U.S. patent application number 11/692343 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-04 for hyperoxic breathing system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Erik Van den Akker. Invention is credited to John P. Howitt, Gregory Joel Martin, Erik Van den Akker.
Application Number | 20070227541 11/692343 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34623979 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070227541 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Van den Akker; Erik ; et
al. |
October 4, 2007 |
HYPEROXIC BREATHING SYSTEM
Abstract
A controlled enhanced-oxygen (hyperoxic) breathing system
involving an oxygen source, a control valve system and a breathing
interface, is disclosed. The control valve system may include a
demand flow valve and a venturi valve arranged to introduce ambient
air into an oxygen stream to provide a desired level of oxygen in
the resultant hyperoxic air stream. Alternatively, the control
valve system may include a nitrogen-removal unit, such as nitrogen
scrubber, to increase the oxygen content above that of ambient air.
The control valve system may further include a one-way flow valve
and may further be joined to a plenum for storing hyperoxic air.
The hyperoxic breathing system is typically connected to a
breathing mask for use by an individual undergoing exercise or
physical training activities.
Inventors: |
Van den Akker; Erik;
(Athens, OH) ; Martin; Gregory Joel; (Reno,
NV) ; Howitt; John P.; (Reno, NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
IAN F. BURNS & ASSOCIATES
P.O. BOX 71115
RENO
NV
89570
US
|
Assignee: |
Van den Akker; Erik
Athens
OH
|
Family ID: |
34623979 |
Appl. No.: |
11/692343 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10984015 |
Nov 8, 2004 |
7210479 |
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11692343 |
Mar 28, 2007 |
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60518569 |
Nov 7, 2003 |
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60531088 |
Dec 19, 2003 |
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60532311 |
Dec 22, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
128/205.24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 16/06 20130101;
A61M 16/021 20170801; A61M 16/0051 20130101; A61M 16/00 20130101;
A61M 16/101 20140204; A61M 16/127 20140204 |
Class at
Publication: |
128/205.24 |
International
Class: |
A62B 9/02 20060101
A62B009/02 |
Claims
1. A hyperoxic breathing system comprising: (a) an oxygen source;
(b) a control valve system coupled to the oxygen source, the
control valve system comprising a demand flow valve and a venturi
valve configured to introduce ambient air; and (c) a breathing
interface coupled to the control valve system.
2. The hyperoxic breathing system of claim 1 wherein the demand
flow valve and the venturi valve are connected in series, the
oxygen source is coupled to the control valve system through the
demand flow valve, and the venturi valve is located between the
demand flow valve and the breathing interface.
3. The hyperoxic breathing system of claim 1 further comprising a
one-way flow valve located between the venturi valve and the
breathing interface.
4. The hyperoxic breathing system of claim 3 further comprising a
plenum coupled to the control valve system via the one-way flow
valve.
5. The hyperoxic breathing system of claim 4 wherein the plenum
further comprises a diaphragm and the plenum is in communication
with the demand flow valve via a gas transport connection.
6. The hyperoxic breathing system of claim 1 further comprising a
breathing mask configured to provide hyperoxic air to a breathing
subject and attached to the breathing interface.
7. The hyperoxic breathing system of claim 1 further comprising a
pressure regulator, coupled to the oxygen source and located
between the oxygen source and the control valve system, for
controlling oxygen pressure.
8. The hyperoxic breathing system of claim 7 further comprising a
control linkage associated with the pressure regulator and
configured to control oxygen flow from the oxygen source.
9. The hyperoxic breathing system of claim 1 wherein the oxygen
source is selected from the group consisting of a compressed oxygen
container and an oxygen generation apparatus.
10. A hyperoxic breathing system comprising: (a) oxygen source
means for providing pure oxygen; (b) demand flow valve means for
causing oxygen flow from the oxygen source means; (c) venturi valve
means for mixing oxygen with ambient air; and (d) breathing
interface means for providing the hyperoxic air to a breathing
subject.
11. The hyperoxic breathing system of claim 10 further comprising
pressure regulator means for controlling oxygen pressure.
12. The hyperoxic breathing system of claim 11 further comprising
control linkage means configured to control oxygen flow from the
oxygen source means via the pressure regulator means.
