An oxygen concentrator is been used by patients who suffer from oxygen levels below 95. Below 95 SpO2 level in Pulse Oximeter is alarming for patients who suffer from respiratory disorders. An oxygen concentrator helps to increase oxygen levels. It collects oxygen from the atmosphere air and purifies the oxygen and delivers it to a patient.
An oxygen concentrator uses the atmosphere air surrounding to filter oxygen. It is the best solution for oxygen supply to Covid-19 effective patients to treat at home. Patients who suffering from respiratory issues.
An Oxygen concentrator provide oxygen for many hours. It does not need to be replaced or refilled with any supplements which help to purify Oxygen from the atmosphere.
The right way to use a concentrator is as easy as an automatic instrument. With the help of an oxygen concentrator, we can help any individual who requires oxygen supplementation. Always be advised first by a doctor to apply the oxygen supplement to the patient.
Let’s know how the oxygen concentrator works?
An oxygen concentrator is a machine that filters oxygen from the surrounding air and helps Covid -19 patients to breathe through a mask or cannula comfortably. The natural air consists of about 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen, along with other gases.
The concentrator machine works by absorbing air from the atmosphere and separate the gases like oxygen, nitrogen, and other gases. The concentrated and purify oxygen is stored in a cylinder to be inhaled by the user or patient.
1. When use an oxygen concentrator?
When a patient needs supplemental oxygen due to low oxygen level like below 95 in Pulse Oximeter. As oxygen level falls in the blood it’s advised by the doctor to use an Oxygen Concentrator.
The medical professional doctor will monitor and check your blood oxygen levels by a device known as Pulse Oximeter. If doctors notice that your SpO2, or Oxygen Saturation, is below 95%, they might recommend supplemental oxygen.
The doctors will also advise how frequently or for how long you require to maintain supplemental Oxygen. As prescribed supplemental oxygen, you need to implement an oxygen concentrator or a liquid medical oxygen cylinder.
2. Know which is the best oxygen concentrator for Home-Usage.
For at-home use a stationary oxygen concentrator is perfect. A patient who requires constant oxygen supply while sleeping or resting well advised to apply an oxygen concentrator as prescribed by a medical professional or Doctor. You have to plug an oxygen concentrator into electricity to work regularly. We need a regular power backup to use the oxygen concentrator.
It prescribed by the doctor the flow rate of oxygen required by the patient. It should be mentioned by the medical professional the flow rate of oxygen.
3. Where to place the oxygen concentrator in the patient room?
An oxygen concentrator can be kept anywhere inside the room of the patient by kept a one-foot distance away from the walls or any other object.
The concentrator required a minimum of 2 ft. of vacant space around the air-inlet of the oxygen concentrator. Which helps the concentrator to intake an ample amount of room air and to compressor it. It produces fresh oxygen from it. If space is not provided to the machine it occurs problem to the air intake and the machine won’t be able to provide sufficient oxygen.
4. Difference between an Oxygen Cylinder and Oxygen Concentrator
Both Oxygen concentrators and Medical Liquid oxygen cylinders are designed to deliver Purify oxygen therapy to patients who are not able to get the desired amount of oxygen by themselves.
Concentrators produce oxygen in almost the same way that oxygen cylinder tanks deliver. They deliver oxygen directly to the patient via an oxygen mask. or also known as a nasal cannula.
The Oxygen cylinders contain a fixed amount of pressurized oxygen which we have to refill when they became vacant. But Oxygen Concentrators collect oxygen from the atmosphere air. They concentrate it and purify oxygen from other gases like Nitrogen and others and then deliver it to the patient. It does not require refilling and replacement.
5. Steps to set up an oxygen concentrator
- Oxygen Concentrator requires 1 to 2 feet free space from surrounding the wall and furniture etc. It is essential to circulate air from the atmosphere. The oxygen concentrator machine produces Heat during the process.
- Connect the humidification bottle to the concentrator if the doctor is prescribed. A humidifier is prescribed by a medical professional when the oxygen flow rate is greater than 2-3 liters per minute (LPM).
- Next, fit the cap on your humidifier bottle into the outlet on your oxygen concentrator. Twist and tight humidifier bottle until it’s securely attached to the machine. It’s advised to used use distilled or filtered water in your humidification bottle.
- Attach the oxygen tubing to the humidification bottle. While on the humidification bottle, you have to attach a port to the bottle. On this port, you insert your oxygen tubing. In a normal without a humidification bottle, you will use an oxygen adaptor to attach your oxygen tubes.
- Through air inlet filter oxygen concentrator removes particles and allergens from the inlet air. It should be located on the side of your machine. You have to change the filter for cleaning. You have always check to make sure the filter is in place before you turn on the concentrator. The filter will be washed once a week with warm water to make it dry before next use.
- You have to start the oxygen concentrator at least 10-20 minutes before using it. It takes time for the oxygen concentrator to purify the atmosphere air in purifying oxygen gas. You should give a proper 10-20 min time to release pure oxygen from the machine.
- A lot of electric power required for the oxygen concentrator. You should use the plugin direct socket it’s advised to avoid the use of an extension cord for high tension fire risk.
- The machine produced a loud sound of air processing as you switch the machine on. Always check light indicators to satisfy the machine is working properly.
- you require to locate the liter control knob or switch on your oxygen concentrator. It denotes for liters per minute (LPM) or levels, such as 1liter oxygen per minute, 2-liter oxygen per minute, 3-liter oxygen per minute, etc.
- You will have to set this knob as prescribed by a doctor. you should increase or decrease as per patient condition and doctors advice. You should not do as per your knowledge as it is dangerous.
- The oxygen supply tube is straight or there are any bends or kinks for breathing in oxygen. Any bend or pause in the oxygen supply tube interrupt can cause an insufficient supply of oxygen.
- There are no gaps around the edges of the mask. the elastic attachment that connects to the mask should place over your head or around your ears as per the pattern of your oxygen supply mask.
- while using a nasal cannula, you should adjust it upward into your nostrils. It flows high levels of oxygen in the body. Each prong of the cannula should put up in nostrils. After prongs are placed in nostrils, loop the tubes over your ears. Adjust the tubes under your chin by adjuster up or down.