Project Description: 

Home oxygen therapy is commonly prescribed in the United States to treat lung-related illnesses. Many patients consistently use oxygen tanks and concentrators to provide proper oxygen delivery but these devices pose a risk of injury. Smoking, cooking, and other improper exposure to flames can cause life-threatening injuries which could be prevented by imposing a device to ensure patient safety. Current oxygen therapy devices on the market do not include safety mechanisms to prevent fire, putting users at high levels of risk. By utilizing multiple transducers to collect data on a patient’s environment, a valve is used to shut off oxygen flow if the risk of fire is present. The device will be housed in a compact apparatus that can be attached to any nasal cannula or other tubing. The sensor data will be available to both physicians and medical device companies that supply the oxygen therapy devices in a centralized database, which can be used to better understand the patient’s environment. By implementing a preemptive response, the patients can continue to use their necessary oxygen therapy with decreased risk of life-altering injuries, medical costs, and property damage.