A portable oxygen concentrator is a Lithium Battery operated device that helps people who have difficulty breathing on their own or who suffer with Pulmonary Fibrosis or other respiratory conditions get the oxygen they need. Their lungs are often unable to extract sufficient oxygen from the air.

It is a small machine that works by taking in air from the surrounding environment and converting it into concentrated oxygen for the user to inhale. 

A POC works by filtering and purifying the air, removing nitrogen and other gases to increase the oxygen concentration. The concentrator then delivers this purified oxygen to the user usually through a nasal cannula or maybe a mask.

We are often asked the difference between an “on demand”, also known as “Pulse Flow” versus “Continuous Flow” or “Constant Flow” oxygen delivery to a patient.

Portable oxygen flow can be delivered to a patient by two different methods Continuous Flow (Constant Flow) or Pulse Flow, is also known as on demand delivery or conserving technology.

1 PULSE FLOW.

All of the small and lightweight POC’s (Portable Oxygen Concentrator) use this type of flow with flows settings equivalent to 1-6 LPM (Litres per Minute) ie1-6 settings and can only be used with a nasal cannula.

This type of Concentrator typically weighs around 2-4 KG in weight and is worn on the shoulder or carried separately.

Unfortunately, there is a large patient population who cannot use this Pulse technology.

When using a portable with pulse delivery, this means that you only receive the oxygen every time you begin to take a breath.

If it was very quiet and someone was near your nose each time you breathe in they could actually hear it give you a puff of oxygen as you inspire.

2 CONTINUOUS FLOW.

A Constant or Continuous flow can be one of 2 types of machine.

1 A Portable battery-operated Concentrator giving usually supplying 1-3 LPM flow.

This type of Continuous Flow Portable Concentrator typically weighs around 8-10 KG in weight and is supplied on a trolley for the user to pull around.

2 Or a "static" or mains operated Oxygen Concentrator using a wall plug in your Cruise Cabin

This device is giving you the oxygen in a constant flow meaning if you took off the nasal cannula and put it in a glass of water it would bubble like an aquarium.

A Mains driven Oxygen Concentrator will give and oxygen flow of between 1 and 10 LPM (Litres per Minute).

A Constant or Continuous flow Oxygen Concentrator can be used with either a nasal cannula or a face mask.

What type of patient can use Pulse delivery and what type of patient should not use Pulse delivery?

Pulse delivery is designed for adults and not normally children and adults who breathe an average 12 to 18 times a minute.

The Concentrators are designed to operate on a setting based on 15 to 18 breaths per minute as equivalent to the litre flow and relationship to the setting so for example the setting of two on pulse at 15 to 18 breaths a minute could be equal to 2 Litre per minute of flow based on the volume of each dose.

If the adult is a mouth breather meaning perhaps they have a nasal septal defect and cannot breathe normally through their nose and typically are always only breathing through their mouth, or maybe someone with a very shallow breath, this type of patient is not a candidate for pulse delivery however most adults that breathe normally through their nose tend to do quite well with a pulse dose POC.

Children breathe much faster than adults, therefore pulse or on demand flow technology should not normally be used with a child unless approved by your Respiratory Specialist or Doctor.

The child will breathe faster than the equipment can make the oxygen therefore potentially putting the equipment into alarm.

Sleeping: When we sleep it is very natural people to become a mouth breather at some point during sleep.

It is therefore not recommended by most Doctors to use pulse delivery when you were sleeping.