A portable oxygen concentrator machine is an oxygen device that you can carry anywhere whenever you go with you for your oxygen supply. People who prefer independent life, travelers, or outgoing people would opt for this type of oxygen machine to fulfill their oxygen requirements. Portable oxygen concentrator machines do not need refilling and are lightweight to carry around. This is a convenient option for people on the go.
Portable Oxygen Concentrators or POCs work like a regular oxygen concentrator at home. However, Both of these machines work on different oxygen concentration levels. To understand how they work, let us read further.
How Does a Portable Oxygen Concentrator(POC) Look?
POC or Portable oxygen concentrators are available in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Different brands differentiate their products from other brands, and all of the brands mostly follow a similar mechanism. Commonly, they fall at the same height and have a boxed structure.
If we ignore the differences, the rest components are the same. All POCs have the same setting panel where the following controls;
- Power ON and OFF switches.
- Button to adjust the oxygen flow rate based on the doctor’s prescription.
- Alarm indicators like beeps and color codes alert the user if losing power or any other error in the oxygen machine.
All POCs have removable filters, some machines have washable filters. These filters need to be replaced or cleaned and then reattached to the POC if it gets saturated.
The POCs usually have two jacks, that is:
- Oxygen outlet where one can connect nasal cannula or mask
- Power source to Plug-in.
Generally speaking, POCs come with built-in rechargeable batteries for convenience. Before purchasing a portable oxygen concentrator machine, you must understand how it works to avoid confusion with its controls after your purchase.
Apart from the battery, an oxygen concentrator machine consists of a compressor, an oxygen cylinder, two-bed filters, a pressure regulator, and a pipeline that transports the purified oxygen to the user through a nasal cannula or an oxygen mask.
As informed above, portable oxygen concentrator machines do not need to refill oxygen. POCs can provide purified oxygen flow to the user for 24 hours with a stable flow.
Usage of A Portable Oxygen Concentrator
There are some ways to utilize these portable oxygen devices;
Provide oxygen therapy for older people who are most prone to experience oxygen-related problems in breathing and other complications related directly or indirectly to oxygen levels in the body. Old age often brings slow organ function, and they will require supplemental oxygen to help with their conditions.
Providing oxygen therapy to our old age people can increase their alertness and activity level.
Help with the breathing problems
The most known use of oxygen concentrators is to support different breathing problems that are mild, moderate, or severe.
COVID-19 Recovery
COVID-19 attacks a person’s lungs and breathing, causing pneumonia, that infects both lungs and fills the air sacs with fluid. It triggers shortness of breath, uncontrollable coughing, and other related symptoms.
POCs can help ease breathing issues. In the case of mild to moderate breathing problems, it can reduce the chances for a person to go for invasive ventilation treatments.
- Managing blood oxygen levels
Your blood oxygen level explains how the heart, lungs, and the blood circulatory system works. Ideally, 95% to 100% is considered healthy, and anything lower than that may indicate underlying health issues. This oxygen flow rate range of 95% to 100% shows that most red blood cells(RBCs) carry oxygen toward your tissues and cells.
For people with problems with their blood oxygen levels that are less SPO2 level, Oxygen concentrators help to balance those levels.
Who needs Portable Oxygen Concentrator?
People facing difficulty in breathing are the ones who ideally use oxygen concentrators. Oxygen therapy helps with various issues related to breathing. Oxygen therapy under medical guidance is a prerequisite. Following are the patient types who would require oxygen therapy via oxygen concentrators;
Reasonable Ill Patients
Reasonably ill patients are the ones that do not require high oxygen support, as portable oxygen concentrator machines can only supply limited amounts of oxygen in per minute flow.
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients need extra oxygen supply as they can get. COPD feel stressed about traveling and doing everyday activities since they need to carry oxygen cylinders for all their activities. Considering the mobility of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, it is a challenge.
Considering the above challenge, portable oxygen concentrator machines enter the menu. POCs utilize the surrounding air and convert that into pure oxygen, filtering nitrogen and other gases as it goes through the filters of the concentrator.
POCs are lightweight, refilling in POC is not required, and are compact, carrying it around without grabbing everyone’s attention. POC machines run on batteries that can run for more than 12 hours and have rechargeable batteries, so there is no need to change. Some POCs have AC/DC adapters that you can plug into a power source at any location or in care during any road trip.
Lung Cancer Patient
Patients with lung cancer often experience shortness of breath due to a tumor growing in the lungs, disease complications, secondary infections, or an effect of some cancer treatment. In such cases, a portable oxygen machine can come handy.
During lung cancer therapy, oxygen supply is a must. The treatment can be for short-term or everyday support. It varies from one person’s condition to another. People with low blood oxygen levels are recommended to take oxygen therapy.
Portable oxygen concentrator machines are the correct machines to supply enough oxygen levels for patients with lung disease and provide them to breathe better throughout their treatment.
Asthma
Asthma patients are thorough about nebulizer usage, as nebulizers help open their airways during Asthma attacks. In such situations, doctors prescribe oxygen if the attacks are regular.
Stringent asthma patients are advised to take oxygen therapy. The therapy differs for every person. Some patients need oxygen while they sleep or do some active tasks, while some have to use it continuously throughout the day.
Supplemental oxygen is very effective in supplying extra required oxygen to your lungs. It also makes it easier for the body to open the airways and reduces the negative effect which can cause due to lack of oxygen on overall health.
How Does a Portable Oxygen Concentrator Work?
Portable oxygen concentrator machines process the surrounding air and convert it into pure oxygen of at least 90% to 99% by filtering the nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases. During the filtering process, it also removes pollutants and harmful substances.
