How to Choose the Best Oxygen Concentrators

Oxygen concentrators have become a vital resource in senior living, significantly improving the quality of life for those with respiratory conditions. As age advances, maintaining optimal oxygen levels becomes crucial for overall health and well-being. Oxygen concentrators provide a reliable and efficient solution, delivering continuous oxygen supply in the comfort of one’s room.

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What is an oxygen concentrator? 

An oxygen concentrator is a medical device that provides supplemental oxygen to individuals with conditions that impair normal breathing or cause lower-than-normal blood oxygen levels. They work by taking in ambient air, filtering out nitrogen, and delivering purified oxygen to the resident via a face mask or nasal cannula.

Why are oxygen concentrators important?

Oxygen concentrators are essential in senior living environments for managing chronic respiratory conditions such as COPD, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. They improve quality of life by alleviating symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue, enabling greater activity and independence. Additionally, concentrators provide critical support during acute respiratory issues like pneumonia and COVID-19, and are designed to be safe, efficient, and cost-effective. Their portability and ease of use make them an ideal solution for ensuring continuous, personalized oxygen therapy for seniors.

Types of Oxygen Concentrators

5L Oxygen Concentrators

5 liter oxygen concentrators deliver up to 5 liters of continuous oxygen per minute

Equipped with built-in handles and wheels for easy maneuverability within and between rooms

Most brands feature built-in alarms for monitoring oxygen purity and flow rate

10L Oxygen Concentrators

10 liter oxygen concentrators provide up to 10 liters of oxygen per minute

Ideal for residents with high flow needs or prescriptions over 5 liters per minute

Higher PSI levels support longer tubing or trach connections

Some 10L models have dual flow meters and outputs, allowing oxygen delivery to two residents simultaneously, up to a total of 10 LPM

Portable Oxygen Concentrators

Most lightweight and mobile oxygen delivery solution available

Supports AC, DC, or battery operation for on-the-go therapy

Compact designs range from 4.4 to 20 lbs

Continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators are available with intermittent delivery options (some models include both settings)

Oxygen Concentrators: What to Look For

Below are key features and specs to consider when selecting oxygen concentrators for your healthcare facility. 

O2 Purity%

• Represents the concentration of oxygen in the air, excluding other gases
• High purity ranges from 87-99%

Flow Rate

• Indicates the speed at which oxygen is delivered from the concentrator to the resident
• Measured in liters per minute (lpm)
• 2 lpm is usually sufficient for home care, but some conditions require higher rates; concentrators can go up to 10 lpm

Dual Flow Meters & Outputs

• Allows oxygen delivery to two residents simultaneously, with a combined total flow of up to 10 lpm (e.g., 3 lpm for one resident and 7 lpm for another)

Continuous Flow

• Provides a steady flow of oxygen up to a combined total of 10 lpm for two residents

Pulse Flow

• Delivers oxygen only when the user inhales, conserving battery power
• Common in portable concentrators for intermittent, on-demand oxygen

Sound Level

• Quiet oxygen concentrators range between 40 dB and 60 dB, similar to a quiet conversation or normal voice in a calm environment

Outlet Pressure

• High outlet pressure supports high-acuity respiratory accessories like nebulizers, venti masks, and long oxygen tubing

Battery Life

• Portable concentrators typically run 2 to 5 hours on battery power
• Some models offer additional battery packs extending life to 7-10 hours, varying with pulse settings

Size & Weight

• Smaller and lighter 5L and 10L concentrators are easier for residents and caregivers to move
• Consider the weight of portable units with batteries installed and any extra batteries

Maintenance Requirements

• Check the frequency and nature of preventive maintenance tasks
• All concentrators have filters requiring periodic attention

Alarms & Alerts

Look for models with alerts for:

• Oxygen purity level
• Low oxygen
• High/low pressure
• Flow rate
• Power loss

Oxygen Concentrator FAQs

How do I choose the right oxygen concentrator for a healthcare facility?

Consider the residents’ oxygen needs, including flow rate and purity requirements, the device’s portability, ease of use, noise level, maintenance needs, and any additional features like dual flow meters or battery life for portable models.

What are the benefits of portable oxygen concentrators?

Portable oxygen concentrators provide mobility and independence for residents, allowing them to move freely within the facility or travel outside. They are lightweight, easy to carry, and can operate on battery power, making them convenient for on-the-go oxygen therapy.

How often do oxygen concentrators require maintenance?

Maintenance frequency varies by model, but typically involves cleaning or replacing filters, checking for proper operation, and ensuring the device remains in good condition. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for specific maintenance schedules.

How do I ensure the safety of residents using oxygen concentrators?

Ensure proper setup and use according to the manufacturer’s instructions, regularly check the device for proper operation, and educate residents and staff on safe usage practices. Look for models with safety alarms for oxygen purity, low oxygen levels, pressure, flow rate, and power loss.

 Direct Supply® makes finding the right oxygen concentrators easy

When it comes to oxygen concentrators, we know there are hundreds of choices on the market today and finding what’s best for your facility can be a challenge. 

That’s why Direct Supply offers the industry’s widest selection of oxygen equipment from brands you trust…in one convenient place, plus this guide to help you sort through the important considerations and features. 

Once you’ve made your pick, you’ll find easy ordering, convenient delivery and installation services, budget-friendly financing options, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Of course, if you need assistance you can count on our expertise to help you find exactly the right match for your specific requirements and budget.

Q1. Will my body get dependent on Oxygen if I use it continuously?

