A POC, or portable oxygen concentrator, is a tool used to give patients oxygen therapy that is stronger than what is found in ambient air. They have a similar design and function as home portable oxygen concentrator but are more portable due to their smaller size. This enables patients to roam around and travel with the knowledge that, should they need it, oxygen therapy is available nearby. These gadgets have just received FAA approval and are small enough to fit inside a car.
Portable Oxygen Concentrator Development
POCs have been around for a while, but earlier versions were overly heavy and not nearly as dependable as the ones currently on the market. Moreover, previous versions were not allowed aboard aircraft. The efficiency and practicability of the devices have improved since the year 2000. They can be charged at the home through an outlet or in the car through a vehicle adaptor. In order to utilize them when there is no outlet nearby, they can also be powered by batteries.
What Role Does the Device Play?
The technology utilized in home concentrators and portable concentrators for oxygen is the same. Around 21% of the air under barometric pressure is made up of oxygen, nitrogen, and an assortment of other gases. In order to pressurize the air, the machine’s compressor uses a chemical filter system that serves as a sieve for the gas molecules. The filter is made of Zeolite, which is made of silicate granules and eliminates nitrogen from the air. The oxygen is then concentrated for the patient to breathe in. This uses a portion of the oxygen, with a portion of the gas being recycled in the following cycle. This procedure enables the filtration system to generate high-quality concentrated oxygen with a concentration of about 96%.
The most modern POC models are powered by electricity or battery packs, allowing the patient to avoid utilizing cylinders or other bulkier devices that can limit movement. Most of these devices use a pulse delivery method, which provides the purest oxygen possible.
Advantages of POCs on demand
Due to the usage of an on-demand system, the majority of POCs are quite light and compact. This makes it possible for the portable oxygen concentrator to have fewer parts than a residential oxygen system. The on-demand gadget enables the patient to receive all of the oxygen they need and no more because the person simply inhales oxygen, removing the possibility that extra oxygen would be wasted.
Most on-demand systems have a number of settings that allow for the minutely delivery of a certain volume of oxygen. Since oxygen is only needed during inhalation and not exhalation, using the right amount of oxygen eliminates oxygen waste when the patient exhales.
This system works by administering boluses that can change based on the patient’s rate of breathing. When you’re sleeping, when your heart rate normally lowers, this is especially helpful. In order to accommodate the longer, slower breaths being taken, a machine using a variable bolus system may detect the slowed rate of breathing and deliver the necessary amount of oxygen at a slower rate.