POC machines can produce oxygen-rich air to balance oxygen levels in the blood.
To understand what is a portable oxygen machine, let us first understand how it works:
- The machine absorbs air from the surrounding.
- The air compressed by one of the two sieves filters it inside the device, where the nitrogen and other gases in the air are absorbed.
- In process of producing pure oxygen, The machine inside measures oxygen concentration levels. Once it reaches 93+-% of pure oxygen, the user takes in the purified oxygen.
- The patient must adjust the oxygen flow rate as prescribed by the doctor.
- The purified oxygen is transferred via a mask or a nasal cannula connected to a machine. The oxygen flow may vary depending on your type of concentrator machine. It can either be continuous flow or pulse dose.
Apart from helping with breathing problems, portable oxygen concentrators make everyday activities easier to manage and accomplish, even if an oxygen machine is connected.
Jumbo Cylinders and large oxygen machines are hard to transport and will be costly in the long run due to constant refilling and mobility issues due to size and weight.
What Is Continuous and On-Demand or Pulse Flow?
There are two types of portable oxygen concentrator machines: one which provides a continuous flow and the other on-demand flow (also known as pulse flow). Both devices help with breathing problems, but there are situations where one POC is better and more effective than another POC. It depends upon the patient’s condition. Let us try to understand what is a continuous flow and what is pulse flow;
Continuous Flow
Continuous flow oxygen concentrator is for those patients who have an active lifestyle. Most home-use concentrators offer continuous flow, and people who most of the time breathe in a resting state on the bed or those who are bedridden, and those who have difficulty with mobility use this type of oxygen concentrator.
For people who experience difficulty sleeping at night due to oxygen problems continuous-flow oxygen machine is ideal for them. On-demand or pulse flow machines may not detect shallow breaths when a person is sleeping which can result in frequent wakeups due to breathlessness throughout the night. Ignoring such events will result in other health conditions.
Continuous flow offers an uninterrupted supply of purified oxygen to the body, so it can maintain a healthy blood level when the user is not active in any physical activity.
On-Demand Flow
Pulse dose or On-demand flow oxygen concentrator device senses your breathing pattern and supplies the oxygen flow on your current breathing pattern. This type of POC is recommended for those users who actively participate in high-level activities. These machines give the user a pulse dose of oxygen even while the user is busy with their work, be it exercise, sport, or simply jogging in the morning.
This device is portable and lightweight, in comparison to continuous flow machines. Pulse dose machines can store unused oxygen if your breathing is low and steady and use the supply later if you require a higher flow rate. Pulse flow machines have better battery life, and user of pulse dose machines can perform their activities for a longer duration.
What are the Advantages of a Portable Oxygen Concentrator?
POCs(Portable oxygen concentrators) are great scientific inventions and do not pose any danger. It supplies clean air and relieves users of refilling and planning the oxygen supply.
Considering POC’s primary advantage is their mobility. The compatibility of these oxygen concentrators makes them easy to carry anywhere and plug into any outlets usually available wherever you go or use them on battery. Apart from that, there are some more benefits of these devices:
- The user interface is easy to operate
- It enables you to have a good night’s sleep without interruption.
- Oxygen therapy increases your stamina and immunity.
How Does Figure Out if A Portable Oxygen Concentrator Machine Will Work for Me?
To understand your requirement before choosing an oxygen concentrator is if it can control your oxygen saturation level while resting, walking, and sleeping. The oxygen level should remain between 88% to 90%, and if the oxygen level is lower than 88% during your rest and exercise, then the device you are using is not enough.
The doctor will write you a prescription based on the oxygen level testing via sleep study test. If a user is traveling or at home, you should keep a pulse oximeter to monitor oxygen saturation while traveling and doing your everyday tasks.
You should discuss with your doctor about your oxygen saturation level and tell your doctor everything that has happened during the first week’s usage of the oxygen machine. To monitor your oxygen saturation levels, make notes of the reading and discuss it with your doctor on your next visit.
How to Choose a Portable Oxygen Concentrator machine?
There are many available options in the market for portable oxygen concentrator machines, but how do you ensure that you are getting the best? There are some of the factors you should consider before buying:
Portable Oxygen Machines Battery life
If you have an independent lifestyle, you should go for a higher battery life machine as it will not require constant charging outside when you are out of the home. POCs devices have batteries that can last for 4 to 5 hours. Any POC higher than that is a great purchase.
Portability Limit
Portable Oxygen Concentrator Machines are already compact. However, some POCs might be too heaver than others. Shoulder or backpack wearable devices are easy to carry than trolly style as trolly style POC is a bit heavier machine than Shoulder backpack wearable ones, So choose as per your lifestyle.
The oxygen concentration of the Portable Oxygen Machine
The concentration of oxygen varies from device to device. Before choosing one, understand your doctor’s prescription and the saturation levels of oxygen concentration required for you.
Flow rate
The most important factor when choosing which concentrator to purchase is flow rate. You should go with your doctor’s advice. Some oxygen machines have a lower flow rate than others. Before finalizing your purchase, you must check the machine’s flow rate. If possible, ask for a trial if they have the option before making the purchase. This will ensure you are picking up the correct machine.
Hyperlocals provide Portable oxygen machines for rent and on sale. If you plan to buy or rent one get connected with one of our specialists to understand more about POC @ 6300041183 or mail us at info@hyperlocals.in
However, if you are looking for a stationary oxygen concentrator, We do provide those as well .
For a 5-liter oxygen concentrator Click Here
For 10 Liter oxygen Concentrator Click Here
For Oxygen Cylinder Click Here
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