Background:

As oxygen therapy continues to grow and become more widely used in today's healthcare environment, cutting edge technology leads to advances in oxygen delivery systems. Although new delivery devices are introduced to the market every 18-24 months, old generations of machines still require maintenance, service and readily available filtration.

Challenge:

Three iterations of the most popular brand of Oxygen Concentrators has been introduced over the past 15 years, each with the same filter footprint, but different connection methods, air flow requirements, and sound attenuation needs. The challenge was to create a universal design for use in all three iterations of this popular unit.

Compressor Filters:

• Unit 1: Female Thread connection, High Airflow, Low sound attenuation needs
• Unit 2: 22mm Male connection, Low Airflow, High sound attenuation needs
• Unit 3: 22mm Male connection, Medium Airflow, High sound attenuation needs

Solution:

AG industries created a universal design that had repeatability, durability, and allowed the user to create the custom filter they needed for each device they were using. Additionally, this enabled the customer to stock just one universal filter and cut down inventory levels and issues with stock matching. We accomplished this by creating a way for both connection methods to be used on a single shot, while cutting down on mold changes, inserts and parts.

Results:

As a means of regulating the airflow and giving the end user the flexibility to tune the filter to their specific unit, AG Industries developed a patent-pending Air Dial Inlet feature. This feature allowed the air dial to be easily adjusted to the appropriate level of inlet flow. Additionally, if the user adjusts the dial incorrectly it can be easily adjusted.