What Is An Oxygen Concentrator Used For And How To Choose One?

In this article, I will explain what is an oxygen concentrator used for, what are the different types and how to choose this important aid.

Here is a related article that might interest you on 22 Best Stair Climbing Wheelchair Types In 2023.

What is an oxygen concentrator used for and how do you use it?

The oxygen concentrator is intended for those suffering from respiratory diseases and as a result, the oxygen levels in their blood are low.
But what is an oxygen concentrator? What are its advantages? In this article, we will focus on the home appliance that improves the quality of life of many patients.

If you are suffering from respiratory diseases, you have probably heard of the home oxygen concentrator, which allows patients to extend their lifespan and improve many aspects of their quality of life, and you’ve probably asked what an oxygen concentrator is and how to use it.

So what is an oxygen concentrator?

An oxygen concentrator is a medical device used to supply oxygen to patients suffering from respiratory disorders. Before purchasing the oxygen concentrator, it is recommended to consult a physician who will conduct a thorough medical review, guide the patient on how to use the oxygen concentrator in a home-based manner, and recommend appropriate personal use settings for the patient.

The oxygen concentrator filters the surrounding air compresses it to the required density and then provides the patient with purified oxygen in a medical level with a continuous or fixed flow.

The oxygen concentrator is equipped with special filters that help remove the nitrogen from the air, in order to provide completely purified oxygen to the patient.

The concentrator also has an electronic user interface that can be used to adjust oxygen concentration levels and oxygen release settings.

Then, the patient inhales oxygen through a special mask or through a nose tube.

Thanks to advances in medicine, today’s oxygen concentrator are small, compact, lightweight and quiet, providing high performance and ideal compatibility.

One of the most important aspects of using an oxygen concentrator is that patients can maintain their freedom of movement and independence.

Unlike in the past, patients no longer need to remain in place for the use of large, non-transferable oxygen concentrators.

The modern oxygen concentrators are portable so they can be easily transported anywhere the patient goes.

He can now take the oxygen concentrator if he needs to go on a trip or any activity outside the home.
The portable oxygen concentrators work on both an electrical power connection and a battery.

In a low or medium oxygen flow setting, a portable oxygen concentrator can supply oxygen for a prolonged period on a single battery.

What are the benefits of the oxygen concentrator?

Patients suffering from lung disease may live with the oxygen concentrator on a daily basis.
Fortunately, today’s oxygen concentrators are impressive.

Moreover, several medical studies indicate that patients who receive supplemental oxygen therapy for 12 hours a day will extend their life expectancy.

Lack of oxygen affects every organ in the patient’s body, especially the brain.

By getting enough oxygen, all the cells and organs in the patient’s body will work better, and the patient will feel an improvement in his or her feeling and appearance.

Other benefits include:

• Improving physical tolerance.
• Improving sleep quality and quality of life.
• Improvement in overall mood, self-esteem, and cognitive abilities.

How does an oxygen concentrator work?

An oxygen concentrator, in fact, works just like an air conditioner: it collects air, changes it, and injects it in a new way.

Similarly, an oxygen concentrator collects in the air and purifies it to fit those who need medical oxygen due to low oxygen levels in their blood.

These are the stages of operation of the oxygen concentrator:

• Collect air from the environment.
• Air compression, while the cooling mechanism keeps the oxygen concentrator from overheating.
• Removing nitrogen from the air using the filter.
• Air adjustment via an electronic interface.
• The flow of oxygen is purified through a nose tube or a mask.

How do I use an oxygen concentrator?

The use of the oxygen concentrator is simple and efficient.

It is important to place the device in a well-ventilated position, preferably about half a meter from the wall, so that air collection and release will be uninterrupted.

After connecting the mask or nose tube, operate the machine and set the oxygen flow as determined by the doctor. Then, breathe through the nose tube or mask.

Remember to take safety measures, avoid smoking near the oxygen concentrator, and keep the device at least 2 meters away from a heat source or fire.

Portable oxygen concentrator – pumps air for breathing

People with respiratory problems often need home-based oxygen therapy. This treatment allows them to receive the level of gas they need and greatly improves their quality of life.

Until a few years ago, the ways to carry out the treatment were cumbersome and necessitated considerable preoccupation, which included the frequent replacement of the gas tanks and a great deal of awkwardness in carrying out the treatment itself.

A few years ago a device called a portable oxygen concentrator was invented, which serves as a portable oxygen device, and it has greatly improved the quality of patients’ lives.

