Inogen Oxygen Concentrators for Home, Travel & Everyday Mobility

An oxygen concentrator is a medical device that takes in room air, removes much of the nitrogen and delivers concentrated oxygen to the user through a nasal cannula or other prescribed interface.

Unlike an oxygen cylinder, a concentrator does not contain a limited supply of stored oxygen. Stationary concentrators operate from electrical power, while portable oxygen concentrators can operate from rechargeable batteries as well as compatible AC or DC power sources.

Stationary oxygen concentrators are primarily designed for use in the home and commonly provide continuous-flow oxygen. They remain plugged into household power during normal use.

Portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) are smaller and battery-powered so they can be used away from home. Most lightweight POCs provide oxygen using pulse-dose delivery rather than continuous flow.

The correct type depends on the user's prescribed oxygen needs, mobility requirements and whether pulse-dose delivery is appropriate.

Continuous flow delivers oxygen continuously at the prescribed flow rate, whether the user is inhaling or exhaling. It is commonly expressed in litres per minute (LPM).

Pulse-dose oxygen delivers a measured burst of oxygen when the concentrator detects the beginning of an inhalation. This helps portable systems conserve oxygen and battery power, allowing the equipment to remain smaller and lighter.

Some users may perform well on pulse-dose oxygen while others may require continuous flow. The appropriate delivery method should be based on the individual's oxygen requirements.

No. A pulse-dose setting should not be interpreted as an equivalent continuous-flow rate.

For example, a setting of 2 on a portable oxygen concentrator does not automatically equal 2 LPM of continuous oxygen. Pulse settings represent device-specific oxygen delivery parameters, and the amount delivered can differ considerably between manufacturers and models.

Choosing a portable oxygen concentrator involves more than comparing weight or price. Important factors include:

• Your prescribed oxygen requirements
• Pulse-dose versus continuous-flow requirements
• Maximum oxygen output
• Trigger sensitivity and oxygen-delivery characteristics
• Your oxygen needs during activity
• Battery runtime
• Device weight and portability
• Air-travel requirements

SleepEZ Registered Respiratory Therapists can help explain these equipment differences and how the specifications relate to your prescribed oxygen therapy.

It depends on the concentrator, the oxygen delivery mode and the user's individual oxygen requirements.

Many lightweight portable concentrators use pulse-dose technology, which must detect an inhalation before delivering oxygen. Breathing patterns can change during sleep, and some users may require continuous-flow oxygen overnight instead.

If oxygen is required during sleep, the intended equipment should be evaluated for that specific use rather than assuming that a daytime portable setting will provide the same nighttime support.

Many portable oxygen concentrators, including the Inogen Rove 4 and Rove 6, meet applicable FAA requirements for portable oxygen concentrator use aboard aircraft.

Airline procedures can still vary. Travellers should contact their airline in advance and confirm its requirements for medical oxygen equipment and battery capacity.

Spare lithium batteries generally need to be protected from short-circuit and carried in carry-on baggage rather than checked baggage.

Battery duration varies significantly between devices and depends on the selected oxygen setting, battery size, breathing rate, battery age and environmental conditions.

As the oxygen setting increases, battery runtime will generally decrease. Some portable concentrators also offer extended batteries for longer use.

For example, the Inogen Rove 6 has manufacturer-rated runtime of up to approximately 6 hours 15 minutes with its standard battery and 12 hours 45 minutes with its extended battery at setting 1.

When travelling, plan battery requirements based on the actual prescribed setting rather than the manufacturer's maximum-runtime figure.

Maintenance depends on the model but may include cleaning or replacing particle filters, replacing oxygen-output filters, inspecting tubing and cannulas, maintaining batteries and eventually replacing the concentrator's sieve beds or columns.

Inogen portable systems use replaceable sieve columns that separate nitrogen from room air. When replacement is required, the device will typically provide an alert or service indication.

SleepEZ carries replacement batteries, columns, particle filters, chargers and other accessories for current Inogen models as well as select legacy models including the Inogen One G5.

Oxygen should be used according to the prescribed flow or pulse-dose setting unless a healthcare provider has provided instructions for adjusting it under specific circumstances.

Shortness of breath does not always mean that oxygen levels are low, and simply increasing oxygen may not address the underlying cause. Unexpected or worsening breathlessness should be assessed appropriately.