Questions You Should Know about medical oxygen generator

Q1. Will my body get dependent on Oxygen if I use it continuously?

No, Oxygen is not addictive at all. A large number of patients express their concern regarding this and try to decrease the time they are on Oxygen or totally avoid it.

Goto Quanju to know more.

Supplemental Oxygen is prescribed because the lungs have become weak due to condition like COPD and the 21% Oxygen of air is now not sufficient for lungs which results in low level of O2 in blood.

In order to make lungs feel like as if they are exactly in a normal healthy environment, they need some extra Oxygen so that the Oxygen exchange with blood is exactly same as it would have been with normal healthy lungs.

Q2. Can I use more Oxygen than prescribed?

No, using more than prescribed oxygen can cause Oxygen toxicity/Oxygen poisoning in the body which has many harmful effects like damage to eyes, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), alveolar damage, destruction of neurons , etc.

Q3. Is it alright if I use less than prescribed Oxygen?

No, you should use Oxygen exactly as prescribed by the physician. Using less than prescribed Oxygen can cause low levels of Oxygen in blood which can further cause poor memory, irritable mood, poor cognition, shortness of breath, headaches and much more.

Using less than prescribed oxygen for longer periods of time also deteriorates lung’s health and causes the disease to grow.

Q4. How much Oxygen is ideal for me?

The ideal amount of Oxygen is decided by your physician; he does it by carefully analyzing your ABGs. In most cases, the goal is to keep your Oxygen levels above 88% which after prescription is monitored using Oximetry. In healthy individuals, ideal saturation of Oxygen in blood is 95-99%.

Q5. Do I also need to keep an Oxygen Cylinder at home if I am using a concentrator?

It is recommended to keep an Oxygen cylinder as a backup source. After all, concentrator is a machine and any machine can fail anytime.

Q6. What are the common sources of Oxygen for therapy?

There are mainly 3 sources of Oxygen for therapy:
Oxygen Concentrators: Machines that concentrate Oxygen from room air. Just need a power source to work. Main article: Oxygen Concentrator
Oxygen Cylinder: Compressed Oxygen in a cylinder – Conventional way of Oxygen therapy.
Liquid Oxygen: Usually used in central supplies of hospitals. Liquid oxygen is stored in freezing cold tanks and allowed to boil at 90.188K (-186.92°C) to release Oxygen gas.

Q7. What are the common Oxygen delivery systems that can be used?

Do not confuse Oxygen delivery systems with the Oxygen sources listed in the previous question. The Oxygen delivery systems are used to deliver Oxygen from sources like Oxygen concentrators or cylinders to nose or mouth.

The most commonly used delivery systems are Nasal Cannula and simple Face Mask. Some of the other Oxygen delivery systems are reservoir cannulas , trans-tracheal catheters, non-rebreathing face masks with reservoir and one way valve and venturi masks.

Q8. Which is the best Oxygen Concentrator brand for me?

All brands are good; the most important thing is that the Oxygen Concentrator you are planning to buy should carry some international approvals like FDA, CE & ISO.

The second most important thing is that the specifications should suit your requirement. The parameters you can consider to compare different models of different brands can be flow rate, battery backup, alarms (especially low purity of Oxygen), weight, power consumption and portability.

Q9. Can I use a portable Oxygen Concentrator while sleeping?

Yes, Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) can be used while sleeping. Note that POCs have 2 modes: Pulse mode and Continuous mode.

In Pulse mode, POCs will work as long as you breathe through nose and that too with sufficient pressure to trigger a breath in the machine. It is recommended to use POC with high sensitivity as during sleep the triggering pressure of each breath drops.

For sleep, continuous mode of Oxygen is ideal because while sleeping, there are chances that patient may not breathe through nose all the time which means if patient is breathing through open mouth then there are less chances of activating a pulse mode concentrator.

However, you must consult your physician before using a particular POC for sleep.

Q10. I feel that Oxygen coming out of the Oxygen machine is not as effective as that from a cylinder. What should I do?

You feel this because the temperature of Oxygen coming out of the machine is exactly the same as room temperature. However, this is proven that effectiveness of Oxygen from both the sources is virtually the same. What you need to see is the Oxygen saturation in your blood and you can check this using an Oximeter.

Q11. When do I need to use a humidifier bottle?

The purpose of humidification is to provide moisture which makes Oxygen therapy comfortable; if not used, can cause dryness in airways of nose and throat. Usually, use of humidifier is recommended in continuous flow of more than 3 LPM.

Q12. My Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) doesn't have humidifier connection. What do I do?

That may be because your POC is a pulse flow only POC. In Pulse Flow, Oxygen is delivered only when patient inhales which doesn't cause dryness unlike continuous flow of Oxygen, therefore, humidification is not required.

However, if your Portable Oxygen Concentrator has continuous flow option then you need to talk to your equipment provider.

Q13. What kind of water should I use in humidifier? How often should I clean it?

It is recommended to use clean drinking water for humidifier as after all you are going to breathe through it. There is no hard and fast rule for cleaning but there is no harm in having good daily cleaning practices just by rinsing through fresh water and replacing the water in the bottle.

Q14. Should I use a nasal cannula or a mask?

Most people prefer nasal cannula as it doesn’t look medical but most cannulas have a limitation that they are effective for flows up to 6 Litres Per Minute (LPM). There are special cannulas for higher flow (you may check with your equipment provider).

However, if you get rashes in your nostrils by use of cannula or if your flow requirement is above 6 LPM then a simple face mask is used by most people.

Q15. Can I use all Oxygen Concentrators with CPAP or bi-level devices?

What are oxygen concentrators?

