hollow fiber permeable membrane as a diaphragm is additionally provided as a humidifying means, The compressed air from the compressed air supply means, or the exhaust gas desorbed and discharged during the depressurizing desorption process of the adsorption cylinder is supplied to one side of the membrane of the membrane module, and the moisture contained in the compressed air or the exhaust gas is supplied. The moisture separated and removed by the hollow fiber permeable membrane is added to the oxygen-enriched gas concentrated in the adsorption column and supplied to the other side of the membrane module to humidify it. In addition to the above, the compressed air supply means, the humidification means by the membrane module, and the passage for compressed air from the compressed air supply means to the humidification means are maintained at a temperature higher than the outside air temperature by a certain value or more. A medical oxygen concentrator characterized by the above. 3. The compressed air supply means, the humidification means by the membrane module, and the passage through which the compressed air from the compressed air supply means to the humidification means passes through when the electric motor and / or the compressed air supply means operate. The medical oxygen concentrator according to claim 2, wherein the devices to be generated are housed in a housing whose temperature is higher than the outside air. 4. The medical device according to claim 3, wherein the housing containing the devices that generate heat during operation of the electric motor and / or the compressed air supply means has a soundproof function. Oxygen concentrator. 5. The compressed air from the compressed air supply means is supplied to the outer passage of the hollow fiber in the membrane module, which serves as the humidifying means, and the moisture contained in the compressed air is permeated to the inner passage of the hollow fiber. The compressed air that has been separated and removed by passing through the membrane module is supplied to the adsorption column and concentrated to generate an oxygen-enriched gas, and then the oxygen-enriched gas is introduced into the inner passage of the hollow fiber in the membrane module. The oxygen concentrator for medical use according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the oxygen concentrator is configured so as to humidify by supplying water separated and removed from the compressed air. 6. A part of the compressed air from the compressed air supply means is supplied to a passage outside or inside the hollow fiber in the membrane module serving as the humidification means, so that the moisture contained in the compressed air is hollow fiber. The compressed air that has passed through the other side of the membrane module is separated and removed, and the compressed air that has passed through the membrane module is discharged into the housing having the soundproof function through the throttle valve, while the remaining compressed air is supplied to the adsorption cylinder. Then, it is concentrated to generate an oxygen-enriched gas, and then the oxygen-enriched gas is supplied to the other side passage of the hollow fiber in the membrane module so as to give moisture separated and removed from the compressed air to humidify it. The medical oxygen concentrator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the oxygen concentrator is configured as described above. 7. The humidifying means for supplying the compressed air from the compressed air supply means to the adsorption cylinder to concentrate it to generate an oxygen-enriched gas, and to exhaust the exhaust gas desorbed and discharged during the depressurization desorption process of the adsorption cylinder. The exhaust gas that has passed through the membrane module is supplied to the outer passage of the hollow fiber inside the membrane module, and the moisture contained in the exhaust gas is permeated to the inner passage of the hollow fiber to be separated and removed. Through the inner wall of the hollow fiber inside the membrane module so that the oxygen-enriched gas is supplied to the inner passage of the hollow fiber so as to humidify the separated gas. The medical oxygen concentrator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the oxygen concentrator is a medical oxygen concentrator.