The oxygen concentrator
What is an Oxygen Concentrator?
An oxygen concentrator is a device that enriches (concentrates) oxygen from the surrounding air. The ambient air contains around 20% oxygen, around 70% nitrogen and a few other gases. The oxygen concentrator filters out the oxygen and compresses it. So-called waste products such as nitrogen etc. are excreted. The patient thus receives approximately 94% pure oxygen enriched. The oxygen concentrator does not produce oxygen, it just concentrates it.
In medicine, oxygen concentrators are used for patients who regularly need the air they breathe to be enriched with oxygen. For details on the medical use of these and other oxygen devices, see Long-Term Oxygen Therapy.
In aviation, oxygen concentrators are used to prevent oxygen starvation in unpressurized cabins.
Other areas of application include the operation of gas burners and aquariums as well as veterinarians.
Oxygen concentrators or oxygen devices purify the air around the patient. In the first step, a filter system removes microorganisms and dust. The air is then compressed. The use of a molecular sieve or a filter membrane ensures that the nitrogen contained is separated. The patient then receives up to 95% pure oxygen. There are mobile devices for traveling and stationary devices for home.
The function of the oxygen devices
In order to increase the oxygen content of the air as much as possible (to around 96 percent), the pressure swing adsorption process is used. A regeneration of the filter system then removes the adhering nitrogen. In order for this gas flow to occur continuously, several modules are used to enable alternating filtering and regeneration.
Can the oxygen be filled in bottles?
Oxygen bottles can be connected to an oxygen filling station, iFill from DeVilbiss, which patients can fill pressure bottles independently. An oxygen pressure cylinder holds 1.2 to 2.9 liters of gaseous oxygen. Depending on consumption, one bottle can last for two to 10 hours. Please referHERE
How useful is an oxygen concentrator?
Long-term use of oxygen concentrators leads to improved performance, allowing patients to carry out some normal physical activities. In this way, the muscles are preserved and it is possible to further increase them through training.
Is oxygen therapy healthy?
The results show that long-term oxygen therapy significantly increases the life expectancy of patients. Positive effects have also been demonstrated with regard to physical performance and quality of life.
Can too much oxygen be harmful?
Too much oxygen is toxic to the body and can cause inflammation, oxidative stress or narrowing of blood vessels in the lungs, cardiovascular and nervous systems.