How Our Oxygen Concentrator Products Work
How does an oxygen concentrator work?
The ambient air we breathe contains approximately 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen, and 1% other gasses. An oxygen concentrator does not “create” its own oxygen. It draws in room air into the machine using an air compressor. This air usually passes through some type of filtration as it enters the concentrator to remove dust and other small particulates. Once inside of the concentrator, the room air passes through an adsorbent material called molecular sieve. The molecular sieve adsorbs the nitrogen in the room air, separating the oxygen from it and allowing the oxygen to pass through. Oxygen exits the concentrator and is delivered to the patient in high concentrations of > 90% purity.
Explanation of Pulse Flow or Pulse Dose
Pulse flow or pulse dose is the delivery of a “bolus,” or a puff of oxygen every time you breathe, or more specifically, when you inhale. A sensor in the portable oxygen concentrator or transportable oxygen concentrator detects the force or pressure of your breath and triggers the concentrator to deliver your dose of oxygen prescribed by your doctor.
Pulse flow delivery on a portable oxygen concentrator or transportable oxygen concentrator can help maximize your unit’s battery life by giving you the oxygen when you inhale and not wasting precious battery power by constantly delivering oxygen.
Explanation of Continuous Flow
Continuous flow delivers oxygen in a constant and uninterrupted stream. Much like turning on a water faucet, continuous flow of oxygen is at a steady rate.
The amount of oxygen you receive is prescribed in liters per minute (LPM) by your doctor. The most common settings are between 2-5 LPM. Patients with more severe disease states require higher flow rates between 6-15 LPM. Continuous flow is typically used at home and while sleeping. It can also be used for portability for patients whose condition will not allow them to tolerate pulse flow.
What is CAIRE’s UltraSense™ Technology?
CAIRE’s UltraSense™ Technology provides a sensitive pulse dose trigger in standard operating mode to detect your breath with less effort. This ensures that a pulse of oxygen is delivered with each breath, guarantees that the oxygen is delivered when it’s most critical, and allows for a wider variety of patients to use the device.
What is CAIRE’s autoSAT® Technology?
CAIRE’s autoSAT® Technology helps maintain a consistent FiO2 by adjusting the device to meet the patient’s changing respiratory rate. Like cruise control adjusts a car’s performance to maintain constant speed, autoSAT® adjusts oxygen concentrator performance to guarantee the prescribed amount of oxygen is delivered with each breath to the patient whether they are at rest or exercising.