How To Choose The Best Oxygen Concentrator For You

If you’re buying an oxygen concentrator, you’re either a patient or a carer of someone with respiratory insufficiencies. Although a carer might be trained in mechanical equipment, this technology is designed to be used by anyone.

However, just because the equipment is simple, doesn’t mean each brand is the same. We will help you figure out which version is right for you.

 

What Is An Oxygen Concentrator?

An oxygen concentrator is a medical device. It is designed to give the user more oxygen. They are often prescribed to people who struggle to breathe. The most common users are people with the following conditions:

  • COVID-19
  • Flu
  • COPD
  • Lung Cancer
  • Asthma

 

However, anyone with a respiratory illness may benefit from the device.

To buy an oxygen concentrator, you need a prescription. This is because inhaling too much oxygen can be toxic and lead to oxygen poisoning.

 

What To Look For In An Oxygen Concentrator

Whenever you buy a new item, you should first look through the reviews. This review for an inogen g3 portable concentrator explains the flow settings, portability, ease of controls, and battery life – all of which are important factors when choosing your equipment.

We will explain what you should be looking for in all these factors.

 

Portability

Oxygen concentrators can range in size. Depending on your own moveability, you will need a device that matches your speed. However, the smaller the machine is, the less power or battery life it will have.

If you don’t leave your home often or are restricted to a chair, you can opt for the powerful concentrators which are not considered portable.

However, if you don’t require a high flow rate, you can opt for a light 10-pound version for easy transportation.

As part of the portability consideration, you should have a battery life that matches your needs. If you are out and about for a couple of hours a day, you need a machine that can match this time with ease. Picking a device that works for exactly 2 hours will force you to go home quicker. Keep this in mind.

 

Flow Rate

You will be advised by your doctor on what flow rate you require. Each patient will need a different level of power depending on their needs. Devices with low flow rates normally range between 250 and 750 milliliters per minute. Devices with high flow rates range between 2 and 10 liters per minute.

As we said before, having too much oxygen can lead to oxygen poisoning, and the devices with the most powerful flow rates are often the least portable.

Because of this, you shouldn’t buy an overly powerful device if it isn’t necessary for your health.

 

Noise

As you may expect, small concentrators are usually quiet while larger ones are noisy. Few reviews or descriptions comment on the noise level the device makes. However, if you are sensitive to sounds, this detail may be important.

Because few reviews mention the sound, keep an eye out for those which have multiple negative comments about it. These are the concentrators you should avoid.

 

Oxygen Concentration

The oxygen concentration refers to the percentage of pure oxygen in the system. To create this purity, your device will have a delicate filtration system to reach the correct percentage.

Most devices will allow a percentage of 87 to 99%. The high value is normally reserved for those with high oxygen needs. The low value is normally used for small and portable devices.

Your doctor will tell you what percentage to look for, so keep that in mind when searching for an appropriate range.

 

Maintenance Requirements

The device itself will tell you how to look after the equipment. You should find the details in the instruction manual. However, each device, no matter the brand, will require a filter clean and a concentration check.

 

Filter Clean

Cleaning the filter will prevent the machine from catching fire due to heat on dust. To clean it, you’ll need to remove the filter, wash it, and leave it to dry for at least a day before putting it back.

 

Concentration Check

Every day, you should check the concentration of oxygen on your device. If the percentage is low, there might be a hole in a tube or the sensor may be broken. Either way, you need the device repaired.

 

Summary

To choose the best oxygen concentrator, you need to learn what flow rate you require, how portable you need the machine to be, and the oxygen concentration you expect.

 

Use these 3 details to narrow down each brand.

 

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