Nowadays, home oxygen concentrators are becoming more common in families, and the applicable population is expanding.
For students, safe and reasonable oxygen supplementation, can improve memory and thinking ability.
For the middle-aged and elderly, as the oxygen carrying capacity decreases, inhaling oxygen can serve as an emergency measure in cases of sudden illness, but it can also help to prevent chronic diseases to some extent.
There are also long-term stays in air-conditioned environments for white-collar workers, pregnant women requiring care, and the sick requiring the most oxygen supplementation; a home oxygen machine is necessary.
How to choose a home Oxygen concentrator? I combined life experience and offline experience, compiled an article to share out, I hope to help the need of the crowd.
First, the Classification of Oxygen concentrator and the Difference
Oxygen concentrator is mainly divided into two categories: home oxygen concentrator and medical oxygen concentrator. Medical Oxygen concentrator, that is, medical treatment used to assist the oxygen machine, suffering from chronic pneumonia, respiratory system, or cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease patients or use to medical oxygen machine. The biggest advantage of a home oxygen concentrator for health care is that it is small and easy to carry. However, the general oxygen concentration of the home oxygen concentrator will be lower compared to the medical oxygen machine. The choice of home oxygen concentrator is to choose the molecular sieve type oxygen machine is more appropriate.
Second, home oxygen concentrator classification
Home oxygen concentrators are classified according to their operating principle as molecular sieve oxygen concentrators, electronic oxygen concentrators, chemical oxygen concentrators, and oxygen-enriched membrane oxygen concentrators.
1. Molecular Sieve Type Oxygen Concentrator The oxygen generator based on the molecular sieve principle meets both international and national standards. Utilizing gas separation, the technology of molecular sieve physical adsorption and desorption is used to directly extract usable oxygen from the air. Fresh air is purified by pressurization and decompression to obtain pure oxygen, while the adsorbed gas is discharged from the oxygen generator. The whole process is carried out dynamically in a certain cycle, which is not only safe and environmental friendly, but also low cost, and the molecular sieve is not consumed during the whole process. 2. Electronic Oxygen Concentrator The electronic oxygen generator employs the redox principle. Through redox, the solution precipitates oxygen. However, electronic oxygen concentrators are difficult to transport and consume a great deal of electricity. It must be handled and transported with care, preferably under the supervision of a professional. If there is a tilt or inversion, the solution in the electronic oxygen generator will enter the user's nasal cavity through the oxygen tube, with catastrophic results. 3. Chemical Oxygen Concentrator The oxygen generator in a chemical reaction is a special agent created by a specific proportion of the formula. It is appropriate for use in an emergency. It is not only difficult to prepare and operate, but it also has a high cost for single use. It is not appropriate for home oxygen therapy health care use.
4. Polymer Oxygen-rich Film Oxygen Concentrator This type of oxygen machine is appropriate for long-term oxygen therapy, but it cannot be used in place of a medical oxygen machine. The oxygen produced by filtering nitrogen molecules in the air using the membrane oxygen production method is 30% of the concentration.
Third, the home oxygen concentrator purchase points
The molecular sieve principle is the optimal choice for a home oxygen machine. Compressor, molecular sieve, four-way valve, filter, heat dissipation, and silencer system comprise the core hardware of oxygen generators. Oxygen concentration is the most important component, as it determines the pros and cons of a home oxygen generator. 1. Oxygen Concentration Oxygen concentration is the metric that determines the direct effect of oxygen consumption. In addition, it is the maximum oxygen flow per minute of the oxygen machine, as well as the oxygen purity. The oxygen concentration of a home oxygen machine should be above 90%, with 90% of the oxygen concentration serving a medical purpose, and in accordance with national oxygen machine standards. 2. Oxygen Flow Rate The oxygen flow rate is the volume of gas per minute. It is the maximum flow output based on maintaining an oxygen concentration greater than 90%. After the oxygen flow exceeds this threshold, the oxygen concentration will fall below 90%. The size of oxygen flow can be divided into three types of low, medium and high flow (low flow (1~2L/min), medium flow (2~4L/min), high flow (4~6L/min), the choice of oxygen flow depends on the specific situation of each person. People with poor cardiopulmonary function are adjusted according to the results of pulse oximeter monitoring, beginning with 1L/min and gradually adjusting the oxygen flow rate upwards until the pulse oximeter-monitored oxygen saturation is maintained above 90%. 1L and 2L oxygen concentrators can only be utilized in the medical field. Home oxygen concentrators with a capacity of 2-3L are suitable for oxygen therapy. It is recommended that patients with respiratory diseases or other chronic diseases obtain an oxygen concentrator of 3L or more. 3. The size of the noise in the process of oxygen production If the oxygen concentrator must operate continuously for an extended period of time, choose a concentrator with low noise, which is quieter. Typically, 45d is acceptable. 4. People who need to be treated by oxygen machine For example, patients with asthma and other respiratory diseases, in the purchase is best to choose with nebulization function. Through the nebulizer tube, oxygen therapy can be administered to improve lung function. Nebulizer inhalation treatment at home can not only reduce the number of hospital visits, but also save money.