13. A hyperoxic breathing system comprising: (a) an oxygen source;
(b) a control valve system comprising a venturi valve coupled to
the oxygen source, the venturi valve being configured to introduce
ambient air; (c) a pressure regulator, coupled to the oxygen source
and located between the oxygen source and the control valve system;
(d) a breathing interface coupled to the control valve system; (e)
an expandable reservoir located between the control valve system
and the breathing interface; and (f) a one-way exhaust valve
located between the expandable reservoir and the breathing
interface.
14. The hyperoxic breathing system of claim 13 further comprising a
control linkage associated with the pressure regulator and
configured to control oxygen flow from the oxygen source.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S.
nonprovisional application Ser. No. 10/984,015, filed Nov. 8, 2004,
which claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Nos.
60/518,569 filed on Nov. 7, 2003; 60/531,088 filed on Dec. 19,
2003; and 60/532,311 filed on Dec. 22, 2003. The aforementioned are
hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Endurance exercise performance has been shown to be limited
by oxygen availability to the working muscles. Work rates of
individuals partaking in endurance exercise can be increased when
oxygen delivery to the working muscle is increased (hyperoxia).
Furthermore, cyclists who trained under hyperoxia improved their
ability to perform high intensity exercise significantly more than
did cyclists who trained under similar conditions but with normal
oxygen availability (normoxia).
[0003] Regular vigorous exercise has been recognized as a useful
therapy for treating patients who suffer from maladies such as
cardio--and peripheral vascular diseases. Unfortunately, the
effects of many of these diseases prevent prolonged vigorous
exercise by restricting the blood flow and thus the rate of oxygen
delivery to the working muscle. By increasing the concentration of
oxygen in the inspired air, oxygen delivery to the working muscle
can be increased, thereby increasing the exercising capacity of
these patients and improving the therapeutic use of exercise.
[0004] In addition, increasing exercising work rates via hyperoxia
increases the rate of caloric (energy) expenditure by the
exercising individual. Increasing oxygen availability during
exercise has also been shown to increase the body's reliance on
stored body fat as an energy source. The rate of obesity among
Americans is estimated at 25% and many others are overweight to the
point that their health may be impaired. Obesity and high body fat
to lean body mass ratios have been associated with increased risk
of cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension, adult onset
diabetes, arthritis and degenerative joint disease. Maintaining
healthy weight and body composition is a function of maintaining
caloric balance (a balance between caloric consumption and caloric
expenditure). Losing weight requires an individual to maintain a
negative caloric balance (consume fewer calories than they expend).
Traditional methods of attaining negative caloric balance include
calorie restrictive diets, increased caloric expenditure through
exercise, and a combination of these strategies.
[0005] Total caloric expenditure from exercise is determined
primarily by the total work performed. The amount of work performed
during exercise can be manipulated by either increasing the
duration of the exercise period or by increasing the rate at which
work is performed. However, work rate is limited by the metabolic
capacity of an individual. A primary limiting factor in the
metabolic capacity of an individual is the ability to deliver
adequate amounts of oxygen to their working muscle. Oxygen is a key
ingredient in the process of transforming energy from food and
bodily energy stores, for example, fat and carbohydrates, into
energy that can be used to fuel muscular contractions. This process
of combining oxygen with food to liberate energy is known as
aerobic metabolism. When working muscles are supplied with adequate
amounts of oxygen, their energy requirements can be met and
exercise can be maintained for extended periods of time. Increasing
the supply of oxygen to the working muscle increases the rate of
aerobic metabolism and the rate of work that can be maintained by
the individual. However, when exercising work rates create energy
demands that exceed a person's ability to supply energy through
aerobic metabolism, the person will fatigue quickly and must either
stop exercising or reduce their work rate. Thus, the rates of work
and caloric expenditure during exercise can be affected by the
availability of oxygen to the working muscle of the individual.
[0006] Another benefit of increasing oxygen availability to the
exercising individual centers on the use of stored body fat as a
source of energy. The two primary sources of energy used by the
human body to fuel muscular contractions are carbohydrates and
fats. Liberating stored energy from fats requires more oxygen than
liberating an equal amount of energy from carbohydrates. Typically,
the more oxygen that is available to the working muscle, the more
the muscle will rely on fat to meet its energy needs. Thus, in
addition to increasing work rate and caloric expenditure,
increasing oxygen availability during exercise will increase the
body's reliance on fat as an energy source.
