Whether you're the one who uses oxygen or you need to help someone else with their oxygen needs, portable oxygen concentrators can make your life a lot easier. By adding convenience to this necessary supply, you don't have to be homebound or the patient doesn't need to stay at home in order to get their oxygen requirements. There several things which make a portable oxygen tank easier on everyone – the weight, the design, and the ease of use. Here's what you should know before you choose the right one for you or for someone you love.

The Weight of the Matter

First of all, a portable oxygen tank doesn't have to be made out of a heavy material to be safe to use and to operate. In fact, some of the newer models now are made out of aluminum, which is not only environmentally friendly, but also far lighter than older models. These portable oxygen tanks are simple enough for anyone to carry, which makes them simpler to place into the car or into a backpack, if you like. You can even carry more than one tank at a time, helping you ensure that you have plenty of backup oxygen on hand, should you need it. This is especially important when you are traveling or when you are getting onto a plane.

Shape Counts Too

Of course, if a portable oxygen tank is large, this is be hard to fit through doors and other cramped spaces. This is why more portable oxygen tanks today are being shaped into a thin cylinder instead of a large tube-like shape. These are easy to fit into holders on a wheelchair or in a backpack, while also making it easier to maneuver and to handle. These oxygen tanks can then be placed into even the smallest of cars or on planes without interrupting anyone else's space. The cylinder shape also helps because you can find these tanks in large and small sizes, making them perfect for any situation when you might need oxygen on the go.

When It's Easy to Operate, It's Easy on You

If a portable oxygen tank is hard to operate, you will definitely not be using it as well as you could. The smaller portable oxygen tanks are simpler to operate as they were meant to be used on the go, so nearly anyone should be able to use these tanks, replace these tanks, and monitor their oxygen levels. The regulator should be easy to read and the tubing should be simple to attach to the main valve. You should also check to make sure the knob to turn on the oxygen flow is simple to turn.

Portable oxygen tanks are becoming the mainstay for those who have a need for oxygen. No longer having to be housebound is a tremendous benefit to this portable oxygen tank design, but being able to continue the healthy flow of oxygen is the most important benefit of all for you or for your loved one.

Submitted By: Gary Gordon

When a doctor prescribes oxygen therapy for a patient, the patient often feels like their freedom is inhibited and finds it difficult to enjoy a lifestyle they had grown accustomed to. Since airlines do not permit the use of oxygen tanks, patients who are used to frequent travel find themselves in need of a portable oxygen concentrator.

Portable oxygen concentrators are not cheap; often costing up to five thousand dollars depending on the features the patient needs, they are considered to be a large purchase. But with so many different models available, such as the Respironics EverGo, Sequal Eclipse 2, and Invacare XPO2, how does one decide which one will be the best portable oxygen concentrator for their own personal needs?

Pulse vs. Continuous Flow

The most important feature to consider when purchasing a portable concentrator is how much oxygen is delivered and how it is delivered. Typically patients receive oxygen in pulse mode, meaning that the air is delivered in puffs as opposed to a continuous stream. The Respironics EverGo Portable Oxygen Concentrator delivers more oxygen in pulse mode than any other model - up to 1.05 liters of oxygen per minute. Easy to use touch screen controls allow the user to easily adjust the settings as needed while the over-the-shoulder bag and rolling cart make transportation of the device easy.

Many patients who require oxygen be delivered in a continuous flow have found themselves unable to travel because of their breathing needs. The Sequal Eclipse 2 gives those patients the freedom to travel by being the only portable oxygen concentrator to offer oxygen in both pulse and continuous flow settings. Heavier and bulkier than most of its competitors, the Sequal Eclipse 2 includes a lightweight cart for easy transportation. Best off all, because of its ability to run on AC power and the continuous flow oxygen delivery mode, the Sequal Eclipse 2 can be used for both travel and in the home, eliminating the need for oxygen tanks or bulky home concentrators.

