| A portable oxygen concentrator has become a "must" | | | | require an additional power source to deliver the |
| for the many people with COPD and who have need | | | | oxygen. A portable oxygen concentrator on the other |
| to receive supplemental oxygen. At the same time this | | | | hand delivers the oxygen it is extracting from the air |
| type of machine is also a godsend for those who | | | | around it and this extraction is possible thanks to its |
| assist or live with them. | | | | power source that makes the extraction mechanism |
| For both the patient and the caretaker, a lack of | | | | work. Electricity - be it from a battery or as a result of |
| oxygen saturation is difficult - the patient has to live | | | | being plugged in. Portable oxygen concentrators use |
| with either a shortness of breath and all that this | | | | rechargeable batteries which increases dramatically its |
| entails, or must receive extra oxygen. Those who | | | | possibilities for oxygen delivery and by being plugged in, |
| assist, and this could be a family member or someone | | | | where many models can also be connected to the car |
| from the medical profession, must also provide help | | | | lighter socket for example. |
| and to do so must know their way around the oxygen | | | | These three basic differences may appear small in |
| machine, in this case a portable oxygen concentrator. | | | | nature but in reality are the reason why portable |
| There are some basic differences between an | | | | oxygen concentrators have not only become so |
| oxygen concentrator and an oxygen tank (either liquid | | | | popular but have also increased the amount and type |
| or compressed oxygen) that make for a different | | | | of activities COPD patients are enjoying. From the |
| approach. | | | | point of view of caretakers - especially family |
| | | | members - they are experiencing less demands and |
| 1. A portable oxygen concentrator extracts oxygen | | | | have therefore less stress. |
| from the surrounding air. It then delivers the oxygen in | | | | In short: |
| a concentrated form, to the patient. An oxygen tank | | | | - Longer oxygen supply. Even when not plugged in, the |
| delivers oxygen to the patient from its reservoir or | | | | battery option which can go from 2 hours onwards |
| stored oxygen. The basic difference has to do with | | | | depending on the flow rate and the battery capacity. |
| storage. A tank holds or stores oxygen while a | | | | But with a change of battery the whole cycle begins |
| concentrator does not - it delivers the oxygen as it | | | | again. |
| extracts it. | | | | - The relationship between weight and amount of |
| 2. The difference between a stored and non stored | | | | oxygen that is stored is no longer an issue. |
| oxygen system has another implication. A tank will | | | | - There is no need for a refill - this being one of the |
| deliver the amount of oxygen it stores. The tanks | | | | logistic problems and limitations that used happen to |
| capacity will depend on its size basically and the | | | | everyone on supplemental oxygen before the arrival |
| oxygen will last a limited time - how much exactly will | | | | of portable oxygen concentrators. |
| depend on how full the tank is and the delivery rate. | | | | - Size and shape make these machines more portable. |
| For a portable oxygen concentrator, the delivery will | | | | - Travel, short distances, long distances or the |
| last as long as the machine is turned on. | | | | equivalent in time intervals is much easier. This ease of |
| 3. The next difference also follows on from the | | | | travel is due to the durability of the oxygen supply and |
| previous one. A tank or cylinder that holds oxygen, | | | | also because public carriers (airplanes, trains and |
| both compressed or liquid, will deliver oxygen at a | | | | buses) have less restraints than they do for oxygen |
| certain adjustable rate, based on the pressure being | | | | containers. |
| released from the tank. In other words it does not | | | | |