[0007] The significant aspects of greater fat usage during exercise
are twofold: firstly, the catabolism of stored body fat during
exercise reduces body fat mass and lowers the ratio of body fat
mass to lean body mass. Secondly, greater use of stored body fat
reduces the reliance on bodily stores of carbohydrate to fuel
muscular contractions. Maintaining adequate stores of carbohydrate
is an important aspect of appetite control. The body relies on its
stores of carbohydrates for a variety of tasks including the
maintenance of blood sugar levels. As bodily stores of carbohydrate
drop, so do the levels of sugar in the blood. Low blood sugar has
been identified as a major contributor to the stimulation of
appetite. Thus, a greater reliance on fat during exercise allows
the body to preserve carbohydrate stores, maintain blood sugar
levels and suppress appetite following exercise.
[0008] Delivery of oxygen to the working muscle has been shown to
be affected by the exercising environment. The earth's atmosphere
contains 21% oxygen, an oxygen level that is referred to as
"normoxic" or "normoxia". Hyperoxia refers to a condition in which
the oxygen levels are higher than 21 percent. Hyperoxic conditions
that feature oxygen concentrations that are substantially higher
than 21% result in greater oxygen delivery to and higher oxygen
consumption by working muscle. The proposed breathing system of the
present invention is considered to provide a method to combat
obesity and maintain healthy weights and body compositions in
individuals.
[0009] Devices designed to provide mixtures of gases with variable
concentrations of oxygen are known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,834
discloses a system using a controller to dial in desired amounts of
oxygen and air from gas supply sources through an inlet into a
mixing plenum to provide an oxygen mixture. U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,129
discloses an oxygen dilution device for use by patients with
respiratory problems, where the device includes a hollow diluter
body having a dilution chamber and a vent chamber. U.S. Pat. No.
3,830,257 discloses a device for providing a mixture of air and
oxygen to a respiratory mask, where the device includes multiple
chambers in communication with the mask and responsive to each
other to provide a constant ratio of air to oxygen to the mask.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,875,957 discloses an oxygen-air diluter device for
breathing apparatus used in high altitude and space flights, where
the device includes a casing having oxygen and ambient air inlets
and a differential pressure diaphragm, and is designed to control
air flow to provide normal air dilution, 100 percent oxygen and
pressure breathing. None of the aforementioned devices discloses or
suggests use of the control valve system of the proposed breathing
system of the present invention as a way to conveniently provide
hyperoxic air mixtures for breathing.
[0010] Devices designed to provide hyperoxic gas to individuals are
widely used in hospital, clinical and home settings. However, most
devices do not provide breathing gases at rates that are required
during exercise. Other devices designed for exercising individuals
have a number of deficiencies that are overcome by the breathing
system of the present invention. These deficiencies are as
follows:
[0011] First, using gas mixtures with oxygen concentrations greater
than atmospheric air but less than pure oxygen requires the
purchase of cylinders containing premixed gases. While this is
possible, it is far more expensive than the cost of equal amounts
of pure oxygen and air. Secondly, gases from commercial cylinders
are void of moisture and breathing a dry gas mixture during
vigorous exercise results in the drying of the upper respiratory
tract and the production of mucous causing discomfort and coughing.
Thirdly, maintaining the proper rate of gas flow from the oxygen
cylinder requires frequent adjustments to the pressure regulator.
In current model regulators, the design is such that it is very
difficult for the user of the device to adjust the flow of gas from
the oxygen cylinder while exercising. Thus, a second individual is
needed to monitor and adjust the flow rate from the oxygen
cylinder. Finally, in current devices, air flow to the subject is
dependent on flow rates from the compressed gas cylinder. In the
event that the gas cylinder should empty, air flow to the user
stops abruptly. While removing the subject from the device can
quickly restore air flow, the brief period in which air flow to the
user is stopped is unsettling and does not promote optimal use of
hyperoxic training.
[0012] The proposed breathing system of the present invention
overcomes the aforementioned deficiencies by use of a control valve
system to provide an air mixture containing 25-90 volume percent
oxygen to the user and at rates that are similar to the ventilation
rate of the user. Use of the control valve system of the breathing
system of the present invention eliminates the need to purchase
pre-mixed breathing gases and the need for manual flow adjustments
from compressed oxygen gas cylinders. In addition lack of moisture
in the commercially available gas mixture is overcome by the use of
atmospheric air in the breathing system of the present
invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention provides a controlled enhanced-oxygen
(hyperoxic) breathing system comprising a control valve system
coupled to an oxygen source (for example, compressed oxygen gas
cylinder) and a breathing interface coupled to the control valve
system, where the control valve system may further include a demand
flow valve and a venturi valve configured to introduce ambient air
into an oxygen stream provided by the oxygen source.
