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Membrane
for The Production of Oxygen Enriched Air
Introduction
Many elderly and sick people require
oxygen-enriched air to facilitate breathing. Unfortunately,
oxygen tanks are heavy and need to be refilled, limiting their
convenience. Further, portable oxygen generators/concentrators
(which generate oxygen from the surrounding air) are prohibitively
expensive, large and cumbersome, and inefficient in terms
of power.
Invention Description
Medical applications do not require oxygen
concentrations above 28%; thus, a membrane for enriching the
oxygen content in air does not require a very high oxygen/nitrogen
selectivity. Historically, the low permeability of membranes
has prevented oxygen enrichment without a powerful driving
force, which essentially offsets the convenience and weight
savings of utilizing portable, on-site oxygen generating systems.
However, membranes created using Dr. Freeman's invention are
more than ten times more permeable than currently utilized
technologies, suggesting that it is appropriate for consumer
applications that require a highly portable, efficient, and
low-power oxygen solution.
Benefits
- Convenient, on-site oxygen enrichment
- Power efficient
- Increased mobility
Features
- Portable oxygen generation
- Increased permeability (10x)
- Requires less driving force (power)
than current membranes
- Lightweight
Market Potential/Applications
More than 2 million Americans require
oxygen therapy at home. And with the aging of the baby-boomer
generation, more cases of asthma and bronchitis result in
a greater need for a convenient source of oxygen. The market
for oxygen generators is estimated to generate annual revenues
of over $250 million with steady growth.
Development Stage
Lab/bench prototype completed.
IP Status
One U.S. Patent Application Filed
One PCT Application Filed
UT Researcher
Benny D. Freeman, Ph.D., Department of
Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
For further information please contact:
University of Texas,
Austin, USA
Website : www.otc.utexas.edu
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