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SUMMARY
Lehigh University has developed a device that generates 90% purity oxygen. The application of this portable miniature oxygen concentrator can fit into the medical market such as for use in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the energy market and in other market segments where miniaturization of ambient air is required. The most immediate application would be for at home medical uses. This technology is focused on the market trend of making smaller and lightweight devices for increased mobility and miniaturization.
The novelty of this invention is the demonstration of air separation to get more than 90 mole % oxygen using very small scale pressure swing adsorption. Therefore, oxygen concentrators available in the market for respiratory therapy can be further scaled down. In addition, this invention can be adopted in application of limited space such as for fuel cell energy generation and for microbial growth.
The inventors at Lehigh have enhanced this base technology by developing a design for a new single column, compact rapid pressure swing adsorption with an optimum particle size of 300-700 microns to operate the device.
Lehigh TechID# 012113-01
THE MARKET
Oxygen concentrator has the biggest market in medical use by patients that suffer chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with over 11.4 million US adults having this disease. The entire oxygen concentrator market is estimated by WinterGreen Research to be $358 million, growing to almost $2 billion over the next 5 years.
This technology is applicable to other uses where pulses of oxygen are used to reduce the power consumption where miniaturization is required. These applications include electric batteries on vehicles, airline travel (approved by the FAA for commercial airlines), military aircraft, hospital filtration systems and portable systems for the military. [1]
[1] American Lung Association, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Fact Sheet, August 2006. http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35020
THE OPPORTUNITY
Lehigh University is interested in licensing this technology as well as finding research and development support to mature the technology.
PATENT
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