[0014] A breathing mask is typically attached to the breathing
interface for use by a breathing subject, such as someone
exercising or performing physical training activities. Typically,
the demand flow and venturi valves are connected in series and the
control valve system may further include a one-way flow valve
located between the venturi valve and the breathing interface.
[0015] In one embodiment, the present invention includes a plenum
or enclosed space configured to contain the hyperoxic air mixture,
where the plenum may be coupled to the control valve system via the
one-way flow valve and a gas transport line between the demand flow
valve and the plenum; typically, the plenum comprises a diaphragm
and the gas transport line provides communication between the
diaphragm of the plenum and the demand flow valve. The plenum may
further include an exhaust valve for relieving pressure within the
plenum, for example, when a breathing subject exhales during
exercise using the hyperoxic breathing system of the present
invention. The plenum may further include an emergency valve to
provide access to ambient air, for example, when the oxygen supply
is depleted and the flow of air may be insufficient for breathing
comfortably.
[0016] In another embodiment, the present invention includes a
pressure regulator coupled to the oxygen source and located between
the oxygen source and the control valve system. The pressure
regulator is typically used to provide step down pressures from the
high pressure available with most compressed oxygen gas cylinders.
In another embodiment, the present invention includes a control
linkage associated with the pressure regulator and configured to
control oxygen flow from the oxygen source. For example, in the
case where the control linkage comprises a cable, an exercising
subject would be able to open and close the pressure regulator from
a distance, such as from a bicycle or other type of exercising
device.
[0017] In a further embodiment of the present invention, a second
plenum may be located between the first plenum and the breathing
interface where a second gas transport connection having a second
one-way flow valve may be used to connect the two plenums. In this
case, the second plenum typically includes the exhaust or emergency
valves rather than these features being included with the first
plenum.
[0018] In another embodiment, the hyperoxic breathing system of the
present invention comprises an air source, a control valve system
and a breathing interface coupled to the control valve system,
where the control valve system includes a demand flow valve and a
nitrogen-removal unit. In this case, the nitrogen-removal unit
replaces the venturi valve component discussed in the
aforementioned embodiments. Whereas the venturi valve provided
mixing of ambient air with a pure oxygen stream to provide the
desired final oxygen concentration in the hyperoxic air provided to
the breathing subject, the nitrogen-removal units of this
embodiment provide the same desired final oxygen concentrations by
selectively removing nitrogen from an air stream to increase the
oxygen level from an initial 20-21 volume percent to 22-90 volume
percent, more typically to 25-70 volume percent oxygen, and most
typically to about 60 volume percent oxygen.
[0019] In other embodiments, the present invention provides methods
for breathing under hyperoxic conditions based on using the various
hyperoxic breathing sytems described above. For example, in one
embodiment the method involves (a) providing an oxygen source, (b)
providing a hyperoxic air stream comprising from about 22 to about
90 volume percent oxygen by mixing ambient air with an oxygen
stream from the oxygen source by placing a venturi valve in the
oxygen stream, where the venturi valve is configured to introduce
the ambient air into the oxygen stream, (c) activating flow of the
hyperoxic air stream to a breathing interface by actuating a demand
flow valve configured to sense a decrease in pressure at the
breathing interface, where the demand flow valve is further
configured to cause flowing of oxygen from the oxygen source to the
venturi valve, and (d) providing the hyperoxic air stream to a
breathing subject by coupling the breathing subject with the
breathing interface, typically by use of a breathing mask.
[0020] In another embodiment, the method for breathing under
hyperoxic conditions involves (a) providing an air source, (b)
providing a hyperoxic air stream comprising from about 22 to 90
volume percent oxygen by passing air through a nitrogen-removal
unit, (c) activating flow of the hyperoxic air stream to a
breathing interface by actuating a where the demand flow valve is
further configured to cause flowing of air from the air source to
the nitrogen-removal unit, and (d) providing the hyperoxic air
stream to a breathing subject by coupling the breathing subject
with the breathing interface.