This significant improvement is the result of several advantages that the device has over the old devices:

• High-concentration oxygen supply – our air consists of a number of different gases, with the following composition: 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen and 1% of other gases.
  An oxygen concentrator performs a complete separation between the nitrogen found in the air and the oxygen found in it and injects oxygen into the patient at a concentration of 95%, ie, almost pure oxygen.
  Since this is exactly what the patient needs, this device is the most effective solution available today to treat various respiratory diseases.
• Safety – All the systems currently marketed in the market have been examined by the competent medical authorities and are safe for use in all aspects.
• Choice of stationary and portable – The systems marketed today enable the patient to continue his routine and receive treatment wherever he is.
  This is because, unlike the old methods, the oxygen concentrators currently marketed for domestic use are usually light devices that can be used without electricity.
  The result – the patient can use them not only when he is at home, but also anywhere else, including a car or an airplane.
  This change significantly improves the lives of people in need of oxygen medical treatment and makes the devices highly desirable.
• Easy Maintenance – While the old devices (large oxygen containers) required a lot of maintenance, which included replacing the finished tanks or taking care of the fillings within a very short time, the oxygen concentrator requires only minor maintenance.
  The necessary actions are mainly cleaning the appliance and the filters once a week (or more, according to your choice and feeling).
  A portable or home oxygen concentrator makes life a lot easier and allows patients to maintain a much higher standard of living.

All these advantages make the portable oxygen concentrator a highly efficient solution that significantly upgrades not only the lives of the patients themselves but also the lives of the people who care for them and those close to them who can enjoy their company – and not just at home.

Home care

The main use of a portable oxygen concentrator is, as stated, during mobility.

When you are at home it is better to use the stationary generator supplied by the hospital at the doctor’s recommendation.

This is in order to keep the device so it will be full and ready to use when you want to leave the house.
It is important to remember that while the portable concentrator also allows indoor use, this stationary does not allow for use outside of it.

Therefore, the recommendation is to use the large stationary concentrator at home, and when you go out to enjoy all the advantages provided by the mobile concentrator.

This way you will keep not only the devices but also your health at its best.

How to choose a portable/home oxygen concentrator?

Until the oxygen concentrator was invented, people suffering from breathing problems had to use complex and cumbersome methods for receiving oxygen.

Today, when the device is present, it allows them to significantly upgrade their quality of life and enjoy activities that have been avoided so far, such as traveling by car or flight.

However, because of the great competition in this area, it is not always clear which device to choose.
There is a very large supply of concentrators, and each offers a few different functions, so it is not always easy to make the choice.

In order to assist you, I bring you a few tips and recommendations to help you choose the right oxygen concentrator.

Choosing an oxygen concentrator

Do not just trust yourself – you know your body better than anyone else, but since you do not know the devices, you should not make the choice at your own discretion.

It is best to consult with the doctor who referred you to the device and/or with doctors who specialize in the type of problem you are suffering from (cardiologist, lung specialist, etc.) in order to get their opinion about the device that best suits your situation.

Do a market survey – Some oxygen concentrators are very similar in their functions, yet they are sold by one company at a higher price and another at a lower price.

It is highly recommended that you do not rush and conduct a comprehensive market survey, in order to ensure that you receive the most suitable device for you – at a fair price.

Get all the information from the manufacturer/marketer – it is very important that you get all the information from the marketing company.

So you can be sure that you are purchasing a device that suits your situation and that you can really upgrade your quality of life.

It is recommended to ask for information about the weight of the device, its power, the duration of operation of its rechargeable batteries, the duration of the warranty period, the service you will receive after the purchase, and more.

All data must be weighed in an organized manner and a device must be selected which will first provide you with the best treatment and will also come with the best service package.

If you follow these three parameters, it is likely that the oxygen concentrator you choose will be the best for you.

We emphasize that it is very important to make sure that you have someone which you can receive service from in the event of a malfunction since it is a device that is vital to your life.

If it breaks down, make sure that you get a very quick repair service, and that if necessary you will have the option of receiving an alternative device.

Portable and non-portable oxygen concentrator

All of the above also refers to a home oxygen concentrator, which is larger in size and can not be carried, and to a small portable oxygen concentrator, which is intended mainly for backing up the home oxygen concentrator and for use outside the home.

If you follow the recommendations, it is very likely that you will soon feel the essential change that the device will bring into your life, and you will be able to continue a much more comfortable routine.

Good Luck!

I hope that I helped you understand what is an oxygen concentrator used for. If you have any comments please leave them below.