Portable Oxygen Concentrator Versus Oxygen Tank - A Users Perspective
A portable oxygen concentrator has become a "must" for the countless people who have COPD and who have have to receive supplemental oxygen. As well this sort of machine is also a godsend for those who assist or live using them.
For both patient and the caretaker, a lack of oxygen saturation is difficult - the patient must live with either a shortness of breath and all that entails, or must receive extra oxygen. Those who assist, and this could be a family member or someone from the medical profession, must also provide help also to do so got to know their way around the oxygen machine, in this case a portable oxygen concentrator.
There are some basic differences between an oxygen concentrator and an oxygen tank (either liquid or compressed oxygen) that make for another approach.
View website extracts oxygen from the encompassing air. https://diigo.com/0vczd2 delivers the oxygen in a concentrated form, to the individual. An oxygen tank delivers oxygen to the individual from its reservoir or stored oxygen. The essential difference has to do with storage. A tank holds or stores oxygen while a concentrator does not - it delivers the oxygen since it extracts it.
The difference between a stored and non stored oxygen system has another implication. A tank will deliver the quantity of oxygen it stores. The tanks capacity will depend on its size basically and the oxygen will last a limited time - just how much exactly depends on how full the tank is and the delivery rate. For a portable oxygen concentrator, the delivery can last as long as the machine is turned on.
The next difference also follows on from the previous one. A tank or cylinder that holds oxygen, both compressed or liquid, will deliver oxygen at a certain adjustable rate, using the pressure being released from the tank. In other words it does not require an additional power source to deliver the oxygen. A portable oxygen concentrator alternatively delivers the oxygen it really is extracting from the air around it which extraction is possible because of its power source that makes the extraction mechanism work. Electricity - be it from the battery or as a result of being plugged in. Portable oxygen concentrators use rechargeable batteries which increases dramatically its possibilities for oxygen delivery and by being plugged in, where many models can even be connected to the car lighter socket for instance.
These three basic differences can happen small in nature but in reality are the reason why portable oxygen concentrators have not only become so popular but also have increased the amount and kind of activities COPD patients are enjoying. From the idea of view of caretakers - especially members of the family - they are experiencing less demands and have therefore less stress.
In short:
Longer oxygen supply. Even though not plugged in, the battery option which can go from 2 hours onwards according to the flow rate and the battery capacity. But with a change of battery the complete cycle begins again.
The partnership between weight and level of oxygen that's stored is not any longer an issue.
You don't have for a refill - this being among the logistic problems and limitations which used eventually everyone on supplemental oxygen prior to the arrival of portable oxygen concentrators.
Size and shape make these machines more portable.
Travel, short distances, long distances or the same in time intervals is a lot easier. This simple travel is due to the durability of the oxygen supply and also because public carriers (airplanes, trains and buses) have less restraints than they do for oxygen containers.