[0021] In a further embodiment, the present invention provides a
method for increasing caloric expenditure of an exercising subject
involving the following steps: (a) generating a hyperoxic air
stream comprising 22 to 90 volume percent oxygen by mixing ambient
air with an oxygen stream from an oxygen source comprising placing
a venturi valve into the oxygen stream where the venturi valve is
configured to introduce the ambient air into the oxygen stream, (b)
activating flow of the hyperoxic air stream to a breathing
interface by actuating a demand flow valve configured to sense a
decrease in pressure at the breathing interface, where the demand
flow valve is further configured to cause flowing of oxygen from
the oxygen source to the venturi valve, and (c) providing the
hyperoxic air stream to the exercising subject by coupling the
exercising subject with the breathing interface for at least some
portion of time spent by the exercising subject in an exercise
period.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the present
invention including an oxygen source, a control valve system and a
breathing interface.
[0023] FIG. 1A is a side view of another embodiment of the present
invention including an expandable reservoir bag.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a side view of another embodiment of the present
invention including a plenum and a one-way flow valve.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a side view of another embodiment of the present
invention including a second plenum.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a side view of another embodiment of the present
invention including a nitrogen-removal unit as part of the control
valve system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] Under most conditions, ambient air is about 20-21 volume
percent oxygen and approximately 78 volume percent nitrogen. For
purposes of the present invention, hyperoxic air is any
oxygen/nitrogen mixture with greater than 21 volume percent oxygen
and less than about 78 volume percent nitrogen. Typically,
hyperoxic air mixtures useful in the present invention include
gaseous mixtures containing 22 to 90 volume percent oxygen, more
typically from 25 to 70 volume percent oxygen, and most typically
about 60 volume percent oxygen.
[0028] Oxygen sources useful in the hyperoxic breathing systems of
the present invention include, for example, compressed oxygen
containers (such as gas cylinders) and oxygen generation apparatus
such as chemical oxygen generators (for example, potassium chlorate
or sodium chlorate canisters) and water electrolysis devices.
Typically, the oxygen source is provided by high pressure oxygen
cylinders (compressed gas). Air sources useful in the hyperoxic
breathing systems of the present invention include, for example,
compressed air containers (such as gas cylinders) and ambient
air.
[0029] Nitrogen-removal units suitable for use in the present
invention include apparatus or equipment such as nitrogen scrubbers
or oxygen concentrator modules. For example, oxygen concentrator
technology includes systems that pass compressed air through a
series of molecular sieve beds (such as zeolite adsorbents) where
the nitrogen is selectively adsorbed relative to the oxygen, and an
oxygen-enriched gas stream is provided in the gas effluent from the
molecular sieve adsorption beds. Alternatively, systems involving
selective gas-permeable membranes may be used to enhance the oxygen
concentration from an initial gas stream of air.
[0030] The hyperoxic breathing system of the present invention
provides hyperoxic air streams to a breathing subject at flow rates
adequate to match ventilation rates of the user. These flow rates
may vary depending upon the magnitude of the workload taken on by
the breathing subject. Ventilation volumes of the users may range
from as low as 50 liters/minute (1/min) at the beginning of an
exercise period, to as much as 300 1/min or more during heavy
exercise.
[0031] In the following detailed description of various embodiments
of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings, which form a part of this application. The drawings show,
by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention
may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may
be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing
from the scope of the present invention.
[0032] In FIG. 1, the oxygen source 1 is provided by a compressed
oxygen gas cylinder; other oxygen sources also may be used as
previously discussed. The control valve system 2 is made up of
demand flow valve 3 and venturi valve 4 (air entrainment valve).
Control valve system 2 is coupled to a breathing interface 5.
Venturi valve 4 is shown open to atmospheric air and is configured
to introduce air into the oxygen stream flowing from oxygen source
1 to breathing interface 5. Gas transport connections 6 provide
flow lines for the various gases from point to point, for example,
flexible plastic tubing may be used as the gas transport
connections. An additional gas transport connection 6 (not shown)
may be used to provide communication between flow valve 3 and
breathing interface 5.
[0033] In FIG. 1A, oxygen source 1 is shown coupled to a pressure
regulator 7 which is further connected to venturi valve 4 and
ultimately to breathing interface 5. Expandable reservoir 7b is
located joined to gas transport connection 6 by outlet 7c) between
venturi valve 4 and breathing interface 5. One-way exhaust valve 11
is located between expandable reservoir 7b and breathing interface
5. An optional control linkage 7a (such as a cable) may be provided
in association with pressure regulator 7 to control the flow rate
of oxygen by a breathing subject. Expandable reservoir 7b may be
provided in the form of flexible bag having a volume, for example,
from 25 to about 50 liters. The expandable reservoir 7b stores the
hyperoxic air stream provided by the influx of air by venturi valve
4 into the oxygen stream for use by the breathing subject. One-way
exhaust valve 11 would provide for exhaling by the breathing
subject.
