How to Choose the Right Portable Oxygen Concentrators For Home and Travel Use

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