Medical devices used for supplying oxygen to patients with breathing problems are known as oxygen concentrators. People who have lower oxygen concentrations in their blood are given oxygen to normalize the oxygen level with the help of oxygen concentrators.

Oxygen concentrators can be easily bought from a pharmacist. However, it is recommended to be prescribed by a doctor once he has conducted a thorough medical examination. The process of using the oxygen concentrators while traveling and while staying indoors will also be shown by the doctor.

Oxygen concentrators take in the air from the surroundings and filter it. Then, they compress it to meet the required density. It now becomes purified oxygen that meets the medical standards; these concentrators are then delivered to the pulse-dose delivery system or the continuous stream system to let it reach the patient.

The concentrators also come equipped with sieve beds and some special filters to keep nitrogen at bay and to ensure that only oxygen in its purest form is delivered to the patient. Oxygen concentrators have a user interface that is electronic and allows the patient to set the oxygen levels as per their requirement. The nasal cannula or the special mask is used by the patient to take in the purified oxygen.

The output given by oxygen concentrators is usually measured in terms of a liter per minute or LPM. The doctor will decide the level of oxygen required by a patient. The oxygen requirement levels will vary depending on which state the patient is in. It will vary when the patient is sleeping, resting, and exercising.

Uses of oxygen concentrators

There are various medical conditions in which a doctor will have to recommend oxygen therapy, which can be given through an oxygen concentrator.

In a healthy body, lungs take in the oxygen from the air and send it to the bloodstream. But if your bloodwork or any other test has shown that there has been a low level of oxygen in your blood, the doctor can order oxygen therapy, which can be both short- and long-term.

If a person suffers from acute conditions, oxygen therapy is usually given for a short term. As compared with chronic conditions, the occurrence of symptoms of the critical disease is more sudden. In chronic conditions, the symptoms start to appear more gradually. Respiratory or chronic conditions require a supply of oxygen for a long duration.

Benefits of using oxygen concentrators

There are several conditions—both acute and chronic—for which oxygen concentrators are being prescribed now. When a patient is prescribed an oxygen concentrator by a doctor for the first time, they might not be aware of the benefits of using it. There are many ways in which oxygen concentrators improve the lives of those who need some help with oxygen supply. Here are some of those benefits listed for you:

• It helps the patient feel good
  With an undiagnosed or untreated respiratory problem, living a healthy life can be a challenge. It interferes with your breathing and, hence, affects your day-to-day tasks. However, using an oxygen concentrator can help you get your normal supply of oxygen back, making you feel better. It lets you be more active, workout for longer durations, and reduce the respiratory troubles significantly.
• Quality of sleep improves
  Sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, can have a major negative impact on a person’s quality of sleep. But with an oxygen concentrator, they can get a peaceful sleep at night without any respiratory troubles.
• Better mood
  When your sleep quality improves, you wake up in a good mood every morning. Also, when you stop feeling any problems with your health, it lifts your mood and gives you a positive outlook toward life. You can concentrate better at work, and it allows you to build your self-esteem.
• Better stamina
  With respiratory problems, even taking a walk around the park can prove to be taxing. But with a sufficient supply of oxygen, you can work out for more time and also try some vigorous exercises. The benefits of regular exercise are numerous.
• More focus and alertness
  Suffering from poor quality of sleep can make you feel foggy and low on energy in the morning. When you don’t get the necessary supply of oxygen at night, there is a lack of energy during the day. Therefore, when you use an oxygen concentrator, you can get a sound sleep at night, which results in more alertness during the day. You can focus better, and you can be more responsive.
• Reduced risk of hypoxemia
  This is a condition caused by a reduced level of oxygen in the blood. The symptoms caused by this condition include breathlessness, asthma-like symptoms, and some tinge on the skin. This is a severe condition that can be easily fought with the use of an oxygen concentrator.

What are the various acute conditions that require an oxygen concentrator?

There are several acute conditions in which the patient can be prescribed an oxygen concentrator. These include the following:

• Asthma
  In this condition, inflammation of the airways and excessive production of mucus takes place. As a result, patients experience breathing difficulties. Several medications are prescribed to control and cure asthma. But with an oxygen concentrator, an ample amount of oxygen can be supplied to the bloodstream of the person during or after an asthma attack.
• Pneumonia
  A condition in which there is inflammation in one or both the air sacs of the lungs caused due to an infection is known as pneumonia. In several cases, the infection also fills the air sacs with fluid. Oxygen concentrators are prescribed to many pneumonia patients, and it has shown good clinical results.
• Respiratory distress syndrome

This is a disease that affects the breathing and is most common in newborn babies, especially the ones who are born before six or more weeks prematurely. A liquid coating the lungs, which is known as surfactant, is not produced enough in the patients of this condition. As a result, it leads to lung collapse and difficulty in breathing. With the help of oxygen concentrators, oxygen is pumped into the lungs of the babies to lower the chances of any further complications.

• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
  Babies who suffer from respiratory distress syndrome are also at a high risk of developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia. This is a more severe condition and can require breathing support for a long duration.

What are the chronic conditions that require oxygen concentrators?
Some chronic conditions can require oxygen concentrators for the long-term. These include the following:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  Oxygen concentrators have proven to be a practical option to treat this condition. The condition causes severe damage to the lungs, making them incapable of absorbing oxygen from the air. These result in breathing problems, and only oxygen therapy can help the patient.
• Cystic fibrosis
  It is a life-threatening condition, and it is inherited. The condition causes severe damage to the lungs as well as to the digestive system. Although it is a rare disease, when it affects someone, it causes damage to the cells that produce mucus, digestive juices, and sweat.
• Sleep apnea
  It is a sleep-related disorder that can sporadically make a person stop and start breathing while they are asleep. In most cases, the patient is recommended CPAP, physical exercises, and weight loss, but, in some cases, oxygen therapy using oxygen concentrators can also be recommended.

How do oxygen concentrators work?

Oxygen concentrators help people with breathing problems by taking in the air from the surroundings, filtering it, and then supplying the purified oxygen to the individual. There are multiple functionalities of an oxygen concentrator that make it perfect for oxygen therapy. These are as follows:

• Air compression with the help of the cooling mechanism, which prevents the machine from overheating
• Taking air from the surroundings
• Providing an electronic interface to the user to adjust the delivery settings
• Use of sieve beds and filters to filter out nitrogen from the air
• Supplying pure oxygen to the individual through a nasal cannula or a mask

In the past, patients with oxygen requirements from external sources used oxygen tanks. These pressurized tanks are incredibly useful in supplying oxygen to the patients. However, they lack efficiency, as tank suppliers had to call periodically to resupply oxygen to the tank.

Types of oxygen concentrators, and what is the difference?

Mainly there are two types of oxygen concentrators: portable oxygen concentrators and stationary oxygen concentrators; although both types are designed to supply pure oxygen to the patient, there are a lot of differences between the two models. These differences are crucial for a lot of people while making a purchase decision. These differences are based on various factors, such as the following:

• Weight and size
  The size and weight of the machine are essential factors that most people consider before buying an oxygen concentrator. Portable oxygen concentrators are more compact and smaller than stationary oxygen concentrators. This makes them more convenient to carry around your home, on busy roads, subways, and in areas that do not offer ease of movement. Portable oxygen concentrators are recommended over their stationary counterparts if a person has to do a lot of traveling. Stationary oxygen concentrators are almost impossible to move and not approved for a lot of movement.

Also, portable oxygen concentrators are only 1/3 the weight of stationary ones. They can carry less than 10 pounds and can be easily carried in a shoulder bag or a backpack. If the concentrators are between 10 and 20 pounds, they are carried in lightweight carts that the patient has to pull. Any oxygen concentrator which is more than 20 pounds falls under the category of stationary oxygen concentrators.

• The output of the oxygen
  Portable oxygen concentrators, owing to their size, obviously produce less oxygen than their stationary counterparts; to make an oxygen concentrator portable and lightweight, a smaller oxygen generator is designed for the manufacturers. This small generator can produce less than 3 liters of oxygen per minute. But as for stationary oxygen concentrators, they can provide anywhere between 5 and 10 liters of oxygen in one minute. This means stationary oxygen concentrators can provide around twice to five times more oxygen than portable ones. Patients that need a higher oxygen output from the machine are prescribed stationary oxygen concentrators.
• Power sources
  An oxygen concentrator can operate on various power sources because it offers more flexibility and utility. Some oxygen concentrators have a built-in power source. They require a recharge every two to nine hours after use. Some oxygen concentrators can also function on a boat or an RV battery, whereas some others can only work on an AC powerpoint. Almost all stationary oxygen concentrators require an AC power point to operate. Whereas all portable oxygen concentrators can run using an AC or a DC power source. So, when it comes to power sources, portable oxygen concentrators offer more power options.
• Price
  A lot of engineering is put into the process to make the oxygen concentrators portable. So, the smaller it goes in size, the higher the cost involved in manufacturing it. Therefore, portable oxygen concentrators are available at 3 to 6 times higher prices than their stationary counterparts.

Best portable oxygen concentrators to consider

When you go out to buy a portable oxygen concentrator in the market, you will have many options. However, when it comes to taking care of your health, you must pick nothing but the best. So, here are the best portable oxygen concentrators in 2020 that you can consider.

• Inogen One G3
• Precision Medical EasyPulse PM4150
• AirSep Focus
• Life choice ActivOx Pro 4L
• Respironics SimplyGo
• Respironics EverGo
• CAIRE Freestyle Comfort