Oxygen concentrators are portable, at-home medical devices that purify the oxygen in the environment, remove nitrogen, and produce the purest possible form of oxygen. This oxygen, through the nasal cannula, enters the human body, increasing oxygen saturation. 

Oxygen concentrators remarkably saw a surge in demand during COVID-19. They helped many patients recover and improve their oxygen saturation level by being home when the whole population needed hospital beds with oxygen. 

Oxygen Concentrator vs Oxygen cylinders  

The difference between oxygen concentrators and oxygen cylinders is that an oxygen cylinder is a large piece of machinery usually used in hospital setups. It requires a larger space and cannot be self-operated. Oxygen cylinders are used when a person needs severe attention to saturate oxygen levels in the body. 

Oxygen cylinders need to be refilled after usage and are not portable. They can be used by people who need pure oxygen at more than 10 liters per minute. Oxygen concentrators are solely utilised in hospital setups to monitor severe breathing complications. 

Whereas an oxygen concentrator is portable and ideal for at-home care. The oxygen concentrator works with the help of electricity and does not need refilling or replacing cylinders. 

Many people need complete awareness of oxygen concentrators and are more informed about cheaper products. Here are a few tips for evaluating if you are considering buying an oxygen concentrator.   

Know what kind of concentrator you need:  

There are two types of concentrators   

1. Stationary Concentrators (Home Concentrators)  

• Stationary concentrators are ideal for home use as they are heavy. Stationary oxygen concentrators provide a continuous flow of oxygen.    

• Size: Heavy and Large – 15 to 18 kg   

• Oxygen Flow Rate: 3 to 10 litres of oxygen per minute   

• Portability: Ideal for home use only. Concentrators come with attached wheels to move them indoors.   

• Durability: Higher durability   

• Who can use: Patients that require a higher flow of oxygen per minute   

• Working: Runs on the power supply 

2. Portable Concentrators  

• Portable oxygen concentrators are ideal outdoors and provide a limited oxygen supply.   

• Size: Small   

• Oxygen Flow Rate: 1 to 5 litres of oxygen per minute   

• Portability: Ideal for outdoors. Portable Concentrators can be carried from one place to other with few conditions.   

• Durability: Up to 3 years  

• Who can use: Ideal for those who necessarily include travelling in their routine and needs less oxygen flow per minute.   

• Working: Battery-led / Rechargeable batteries   

• Flow rate capacity of an oxygen concentrator   

Patients would need a different flow rate of oxygen. It depends on the severity. However, as mentioned above, portable oxygen concentrators will have a lower flow rate, and home concentrators will have a higher flow rate. It is recommended to check the flow rate as per your doctor's advice. 

• Power consumption or battery features   

If it is a home oxygen concentrator, check the power consumption it needs. For portable oxygen concentrators, check the capacity of the battery and the number of hours it runs on a single battery.  

Concentrators with low power consumption supply less oxygen, and more power-consuming concentrators provide a higher flow of oxygen. It is strictly recommended to discuss the condition of the patient and the amount of oxygen flow they need per minute. 

• The capacity of the concentrator 

Oxygen concentrators have capacities like 10 L, 5 L, and 3 L (portable mini concentrators). The capacity of an oxygen concentrator defines its flow rate. It is essential to see a patient's medical conditions and requirements before buying an oxygen concentrator. 

• Oxygen concentration level or purity 

The manufacturer determines the purity of the oxygen. The level of purity of the oxygen concentrators varies from one model to the next. Some manufacturers promise 83% to 87% purity level, while others mention 89% to 93%. The higher the oxygen concentration level, the better the quality. Also, it is essential to take a doctor's advice on Oxygen concentration purity. 

•  Price of the Oxygen Concentrator  

With all the critical factors listed above, it is also essential to compare the prices and features of oxygen concentrators. The ideal price range for 5L and 10L oxygen concentrators is INR 60,000 to INR 1,000,000. The cost of a portable oxygen concentrator can reach INR 1,80,000. 

• Research about the manufacturer   

Oxygen concentrators provide excellent reliability to patients. The oxygen concentrators have helped patients stay home comfortably and deal with breathing problems. Most of the time, people will be misled by low-quality products with less durability. Hence, research in-depth about the manufacturers, check their certifications, read reviews online, and take a suggestion from your doctor before buying an oxygen concentrator.   

Conclusion:  

Along with the key parameters, features such as warranty, alarms for low oxygen purity, low pressure, power outage, and overheating of the machine, noise reduction technology, and five-stage filters that retain most impurities, bacteria, and high/low voltage alarm sensors are also important. 

The features depend on the model, while some manufacturers provide all these features in one concentrator. So, it is necessary to compare overall factors before to buy an oxygen concentrator.