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ong-term oxygen therapy is an established method of care for many patients with chronic respiratory disorders1, there are various oxygen equipment used to deliver supplemental oxygen to patients, which include compressed oxygen cylinders, liquid oxygen systems, and oxygen concentrators. Compressed oxygen cylinders and liquid oxygen systems have traditionally been used to deliver oxygen to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is still quite popular in most parts of the world, however concentrators are increasingly being deployed to patients’ homes.
The popularity of concentrators is in part a result of the their relatively low maintenance and repair costs when compared to operational costs associated with supplying replacements and refills for oxygen cylinders or liquid systems to patients, particularly those in remote locations.
Concentrators use pressure swing absorption technology to filter oxygen from air in the atmosphere and then deliver oxygen at high concentrations to the patients. Broadly speaking, concentrators can either be portable or stationary. The latter is used mainly in the home with maximum oxygen output ranging between 3 litres per minute to 10 litres per minute.
"There is really no limit to where POCs
can be used, and some devices can be
used at altitudes of over 9,000 feet"
Portable oxygen concentrators (POCs), as the name suggests, are smaller and offer patients the ability to use the device both within and outside their homes. POCs offer freedom and peace of mind to COPD patients and enable them to live an active lifestyle. A good proportion of patients are able to get out of the house and go to places like their local shops, despite their respiratory disorder. To aid with the mobility and independence of patients, most POCs are supplied with a carry bag, pull cart, AC and DC power cords, rechargeable lithium-ion battery for use away from home, and a user manual. Some manufacturers offer bespoke rucksacks as an optional accessory for patients.
There is really no limit to where POCs can be used, and some devices can be used at altitudes of over 9,000 feet. Most POCs are approved for use on board airlines by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA); some airlines even maintain a list of approved POCs on their websites. However, patients are advised to always notify their airline of any intention they may have to use a POC onboard before travel.
Portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) vary in characteristics and oxygen output, and some devices can produce up to three litres
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of oxygen per minute. POCs can be
split into two main categories: Pulse
only, and POCs with continuous flow.
Pulse only POCs deliver oxygen to
patients on-demand, that is, oxygen
delivery is triggered when a patient
inhales using the nasal cannula
attached to the device. Pulse only
POCs are usually smaller than those
with acontinuous flow option, however
the latter are able to deliver higher
oxygen volumes to meet the needs of
wider range of patients. POCs with
continuous oxygen delivery option are
usually preferred for night time use, because oxygen will flow constantly to the patient in the event of the nasal cannula being dislodged from the patient’s face while asleep, or if the patient is breathing through the mouth. Over the past few years there has been a steady increase in the use of portable oxygen concentrators by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly across Europe and the US. Manufacturers get their products to the end-users either by selling directly to home oxygen providers or through distributors placed across the globe. It is expected that the market size of portable oxygen concentrators will grow from $744m in 2014 to $2.2bn by 20212.
References:
1. Petty T.L., McCoy R.W. and Doherty D.E (2012). Long Term OxygenTherapy (LTOT) – History, Scientific Foundations andemerging technologies, National Lung Health Education Program.
2. Curtiss ET, Eustis S (2013), Oxygen Concentrators: Market Shares,Strategies and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2013 to 2018, WinterGreenResearch.
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WITH THANKS
gasworld would like to thank the GCE Group for providing this equipment profile. Equipment for supplying medical gas is an important and expanding part of the GCE Group’s activities, supplying complete systems for oxygen, nitrous oxide, vacuum gas, and other gases to hospitals, ambulance-service providers, emergency services and homecare providers alike, as well as other special services using such equipment.
uk.gcegroup.com.
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