Oxygen concentrators (oxygen generators) are a type of medical device that you may use as part of oxygen therapy. If you have a condition that affects your lungs or even if you have some difficulty breathing, an oxygen concentrator helps get your body the oxygen it needs to function.

For more medical oxygen generatorinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

Unlike a compressed or liquid oxygen tank that you must replace or refill when you run out of oxygen, an oxygen concentrator continuously purifies the air around you (atmospheric air) to deliver 90% to 95% pure oxygen. You breathe in the oxygen through a plastic mask that fits over your mouth and nose or a flexible plastic tube with two prongs that go into your nostrils (nasal cannula).

Don’t use an oxygen concentrator unless a healthcare provider prescribes one for you. Breathing in pure oxygen can cause long-term lung damage if you don’t need oxygen.

What are the types of oxygen concentrators?

There are two main types of oxygen concentrators:

• Stationary oxygen concentrator. A stationary oxygen concentrator weighs about 22 pounds (10 kilograms). It has handles to lift the device or wheels on the bottom to roll it. It runs on electricity, so you plug it into an electrical outlet in your home. In the event of a power outage, some brands of oxygen concentrators come with a battery backup or a backup compressed oxygen tank, so you can still receive oxygen therapy until your power comes back on.
• Portable oxygen concentrator. Portable oxygen concentrators are smaller and lighter than stationary ones, allowing for easier activity or travel. But their oxygen output is usually lower than stationary oxygen concentrators. Most portable oxygen concentrators use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

Advertisement

What conditions are treated or managed with oxygen concentrators?

A healthcare provider may prescribe an oxygen concentrator if you have:

• Asthma.
• Bronchitis.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Cystic fibrosis.
• Emphysema.
• Heart failure.
• Lung cancer.
• Pneumonia.
• Respiratory trauma (rib fracture, collapsed lung, bruised lung).
• Sleep apnea.

Some people, especially athletes, use an oxygen concentrator when they visit high-altitude areas. When you work out, you breathe harder because your body is trying to get more oxygen to your lungs. Your lungs supply oxygen that your body uses to function. This includes your muscles.

If you can’t get enough oxygen through heavy breathing, your cells will convert carbohydrates into lactate (lactic acid) for short bursts of energy. The name for this process is anaerobic glycolysis. Using an oxygen concentrator helps prevent your body from producing lactic acid, which helps increase energy, reduce fatigue and improve training.

How common are oxygen concentrators?

Oxygen concentrators are common. More than 1.5 million people in the United States use some form of oxygen tank as part of their supplemental oxygen therapy, including oxygen concentrators.

How do oxygen concentrators work?

The atmospheric air that most people breathe every day is about 20% oxygen. The rest is nitrogen, along with tiny amounts of other gases. Oxygen concentrators take in atmospheric air, remove the nitrogen and collect pure oxygen for you to breathe.

First, it sucks in the atmospheric air through an air filter and forces it through an air compressor. The compressor pressurizes the air — think of it like blowing air into a balloon. As the pressure increases, the air travels into special filters. Oxygen molecules are smaller than nitrogen molecules, so the filters trap the nitrogen and let the oxygen pass through into a collection tank. The oxygen then travels to an oxygen outlet and through your mask or nasal cannula.

How many hours can you get out of an oxygen concentrator?

It depends on the make, model, oxygen output and number of batteries your oxygen concentrator uses. On average, a single-battery oxygen concentrator lasts from two to six hours. The average double-battery oxygen concentrator can last between five and 13 hours.

A plug-in oxygen concentrator runs as long as you have power in your home.

How long should you be on an oxygen concentrator?

It depends on why you need supplemental oxygen. Most people must use supplemental oxygen for at least 15 hours every day. Some people need to use it 24 hours a day. A healthcare provider will direct you on how often to use it and what your output setting should be.

If you have a short-term condition, you may only need an oxygen concentrator until you recover.

If you have a long-term condition, you may need to use an oxygen concentrator for the rest of your life. A provider will work with you to help you adapt to living with an oxygen regulator. It may take some adjustments, but it shouldn’t interfere with your everyday activities, including working, bathing, exercising and traveling.

Advertisement

What are the potential benefits of an oxygen concentrator?

The main benefit of oxygen concentrators is that they help you breathe easier. They aren’t a cure for your condition and may not completely relieve shortness of breath. But it should be easier to breathe. Higher oxygen levels in your blood can also give you more energy and help you sleep better.

Another benefit is that, unlike other types of oxygen tanks, you don’t need to refill an oxygen concentrator. You’ll have an unlimited oxygen supply as long as you have an energy source.

What are the disadvantages of oxygen concentrators?

Oxygen concentrators must have a power source. If you use an oxygen concentrator, it’s a good idea to have at least one set of fully charged batteries or a compressed oxygen tank available in case your power goes out. You should have enough batteries or extra oxygen available for at least a few days.

Pure oxygen can also be dangerous. It isn’t flammable. But it makes fire burn hotter and faster. It can also cause an explosion. Make sure you keep your oxygen concentrator at least 10 feet away from sources of high temperatures or flammable materials, including:

• Cigarettes and cigars.
• Fires.
• Ovens.
• Grills.
• Gasoline.
• Oil.
• Paints and paint thinner.
• Rubbing alcohol.
• Oil-based products, such as petroleum jelly (Vaseline®).

You should also avoid using electrical equipment around your oxygen tank. There’s a risk that electrical equipment can spark and cause a fire. This includes items such as:

Advertisement

Want more information on Ozone Generator for Washing Machine? Feel free to contact us.

• Hair dryers.
• Electric blankets.
• Space heaters.
• Electric razors.
• Vape pens.