No, Oxygen is not addictive at all. A large number of patients express their concern regarding this and try to decrease the time they are on Oxygen or totally avoid it.

Want more information on Reliable Oxygen Generators for Healthcare Facilities? Feel free to contact us.

Supplemental Oxygen is prescribed because the lungs have become weak due to condition like COPD and the 21% Oxygen of air is now not sufficient for lungs which results in low level of O2 in blood.

In order to make lungs feel like as if they are exactly in a normal healthy environment, they need some extra Oxygen so that the Oxygen exchange with blood is exactly same as it would have been with normal healthy lungs.

Q2. Can I use more Oxygen than prescribed?

No, using more than prescribed oxygen can cause Oxygen toxicity/Oxygen poisoning in the body which has many harmful effects like damage to eyes, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), alveolar damage, destruction of neurons , etc.

Q3. Is it alright if I use less than prescribed Oxygen?

No, you should use Oxygen exactly as prescribed by the physician. Using less than prescribed Oxygen can cause low levels of Oxygen in blood which can further cause poor memory, irritable mood, poor cognition, shortness of breath, headaches and much more.

Using less than prescribed oxygen for longer periods of time also deteriorates lung’s health and causes the disease to grow.

Q4. How much Oxygen is ideal for me?

The ideal amount of Oxygen is decided by your physician; he does it by carefully analyzing your ABGs. In most cases, the goal is to keep your Oxygen levels above 88% which after prescription is monitored using Oximetry. In healthy individuals, ideal saturation of Oxygen in blood is 95-99%.

Q5. Do I also need to keep an Oxygen Cylinder at home if I am using a concentrator?

It is recommended to keep an Oxygen cylinder as a backup source. After all, concentrator is a machine and any machine can fail anytime.

Q6. What are the common sources of Oxygen for therapy?

There are mainly 3 sources of Oxygen for therapy:
Oxygen Concentrators: Machines that concentrate Oxygen from room air. Just need a power source to work. Main article: Oxygen Concentrator
Oxygen Cylinder: Compressed Oxygen in a cylinder – Conventional way of Oxygen therapy.
Liquid Oxygen: Usually used in central supplies of hospitals. Liquid oxygen is stored in freezing cold tanks and allowed to boil at 90.188K (-186.92°C) to release Oxygen gas.

Q7. What are the common Oxygen delivery systems that can be used?

Do not confuse Oxygen delivery systems with the Oxygen sources listed in the previous question. The Oxygen delivery systems are used to deliver Oxygen from sources like Oxygen concentrators or cylinders to nose or mouth.

The most commonly used delivery systems are Nasal Cannula and simple Face Mask. Some of the other Oxygen delivery systems are reservoir cannulas , trans-tracheal catheters, non-rebreathing face masks with reservoir and one way valve and venturi masks.

Q8. Which is the best Oxygen Concentrator brand for me?

All brands are good; the most important thing is that the Oxygen Concentrator you are planning to buy should carry some international approvals like FDA, CE & ISO.

The second most important thing is that the specifications should suit your requirement. The parameters you can consider to compare different models of different brands can be flow rate, battery backup, alarms (especially low purity of Oxygen), weight, power consumption and portability.

Q9. Can I use a portable Oxygen Concentrator while sleeping?

Yes, Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) can be used while sleeping. Note that POCs have 2 modes: Pulse mode and Continuous mode.

In Pulse mode, POCs will work as long as you breathe through nose and that too with sufficient pressure to trigger a breath in the machine. It is recommended to use POC with high sensitivity as during sleep the triggering pressure of each breath drops.

For sleep, continuous mode of Oxygen is ideal because while sleeping, there are chances that patient may not breathe through nose all the time which means if patient is breathing through open mouth then there are less chances of activating a pulse mode concentrator.

However, you must consult your physician before using a particular POC for sleep.

Q10. I feel that Oxygen coming out of the Oxygen machine is not as effective as that from a cylinder. What should I do?

You feel this because the temperature of Oxygen coming out of the machine is exactly the same as room temperature. However, this is proven that effectiveness of Oxygen from both the sources is virtually the same. What you need to see is the Oxygen saturation in your blood and you can check this using an Oximeter.

Q11. When do I need to use a humidifier bottle?

The purpose of humidification is to provide moisture which makes Oxygen therapy comfortable; if not used, can cause dryness in airways of nose and throat. Usually, use of humidifier is recommended in continuous flow of more than 3 LPM.

Q12. My Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) doesn't have humidifier connection. What do I do?

That may be because your POC is a pulse flow only POC. In Pulse Flow, Oxygen is delivered only when patient inhales which doesn't cause dryness unlike continuous flow of Oxygen, therefore, humidification is not required.

However, if your Portable Oxygen Concentrator has continuous flow option then you need to talk to your equipment provider.

Q13. What kind of water should I use in humidifier? How often should I clean it?

It is recommended to use clean drinking water for humidifier as after all you are going to breathe through it. There is no hard and fast rule for cleaning but there is no harm in having good daily cleaning practices just by rinsing through fresh water and replacing the water in the bottle.

Q14. Should I use a nasal cannula or a mask?

Most people prefer nasal cannula as it doesn’t look medical but most cannulas have a limitation that they are effective for flows up to 6 Litres Per Minute (LPM). There are special cannulas for higher flow (you may check with your equipment provider).

However, if you get rashes in your nostrils by use of cannula or if your flow requirement is above 6 LPM then a simple face mask is used by most people.

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Q15. Can I use all Oxygen Concentrators with CPAP or bi-level devices?