Stop Scrolling – Everything You Need To Know About Portable Oxygen Concentrators

Light weight, long-lasting portable oxygen concentrators are vital for people with COPD and other respiratory conditions. Portable oxygen concentrators provide stable and reliable airflow for long periods of time, and they can also be taken on the road to help people maintain their independence.

If your doctor has recommended home oxygen therapy, then choosing the right oxygen concentrator can be difficult. Oxygen output, battery life, size and weight are all important factors.

How Does a Portable Oxygen Concentrator Work?

A portable oxygen concentrator receives air, purifies it, and then distributes the newly formed air. Before it goes into the concentrator, air is made up of 80 percent nitrogen and 20 percent oxygen. After the air goes through the oxygen concentrator, it comes out as 90 to 95 percent pure oxygen and 5 to 10 percent nitrogen. The nitrogen is separated to give the patient the highest dose of oxygen possible, as it is difficult to get that percentage of oxygen without the help of a medical device.

What Makes Up a Portable Oxygen Concentrator?

There are many parts that make up a portable oxygen concentrator. A compressor and sieve bed filter are a couple of the main parts.

The compressor compresses air that is filtered into the concentrator, then delivers the air in a continuous stream. The compressed air moves to the sieve bed filters. The sieve bed filter plays an important role, as it is the device that removes the nitrogen from the air. A material called Zeolite, which is a six-sided microscopic cube with holes on each side, is in the sieve bed and this is what removes the nitrogen from the air.

Two sieve beds are located in the concentrator. After air is first compressed in the concentrator, it is forced into the first sieve bed. Oxygen is sent into the product tank. The first sieve bed then gets filled up with nitrogen. Next, the gas flow is switched and the compressed air is moved to the second sieve bed. The first sieve bed’s compressor is sent to the outside room and the air from the product tank goes back into the first sieve bed.

The drop in pressure from the first sieve bed and the weakening of oxygen makes the Zeolite release nitrogen. The Oxygen and Nitrogen come back together and are released in the room as regular air. The air is then compressed and sent to the second sieve where Oxygen is moved through it to the Product Tank. The whole cycle starts over again with the first sieve after a few seconds.

Other important parts are the cooling system that keeps the portable oxygen concentrator from overheating, and the nasal cannula that delivers the purified oxygen after the oxygen has been passed through all the sieve bed filters. The cannula helps improve oxygen absorption.

Advantages of Oxygen Concentrators

Both portable and home oxygen concentrators have numerous advantages for those patients needing oxygen therapy. Oxygen concentrators are much less dangerous than traditional oxygen cylinders, which can, if ruptured or leaking, cause or increase the combustion rate of a fire. Oxygen concentrators, on the other hand, pose no such danger. Home and portable oxygen concentrators that can “make” their own oxygen have become more popular and widely used than old-fashioned oxygen tanks. The other main benefit of oxygen concentrators is the ease and increased ability to be mobile with oxygen. Portable oxygen concentrators provide the necessary oxygen anywhere the user goes, even on airplanes. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has ruled that all passengers who require oxygen must be allowed to bring FAA-approved portable oxygen concentrators on all U.S. aircraft with more than 19 seats. Foreign airlines must also allow portable oxygen concentrators on all flights to and from U.S soil.

We’ve evaluated several of the leading models to bring you our top three — we like the SeQual eQuinox, the GCE Zen-O and the Respironics SimplyGo. Search our top picks for the best portable oxygen concentrators on the market today. Get outside and breathe easy.

The SeQual eQuinox is a powerful, continuous-flowing, oxygen concentrator that’s roughly the size of a small piece of luggage. The eQuinox features a voice-control interface that’s compatible with eight different languages, and it has automated alerts for low batteries, flow rate changes, oxygen purity warnings and various possible system malfunctions. It features an easily replacable front-loading battery that can last up to six hours. The eQuinox features a high oxygen output with nine different continuous flow settings with a maximum rate of 3.0 LPM. Weighing just 14 pounds, the eQuinox is one of the lightest portable oxygen concentrators on the market. It’s user-friendly and protected by a three-year warranty, making this a great model for anyone in need of a home portable oxygen concentrator. The SeQual eQuinox is on sale at the Oxygen Concentrator Store right now. 1st Class Medical offers 30-day risk free trials and up to 70% off on used air concentrator equipment, while LPT Medical also offers 70% off sales. Lots of online retailers can offer these concentrators with amazing deals!

Next is the GCE Zen-O, another small unit with a variety of features. It weighs just 10 pounds when equipped with just one battery, and when adding a second battery (weighing just 2 pounds) the total battery life reaches up to eight hours at the lowest pulse setting and six hours of continuous flow. This model features a custom carrying case that makes getting around easier, and the intuitive user interfaces features large buttons and a clear screen. With a three-year warranty and a reputation for durability — not to mention the ability to operate all day, every day — the Zen-O is a great choice for people who are mobile while still requiring several hours of daily oxygen therapy. The GCE Zen-O Portable Oxygen Concentrator is on sale from Sleep Direct for $2,495 for the single-battery model and $2,695 for the dual-battery model. Other online retailers, such as CPAP Direct, are also offering discounts on this concentrator.

If you want the most lightweight model available, then check out the Respironics SimplyGo. This portable oxygen concentrator also weighs just 10 pounds and still provides up to 2.9 hours of continuous oxygen at lower air flow rates. The SimplyGo is one of the best options on the market for people who lead active lifestyles or frequently travel. It offers up to six pulse delivery settings along with continuous flow rates up to 2.0 LPM. Battery life isn’t as lengthy as other models, but adding a second battery via the unit’s external connector effectively doubles the unit’s 3.4 hours of maximum battery life. The SimplyGo is also compatible with CPAP and BiPAP machines, and it’s equipped to automatically shift from pulse mode to continuous flow mode if it detects a stoppage of breathing. It’s durable, easy to operate and great for portable use. Most retailers sell this for nearly $3,000, but right now you can get it on sale from MBR Medicals or Help Medical Supplies for less than $2,000.