Oxygen concentrators have come along way. I remember when the machines were a couple of hundred pounds and our patient needed a very long hose called a canula so they would'nt have to lug the machine all around the house. Imagine having a lung disease 10 years ago. You were stuck in your house and no way to get out. Than came the oxygen bottles and home fill systems. They were still heavy but they filled up bottles that would allow you to go out of the house four hours at a time.

Boy was that hard telling a patient that they would have to time there day so they do not run out of oxygen. Today it is a lot different. Now if you are prescribed oxygen it is no longer like having a jail sentence. The first portable oxygen concentrators were made by airsep. It was a decent unit. Being the first of course there were many improvements that had to be made. It wasnt as durable as it should have been, the motor was loud and boy can that be uncomfortable when you are sitting in a movie, and the battery life was very low so it had to be constantly charged. Next out was the inogen one. This unit was quiter and more durable but the battery life was very short when you were on high liters per minute. Inogen had extra batteries you can purchase but the were very expensive for such a short use. One other thing both of these units did not have was continuous flow. That didn't work for many patients.

Even patients on pulse flow needed continuous for when they sleep. Sequal Eclipse came out and solved that problem. To date Sequal Eclipse is still the best continuous flow on the market. Its a bit heavier at 17 pounds compared to 10 but has a cart to tote it around. All these units are now FAA approved so travel at your leisure. No more paying high prices for airline oxygen. Lets not forget the newest portable oxygen concentrator added to our fleet the Respironics Evergo this unit does not have continous flow but promises one shortly. The Respironics Evergo does have a set of batteries that the unit carries at one time still only 10 pounds and lasts for up to 8 hours. How is that for convenience? Most of these units don't need to be carried. They come with bags, carts, AC/DC power supplies for easy traveling. Just charge it up in the car or at the hotel. Oxygen patients enjoy your freedom. Don't let this disease hold you back, because now there is a choice.

By Michael Washington

A portable oxygen concentrators has become a "must" for the many people with COPD and who have need to receive supplemental oxygen. At the same time this type of machine is also a godsend for those who assist or live with them.

For both the patient and the caretaker, a lack of oxygen saturation is difficult - the patient has to live with either a shortness of breath and all that this entails, or must receive extra oxygen. Those who assist, and this could be a family member or someone from the medical profession, must also provide help and to do so must know their way around the oxygen machine, in this case a portable oxygen concentrator.

There are some basic differences between an oxygen concentrator and an oxygen tank (either liquid or compressed oxygen) that make for a different approach.

1. A portable oxygen concentrator extracts oxygen from the surrounding air. It then delivers the oxygen in a concentrated form, to the patient. An oxygen tank delivers oxygen to the patient from its reservoir or stored oxygen. The basic difference has to do with storage. A tank holds or stores oxygen while a concentrator does not - it delivers the oxygen as it extracts it.
2. The difference between a stored and non stored oxygen system has another implication. A tank will deliver the amount of oxygen it stores. The tanks capacity will depend on its size basically and the oxygen will last a limited time - how much exactly will depend on how full the tank is and the delivery rate. For a portable oxygen concentrator, the delivery will last as long as the machine is turned on.
3. The next difference also follows on from the previous one. A tank or cylinder that holds oxygen, both compressed or liquid, will deliver oxygen at a certain adjustable rate, based on the pressure being released from the tank. In other words it does not require an additional power source to deliver the oxygen. A portable oxygen concentrator on the other hand delivers the oxygen it is extracting from the air around it and this extraction is possible thanks to its power source that makes the extraction mechanism work. Electricity - be it from a battery or as a result of being plugged in. Portable oxygen concentrators use rechargeable batteries which increases dramatically its possibilities for oxygen delivery and by being plugged in, where many models can also be connected to the car lighter socket for example.

These three basic differences may appear small in nature but in reality are the reason why portable oxygen concentrators have not only become so popular but have also increased the amount and type of activities COPD patients are enjoying. From the point of view of caretakers - especially family members - they are experiencing less demands and have therefore less stress.

In short:

• Longer oxygen supply. Even when not plugged in, the battery option which can go from 2 hours onwards depending on the flow rate and the battery capacity. But with a change of battery the whole cycle begins again.
• The relationship between weight and amount of oxygen that is stored is no longer an issue.
• There is no need for a refill - this being one of the logistic problems and limitations that used happen to everyone on supplemental oxygen before the arrival of portable oxygen concentrators.
• Size and shape make these machines more portable.
• Travel, short distances, long distances or the equivalent in time intervals is much easier. This ease of travel is due to the durability of the oxygen supply and also because public carriers (airplanes, trains and buses) have less restraints than they do for oxygen containers.

By Philip Robinson

There have been many interesting developments in portable oxygen systems these last few years that are helping thousands of people on oxygen therapy. Mobility is one of the most important things for those on oxygen therapy - as quality of lifestyle is directly affected when anyone is prescribed with supplemental oxygen.

Your choice of oxygen delivery unit will depend on various things.

Your oxygen prescription, the flow.
How often you receive oxygen.
The amount of activity.

