It is a device, which concentrates the oxygen from the air around us by selectively removing nitrogen to supply oxygen-enriched air. The concentrated Oxygen is delivered to the patients, having respiratory diseases, through an oxygen mask or nasal cannula. The device may be used in remote places, homes, or hospital-like facilities for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and chronic hypoxemia. It may be used as an adjunct treatment for severe sleep apnea (in conjunction with a continuous positive airway pressure unit).
The indigenously developed Oxygen enrichment unit works on the principle of Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) and utilizes Zeolite Columns to selectively remove nitrogen from air under certain pressure, thereby increasing the Oxygen Concentration. The subsystems of the oxygen enrichment unit are Compressor, solenoid-operated 3/2 valves, flow meter, and Pre-Filter. The suspended particles, viruses, bacteria present in the air are filtered out by the available HEPA filter. The unit has been tested in TUV Rheinland, Bangalore as per IEC 60601-1 3.1 edition: 2012 standard for Electrical Safety compliance whereas the oxygen enrichment percentage vis-a-vis outflow has been tested in-house facility. The Unit is capable of delivering up to 30 LPM Oxygen enriched air, which is absent in the other commercially available units.
The commercially available Oxygen Enrichment Units generally work till 8000 ft from sea level. With an optional plug-in module, this unit can work up to the altitude of 14000 ft with a penalty on flow rate thereby making it very handy for the usage of the high altitude terrain battlefield in contingencies. This facility will help in High Flow Oxygen Therapy, which is proven to be a better method in the treatment and management of COVID-19 patients. The material cost of this unit is approximately Rs 35,000. And the technology has been transferred to a company in Telangana.
