Overview of Compact Portable Oxygen Concentrators
This article provides an insightful overview of compact portable oxygen concentrators, highlighting their functions, popular models, and considerations for selecting the right device for your health needs. Portable oxygen devices improve quality of life for individuals with respiratory issues by offering mobility and reliable oxygen support. It emphasizes weighing device size against oxygen output to ensure optimal health benefits while maintaining portability.
Mobile oxygen therapy devices, known as portable oxygen concentrators (POCs), are designed to provide supplemental oxygen to individuals with specific health conditions that require higher oxygen levels than ambient air offers. These devices vary in size, with compact models offering enhanced portability.
How POCs operate
POCs work by drawing in ambient air through internal mechanisms that filter out nitrogen and compress the air. The concentrated oxygen is then delivered via a mask in most cases. Some POCs are designed for indoor use, suitable for home settings, while others are lightweight and portable for outdoor activities.
Outdoor models are equipped with sophisticated filters to ensure the inhaled oxygen is free from pollutants.
Market's smallest POCs
A portable oxygen concentrator is considered compact if it weighs 5 lbs or less. Some of the most noted small portable oxygen models include:
AirSep Focus - Weighs 1.75 lbs without batteries and 2.81 lbs with two batteries. It has a height of 6.4 inches, width of 4.8 inches, delivers a pulse flow up to 330 ml/min, and offers a battery life of seven hours.
AirSep Freestyle - Weighing 4.4 lbs with batteries, capable of delivering up to 498 ml/min, with a battery runtime of three hours.
Activox - Weighs 4.3 lbs and provides up to 3 LPM; its batteries can last up to 13 hours.
Respironics SimplyFlo - Made for stationary use, it supplies continuous oxygen flow of 3000 ml/min and weighs 9 lbs.
Limitations of small POCs
Portable oxygen concentrators are available in various sizes—small, medium, and large. Generally, smaller models produce less oxygen output. Therefore, choosing a compact device should involve evaluating whether its output meets your medical requirements.