It is a good idea that both you and your doctor define together the type of oxygen system you will use - his expertise and your own knowledge of your activity levels. Once you have your oxygen units you go through a process of learning to use it and adjusting. It usually doesn't take very long although it will vary between individuals. The thing is that once you get used to it, you will probably resist any changes, so it is always better to take your time before committing to a particular system or combination of oxygen delivery units.

The 3 Different Oxygen Delivery Systems: These three all have portable alternatives that are designed to help you be mobile and maintain your activity level.

1. POC's (Portable Oxygen Concentrators) - An oxygen concentrator is a machine, electrically powered, that extracts oxygen from ambient air, concentrates it at 100% and then delivers it to the patient either though a cannula or an oxygen mask (much like the other systems). The portable ones are smaller and lighter. As they are electrically powered this is by plugging into the wall socket (or car lighter adapter), as well as with rechargeable batteries. This versatility is making them very popular with the additional advantage that most brands are looking to increase the battery duration.
2. Portable Oxygen Cylinders - Perhaps the oldest type of oxygen delivery system. Pure oxygen is compressed and stored in aluminum cylinders. These cylinders come in various sizes (from 4 to 8.5 lbs in weight). Again the stored oxygen will last depending on the amount of oxygen that is delivered, but a general rule of thumb is that they last for shorter periods of time compared to the other systems. Note: Oxygen cylinders are refillable.
3. Portable Liquid Oxygen Tanks - Oxygen has the physical property of turning liquid at lower temperatures. Liquid oxygen tanks keep a reservoir of liquid oxygen (which by the way means a much greater amount of oxygen is stored than if kept in its gaseous state), which is then delivered at the appropriate setting as a gas (obviously the tank has a gas small gas storage part). There small units available that can deliver oxygen for many hours.

by Philip Robinson

I think Eclipse 2 is another Useful Portable Oxygen Concentrators. Its easy to used and easy to carry it.

Not so long ago people who received supplemental oxygen found it very difficult to travel and the longer the distance the greater the difficulties Visiting or traveling major distances abroad or a trip that involved hours of travel or any other reason was a major problem. Basically it was all because of two things:

1. The portable oxygen machine.
2. The rules and regulations from the particular public transport you planned to use.

When limited to oxygen tanks or cylinders you had to think about storage, which means not only weight but also that they don't interfere with anyone else. You also had to calculate how long your oxygen would last, plan accordingly and make sure you had a reserve. And then all that had to fit into the limits set by the airplane or train or bus.. Take air travel for instance. You could not take your own equipment (although they did let you send in storage empty tanks) and were limited to what the airline - if at all - provided.
travel oxygen concentrator have changed how anyone needing extra oxygen can travel.
Patients who have been receiving additional oxygen for a time. manage their day to day activities in a semi-automatic way - at least those that have to do with their oxygen supply. (Obviously this depends on many factors, not least the extent of lung damage and age). But travel until a very short while ago was a major, and many times exasperating and frustrating, exercise.

Travel plans for those who need supplemental oxygen require more care and preparation than usual. The length of the trip, whether it is a short, a medium or a long one you still have to plan. If you are going by car, by plane, by train or by ship, there are a series of things that you need to take into account and they all have to do with the oxygen supply.

Will it last during travel?
Can you carry your oxygen concentrators?
What are the rules for taking your oxygen system?

And this is where a travel oxygen concentrator comes into its own.

Air Travel:
The FAA has approved the following POC's (portable oxygen concentrators): Inogen One, Respironics EverGo, Sequal Eclipse, Invacare XPO2 and the Airsep Lifestyle & Freestyle. All airlines that fly over US airspace must allow them on board. Having said that it is your responsibility to make sure you comply with the airlines requirements.

Train Travel:
It is recommended you notify Amtrak at least 24 hours prior to traveling, but as with any travel plans it is always best to give yourself more time.
Maximum allowed oxygen on board cannot exceed one double tank set up of 50 pounds. You must be able to separate the tanks and they cannot be on wheels. A six-tank set up is allowed as long as each tank is less than 20 pounds.
Travel oxygen concentrators that require electrical power must include a self-contained (battery) for trips less than 12 hours. Electrical power on the train may be used for trips greater than 12 hours. You should carry additional oxygen in the event of travel delays. And finally reserve a private compartment if possible.

Ships and Cruise Vacations
Ask your travel agent if there are any special requirements when traveling with oxygen. Most cruise lines specify each passenger must make his or her own oxygen arrangements. Your oxygen supplier should be able to help you with coordinating oxygen for your trip or direct you to an organization that specializes in travel oxygen. Passengers must provide a letter from their doctor prior to travel indicating they are fit to travel, travel plans and oxygen prescription (hours of use and oxygen flow rate).

Car Travel

oxygen concentrators can be used with most vehicle car lighter adapters or internal batteries decreasing the number of compressed oxygen cylinders required or eliminating the need for liquid oxygen reservoirs.
As a general rule you should always carry a copy of your prescription including oxygen litre flow and hours of use, with you at all times as well as a current list of medications you are receiving. Make several copies of the prescription and medication list as you may need to present a copy to flight attendants or oxygen suppliers during your travel.


by Philip Robinson