Improving Oxygen Concentrator Use in the Developing World

Team Members: Paul Gordon, Marie Hopkins, and Kathe Pocker

Clinical Partner: Dennis McCutcheon Faculty Advisors: M.B. Privitera and B. Haridas

Clinical Problem• Hypoxemia, a deficiency of oxygen in the bloodstream, contributes

to higher mortality rates for patients.

• Oxygen therapy can be critical to improving the health of these and other respiratory-compromised patients.

• Many low-resource healthcare facilities do not have a regular supply of oxygen.

Design Problem StatementOxygen concentrators provide oxygen therapy to patients using electricity and atmospheric air.

Our challenge is to design a solution to return these oxygen concentrators to optimal performance during extended use by removing contaminants from zeolite.

Market and Opportunity Gap

Low Resource Setting Opportunity Gap• The number of oxygen concentrators in use

in low resource settings is currently unknown.

• In district hospitals of Kenya, only 58% of patients received prescribed oxygen therapy1. Most rural clinics are not as well equipped as these district hospitals.

High Resource Setting Opportunity Gap• Currently, zeolite repours are only known

option. There is no known repair tool known to exist. Our device could be marketed to medical repair service companies.

Removal of contaminants via• Pressure System (vacuum & dry gas)• Heating System

Our proposed technology• Heat treatment via heating coil• Vacuum pulled on system• Dry gas passed through system• Can fit and attach to a wide range

of oxygen concentrator models

Design Solution

Pressure System Prototype

Line to dry gas source

Line to vacuum pump

Egress Gauge

Cylinder filled with zeolite

Fine flow regulator

Ingress Gauge

Heating System TestingConclusions• Heat treatment

changes thermal properties of the zeolite.

• Heat treatment results in a mass loss.

Next Steps & Concept DrawingShort-term• Heat zeolite samples on

a larger scale and measure oxygen output after heating.

• Combine heating and pressure prototypes and test.

Long-term• Define optimal heating

profiles that produce the largest gain in oxygen output.

Vacuum pump (50Hz or 60Hz)

Electric plug (110V or 220V)Insulated cylinder

heating coil wrap

Zeolite cylinder

Desiccator and insulated heating coil

Handle for transportFlow regulator

Intake

Exhaust

Regulatory Pathway/Strategy

Our device will not be filed with the FDA or regulatory bodies as a medical device as it does not provide any care to or contact with a patient.

Acknowledgements

• We thank the following for their support and funding – UC Forward Initiative– Medical Device Innovation &

Entrepreneurship Program•Professor Mary Beth Privitera•Professor Balakrishna Haridas

– University of Cincinnati • UC Medical Center

Acknowledgements

• We thank the following for their support and funding – Chemical engineering consultant: Michel Cosme – Guatemalan guides: Dennis and Cindy McCutcheon,

Joe Leier – UC Faculty: V. Guliants, S. Thiel, P. Rosales, R. Branson – Industry contacts: D. Devry, G. Richardson, M.

Gillespie, R. Cairnes – Equipment assistance: Caring Partners International,

Philips Home Healthcare Solutions – Our families, classmates, and friends who have

supported us

Questions?

References1.“Assessment of inpatient paediatric care in first referral level hospitals in 13 districts in Kenya.” http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0140673604164088/1-s2.0-S0140673604164088-main.pdf?_tid=e5873eac-c4de-11e4-9b31-00000aab0f02&acdnat=1425742414_16e8c3bdbe07cc992c28ac1a0778bfd62.“Oxygen Concentrators: Market Shares, Strategies, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2013 to 2018”. http://wintergreenresearch.com/reports/oxygen%20concentrators.html 3. http://www.awinhospitalproducts.com/product/35-oxygen-mask-wwom-3f96/