Fourth, the home oxygen concentrator recommended
1. Surgitech’s 5L Oxygen Concentrators
Surgitech’s 5L portable oxygen concentrator uses high-quality materials making it lightweight, low noise, and highly efficient. One of the most important components of the oxygen concentrator which is the mixed molecular sieve is imported from France and the US to make sure that the efficiency of oxygen production is good while improving the moisture resistance. The concentrator makes sure that the oxygen purity is always in 90%-96% purity while being able to run 24/7 continuously and has a big LCD display.
2. Surgitech’s 10L Oxygen Concentrator
Surgitech’s 10L Oxygen Concentrator is a heavy duty oxygen concentrator that uses high quality materials making it light weight, low noise and highly efficient. The concentrator makes sure that the oxygen purity is always in 90%-96% purity while being able to run 24/7 continuously and has a big LCD display. It also as a smart alarm system which alarms you if the oxygen is low, power is down, pressure cycle failure and a compressor alarm.
Five, home oxygen concentrator routine maintenance
Oxygen concentrator direct contact with the air, cleanliness and hygiene of oxygen concentrators are directly related to lung health. However, the oxygen machine's daily maintenance, cleaning, and hygienic practices are the most important factors. (Different brands of parts may have slightly different names, but the cleaning methods are essentially the same)
1. Body cleaning.
Once per month, the body must be scrubbed. Long-term exposure of the body's exterior to the air necessitates a dry, well-ventilated environment to prevent the development of microbial growth. In addition to turning off the power, wipe the surface and ensure that water cannot enter any cracks. To ensure the safety of the shell's initial line of defense with oxygen hygiene. 2. Regular cleaning of the wetting bottle.
Once per week, the wetting bottle, the core tube, and the bottom cartridge must be thoroughly cleaned. Here's a little trick: soak the core and cartridge in vinegar for five minutes, then rinse with water; you'll get twice as much done with half the effort. Wet the bottle with cold boiled or distilled water rather than tap water to prevent scale buildup, and replace it daily to ensure a steady flow of oxygen. After daily use of the oxygen machine, the bottle should be kept dry in order to prevent the growth of bacteria in the wet bottle, which would otherwise serve as a large petri dish for bacteria. You cannot be slothful, as nothing is more important than your health. 3. Replace the filter felt in time.
Oxygen concentrator work more than 100 hours to clean a filter felt or to replace, can effectively protect the molecular sieve, extend the life of the oxygen concentrator. Of course, not necessarily 100 hours, depending on the actual situation. When you find that the cartridge is black, you should clean or replace the filter felt immediately. 4. Oxygen inhalation tube, nasal inhalation head.
Because these two parts are in direct contact with the human body, the cleaning frequency is naturally higher, and never allow more than one person to use the same nasal oxygen tube, nasal suction head, or one person to cross-use them. Here's a jingle for you, oxygen tube. Every 3 days, every 2 months, and every time I wash my nasal aspirator. The nasal aspirator, like the wetting bottle, can be soaked in vinegar for 5 minutes before being rinsed with water. If you have an emergency that day, or are a lazy cancer patient like me, simply wipe the nasal aspirator with medical alcohol. Lazy to lazy, but not forgetting the daily cleaning. The last point is about the time of oxygen intake. Because of the individual differences of each person (age, physical condition. The specific time and flow rate of oxygen intake should be confirmed with the doctor before use.