Importance

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Abstract

A reliable, pulse-flow supplemental oxygen apparatus for alleviating respiratory ailments is provided which yields substantial savings in oxygen while giving the patient the physiological equivalent of a prescribed continuous stream of oxygen. The apparatus preferably includes a demand oxygen valve operated in a pulse mode by means of electronic control circuitry which, through an appropriate sensor, monitors the patient's breathing efforts and gives a variable 'custom tailored' pulse volume of oxygen to the patient during the very initial stages of each inspiration. Pulse volume variability is based upon a measured parameter characterizing at least a part of one and preferably a plurality of the patient's preceeding breaths; advantageously, the elapsed time interval of the patient's three preceding breath cycles is measured to effectively measure breath rate. These breath-characterizing parameters, together with data characterizing the prescribed continuous oxygen flow to be matched, enable the apparatus to give the desired 'on the go' dose variability. The apparatus is also designed to revert to conventional, continuous-flow operation upon a power failure or circuit malfunction.

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First Claim