The number of people being diagnosed with breathing difficulties is increasing at an alarming rate. Therefore, people with respiratory diseases need specialized care for them to live a comfortable life. In most cases, specialized care is administered through oxygen therapy. When your loved one requires supplemental oxygen, you need to get him or her a portable continuous flow oxygen concentrator. This machine is designed to take in nitrogen and oxygen available in ambient air and filter it to be used by the patient.
So, how does oxygen concentrator work? The machine collects ambient air (oxygen and nitrogen) via the compressor. The ambient air passes through multiple filtering components that eliminate nitrogen and purifies oxygen. The filtered oxygen is passed through the pressure regulator that controls airflow. Then oxygen is delivered to the patient through a nasal cannula or mask.
Due to their usefulness and popularity, oxygen breathing machines are many, and they have different benefits and features. For this reason, finding the best device that fits the requirements of your loved one might seem a challenge. So, this post will offer the must-know insights and assist you in defining the best oxygen concentrator to buy.
Choosing the best concentrator
There are numerous benefits and features linked with various oxygen concentrators. These things can make the devices less or more ideal for your patient. Due to this, we've listed some of the essential things to consider, guiding you through the procedure so you can find the best breathing machine for your patient’s needs.
- Rate of airflow
Flow rate ability is one of the essential things to consider when buying an oxygen breathing machine. Flow rate is defined as the speed at which oxygen can travel from a breathing device to the patient. A physician will recommend the best flow rate for your patient. So, it’s good to talk to a doctor before you make any purchase.
Some breathing machines might offer a low flow rate (ranging from 250-750 milliliters per minute). Others will have a high flow rate(ranging from 2-10 LPM) since not all machines offer an equal range of flow rates, it’s vital for clients to review the flow rate provided by a device before making a purchase.
- Portability of the device
Another vital aspect to look at when buying an oxygen concentrator is how often the patient needs to travel. These machines are available in different sizes. Some devices are high-powered units that are meant to work harder and offer a high flow rate, but they're large and heavy. So, they are designed to be used in-doors. They designed for patients who need continuous airways pressure.
However, portable oxygen breathing machines are also available. With a weight of 5-10 lbs, these devices are designed to offer low flow rates for them to remain lightweight and easy to carry. This makes them ideal for people who don’t need a higher flow rate of oxygen.
- Concentration of oxygen
Once oxygen is compressed and purified in the concentrator chambers, it is delivered to the user. This oxygen has a certain percentage of cleaned oxygen content. This percentage is known as oxygen concentration. The level of these values can be affected by the design and number of the filtration chamber included in the machine. This is also affected by the efficiency of the machine’s nitrogen-eliminating sieve platform.
Even though most of the breathing devices provide a concentration percentage of 87-99, its good to remember that the value can differ between breathing machines. In most cases, high powered devices that are meant for users who need a higher flow rate can also provide high concentration. On the other hand, portable and lightweight concentrators for users who travel a lot don’t need higher oxygen concentration.
- Noise
While this might seem an obvious thing to consider, the amount of noise created by the breathing machine when its working is always ignored. Due to their broad range of layout, constructions, power level, these machines will differ in the noise they produce while working.
Most small portable breathing machines are extremely unobtrusive and quiet. Other machines like high powered, higher flow rate machines tend to be noisier while running. It’s because they require high power and have an extremely high oxygen rate flowing within them.
- Extra features
The majority of devices provide a range of additional features or products that will help make good use of the machine easier and effective. These features might comprise carrying bags, easier to replace filter components and settings for flow locking. Since the collection of extra features differ from device to device, it’s good to review the supplemental options available before buying the device.