[0034] FIG. 2 presents a more detailed description of another
embodiment of the present invention. A pressure regulator 7 is
coupled to oxygen source 1. In this embodiment, a one-way control
valve 8 is situated after the control valve system (made up demand
flow valve 3 and venturi valve 4) and leads into plenum 9. Plenum 9
includes a diaphragm 10, exhaust valve 11 and emergency valve 12,
the latter being used in case of gas flow failure from the oxygen
source. One of the gas transport connections 6 provides
communication between demand flow valve 3 and plenum 9 through
diaphragm 10. Pressure regulator 7 may be further associated with a
control linkage (not shown). such as a cable, so that the flow rate
of oxygen from oxygen source 1 may be controlled to a desirable
level. Use of the control linkage would enable an exercising
subject to open or close the pressure regulator from a distance,
for example, from a bicycle or a treadmill.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, pressure regulator 7 acts to step down
the pressure from the high pressure of the compressed oxygen gas
cylinder 1. The breathing subject would inhale through a breathing
mask (not shown) attached to breathing interface 5, decreasing the
pressure in plenum 9 and flexing diaphragm 10. The flexing of
diaphragm 10 actuates demand flow valve 3 which allows the oxygen
to flow at a variable rate to venturi valve 4. At venturi valve 4,
oxygen is passed through a nozzle 4a creating a low-pressure area,
which draws ambient air into the flowing oxygen stream. The
resultant hyperoxic air stream then passes through one-way valve 8,
through plenum 9, through breathing interface 5, and on to the
breathing subject. As the breathing subject exhales, pressure in
plenum 9 increases, the flow of oxygen from oxygen source 1 stops
and one-way exhaust valve 11 opens to allow the exhaled breath to
exit plenum 9. Should oxygen be depleted at anytime, that is, no
oxygen flow from oxygen source 1, emergency valve 12 would open at
a slightly higher pressure than was required for diaphragm 10 to
actuate demand flow valve 3, allowing the breathing subject to
breathe ambient air.
[0036] FIG. 3 presents yet another embodiment of the present
invention which includes a second plenum 13 located between first
plenum 9 and breathing interface 5.
[0037] FIG. 4 depicts a further embodiment of the present invention
where the breathing system includes an air source 14, shown here as
a compressed air gas cylinder; however, the air source also may be
ambient air. Control valve system 15 includes demand flow valve 3
and nitrogen-removal unit 16. Suitable nitrogen-removal units
include, for example, nitrogen scrubbers or oxygen concentrator
modules, as discussed above. Control valve system 15 is further
connected to breathing interface 5 in similar fashion to that
described in FIGS. 1-3. Optional one-way flow valves (not shown)
and plenums (not shown) may also be included in similar fashion to
that described in FIGS. 1-3.
[0038] Optionally, a dual intake valve may be placed between
control valve systems 2 or 15 and breathing interface 5 components
of the breathing systems shown in FIGS. 1-4 in order to mix
additional ambient air into the hyperoxic air stream, as
desired.
[0039] An additional optional feature may include the use of
computer software programmed with various warning alarms and
interfacing with any breathing apparatus used by a breathing
subject, for example an exercising individual. Pulmonary functions
(such as inhalation and heart rates, blood oxygen level and inhaled
and exhaled oxygen concentrations) may be monitored through a
computer/software interface such that automatic changes in
hyperoxic air stream flow could be actuated via the pressure
regulator associated with the oxygen source. Sensors in the
expandable reservoir (such as fiber optic sensors) could further
monitor the level of hyperoxic air in the reservoir and be
interfaced with appropriate computer software to actuate changes in
flow from the oxygen source.
[0040] An additional optional feature of the present invention may
include a humidifier device located in the system prior to the
breathing interface. In this way hyperoxic air provided by the
breathing system of the present invention could be humidified to a
desired level to help decrease dehydration during physical training
of an individual.
[0041] Although the description above contains many specifications,
these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the
invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of various
embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention
should be determined by the appended claims and their legal
equivalents rather than by the examples given.
* * * * *