What are oxygen concentrators?
Oxygen concentrators (oxygen generators) are a type of medical device that you may use as part of oxygen therapy. If you have a condition that affects your lungs or even if you have some difficulty breathing, an oxygen concentrator helps get your body the oxygen it needs to function.
Unlike a compressed or liquid oxygen tank that you must replace or refill when you run out of oxygen, an oxygen concentrator continuously purifies the air around you (atmospheric air) to deliver 90% to 95% pure oxygen. You breathe in the oxygen through a plastic mask that fits over your mouth and nose or a flexible plastic tube with two prongs that go into your nostrils (nasal cannula).
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Don’t use an oxygen concentrator unless a healthcare provider prescribes one for you. Breathing in pure oxygen can cause long-term lung damage if you don’t need oxygen.
What are the types of oxygen concentrators?
There are two main types of oxygen concentrators:
- Stationary oxygen concentrator. A stationary oxygen concentrator weighs about 22 pounds (10 kilograms). It has handles to lift the device or wheels on the bottom to roll it. It runs on electricity, so you plug it into an electrical outlet in your home. In the event of a power outage, some brands of oxygen concentrators come with a battery backup or a backup compressed oxygen tank, so you can still receive oxygen therapy until your power comes back on.
- Portable oxygen concentrator. Portable oxygen concentrators are smaller and lighter than stationary ones, allowing for easier activity or travel. But their oxygen output is usually lower than stationary oxygen concentrators. Most portable oxygen concentrators use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
What conditions are treated or managed with oxygen concentrators?
A healthcare provider may prescribe an oxygen concentrator if you have:
- Asthma.
- Bronchitis.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Cystic fibrosis.
- Emphysema.
- Heart failure.
- Lung cancer.
- Pneumonia.
- Respiratory trauma (rib fracture, collapsed lung, bruised lung).
- Sleep apnea.
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Some people, especially athletes, use an oxygen concentrator when they visit high-altitude areas. When you work out, you breathe harder because your body is trying to get more oxygen to your lungs. Your lungs supply oxygen that your body uses to function. This includes your muscles.
If you can’t get enough oxygen through heavy breathing, your cells will convert carbohydrates into lactate (lactic acid) for short bursts of energy. The name for this process is anaerobic glycolysis. Using an oxygen concentrator helps prevent your body from producing lactic acid, which helps increase energy, reduce fatigue and improve training.
How common are oxygen concentrators?
Oxygen concentrators are common. More than 1.5 million people in the United States use some form of oxygen tank as part of their supplemental oxygen therapy, including oxygen concentrators.
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