O2 Concentrators for Airline Travel

For those who prefer to travel by airplane, it is best to choose a portable oxygen concentrator that is not only FAA approved for air travel, but offers enough battery power to last through a long flight or a possible flight delay and can handle the thin oxygen in airplane passenger compartments.

Airline cabins are typically pressurized to simulate oxygen levels found at 8000 feet above sea level. The Sequal Eclipse 2 and the Respironics EverGo portable oxygen concentrators, both of which are FAA approved, are designed to function at altitudes of 8000 feet or more, which enables the user to still get the amount of oxygen they need throughout the flight. This ability also makes them ideal for visiting places with higher elevations. The Respironics Evergo, however, offers longer battery life than the Sequal Eclipse 2 (up to 8 hours with two batteries installed). When planning for an airline trip, keep in mind that most airlines require that passengers carrying portable oxygen concentrators have enough batteries for twice the duration of the flight, as well as one extra battery.

The Inogen One oxygen concentrator, while the first of its kind to receive FAA approval, pales in comparison to the Respironics EverGo and the Sequal Eclipse 2. Not only does it not offer any advantage as far as size, but the battery life is less than either of the other two as well. Most importantly, the Inogen One is only designed to operate at altitudes of up to 4000 feet, making it unsuitable for air travel despite its claims that it was designed for airline use. Using the Inogen One aboard an airplane can result in lack of suitable oxygen for patients and pains in the chest and lungs.

Overall Size and Portability

If you're going to be traveling with an oxygen concentrator, obviously you want most lightweight, compact unit available that is going to give you the performance that you need. The Sequal Eclipse 2 is significantly larger than its competitors, but this can be attributed to Sequal's ability to provide oxygen in a continuous flow. It does, however, include a cart to eliminate the need to carry the unit, and also offers the optional Eclipse Pak Accessory Bag which attaches to the cart and can hold extra batteries, chargers, and other accessories.

The Respironics EverGo is lightweight and includes both a shoulder bag and a rolling cart. The batteries used in the EverGo are slim in design and similar to the batteries used in laptop computers. Weighing approximately ten pounds with two batteries installed, the EverGo can be carried over the shoulder when boarding airplanes and is small enough in size to be tucked under the seat in front of you.

The smallest and most affordable portable oxygen concentrator available is the Invacare XPO2. Able to operate at altitudes up to 10000 feet, the Invacare XPO2 weighs approximately 6 pounds and significantly smaller than both the Respironics Evergo and the Inogen One. It comes in a handy carry bag and features simple controls for easy operation. The Invacare XPO2 has not received FAA approval as of July 2008, but you can check with your airline for the most up-to-date portable oxygen concentrator information.

When purchasing a new oxygen therapy device, it is important to look at all of the features and benefits of each model while taking into consideration how you will be using it and what your oxygen needs are. Be sure to carefully consider the models available before purchasing. However, regardless of what model you choose, you are sure to enjoy the freedom of being able to travel in ways that, several years ago, were not possible for patients requiring oxygen therapy.

By Richard Chandler

A portable oxygen concentrators, also called a Portable Concentrator is a portable device used to provide oxygen therapy to a patient at substantially higher concentrations than the levels of ambient air. It is very similar to a Home Oxygen Concentrator, but it smaller in size and more mobile. The portable oxygen concentrator makes it easy for patients to travel freely; they are small enough to fit in a car and most of the major concentrators are now FAA approved.

Portable Oxygen Concentrators have been around for decades; but the older versions were bulky, not reliable and not FAA approved. Since 2000, a number of manufactures have introduced the latest and more reliable versions of the portable oxygen concentrators. They produce anywhere between 1 and 6 liters per minute (LPM) of oxygen. There are versions that are pulse-flow or continuous-flow. The portable concentrators plug directly into a regular house outlet for charging at home or hotel; but they came with a power adapter that can usually be plugged into a vehicle DC adapter. They have the ability to operate from the battery power as well for either ambulatory use, or away from a power source, or on a airplane.