An oxygen concentrator is a medical device that extracts oxygen from the air. In fact, there are many types of gases present in the air in our atmosphere, and these concentrators take the same air inside them and supply pure oxygen by separating the other gases from it. This machine is a great choice, especially for hospitals that do not have oxygen support and for patients with home isolation.
If you are looking to buy an oxygen concentrator in India, make sure you purchase it from an authorised and trusted oxygen concentrator dealer, or you can also hire an oxygen concentrator for rent.
The oxygen concentrators have various designs depending on the companies. Some may resemble a portable trolley, or a computer, or they may look like a water purifier.
Oxygen concentrators are widely used in places where liquid oxygen or pressurised oxygen cannot be used or it is dangerous to do so. In order to generate oxygen, concentrators use the pressure swing absorption technique. As we know, only 21% of natural air is oxygen, 78% is nitrogen, and the rest is other gases. The oxygen concentrator separates nitrogen from normal air and expels the gas with the maximum amount of oxygen. The attached tube supplies oxygen to the patient facing breathing or respiratory problems.
It is a cheaper, safer, and more convenient option than an oxygen cylinder and refilling. Concentrators do not form new molecules of oxygen, but separate nitrogen from normal air so that oxygen remains in it. According to experts, the concentrator is sufficient for patients with mild to moderate symptoms, in which the oxygen saturation level is 50 percent or more. Most importantly, unlike an oxygen cylinder, it does not need to be refilled frequently and can be operated with the help of batteries when there is no electricity.
There are two types of concentrators on the market today: stationary and portable oxygen concentrators. Stationary oxygen concentrators run directly on electricity, while portable oxygen concentrators can also run on batteries. At the same time, there are oxygen concentrators of different capacities on the market. Smaller concentrators can supply 1 to 3 litres of oxygen per minute in a minute, while large concentrators can apply 5 to 10 litres of oxygen per minute. Depending on the capacity, oxygen concentrate can cost from varies too.
According to the WHO, oxygen concentrators are beneficial to people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, asthma, ILD and Covid. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a specific disease of the lungs in which the oxygen supply to them is blocked and the patient has difficulty breathing.
What measures should be taken if you are operating it at home?
Keep an oxygen device away from flames or smoke.
- Keep the device in an open space. This makes it less likely to break or overheat.
- Make sure that no vents are blocked, as it makes the job tough for the device.
- If you notice any alarm sound or beep, you must refer to the troubleshooting manual.
- Buy a quality device from a trusted dealer for your oxygen concentrator.
There are some adjustments that can be made, such as adding a humidifier so that extra oxygen doesn’t dry up the nose of the patient. The tube can be extended up to 30 feet if required.