A medical oxygen concentrator stationary or portable, all oxygen concentrators typically function similarly. The system purifies and concentrates the surrounding air to supply patients with an endless supply of oxygen, so long as the oxygen concentrator is connected to power.

Considering the clear advantages over alternative delivery methods, the remainder of this guide will focus on oxygen concentrators, with an in-depth look at portable oxygen concentrators, specifically.

DID YOU KNOW? Oxygen concentrators never require tank refills or replacements.

Oxygen therapy at home

Oxygen therapy doesn’t have to mean giving up favorite activities. With 1 in 7 Americans requiring it at some point in their lifetime, oxygen concentrator technology is continuing to advance, making units lighter, quieter, and more comfortable than ever.

How It Works Oxygen therapy at home

Unlike traditional oxygen tanks, concentrator systems do not need to store oxygen, but instead, draw air from the patient’s surroundings to provide supplemental oxygen.

To understand how this works, it helps to visualize an air conditioner but instead of cooling the air, oxygen concentrators compress and purify the air and remove any elements that may complicate breathing. Regardless of size, oxygen concentrators follow these steps to deliver oxygen to patients.

• The portable oxygen concentrator:
  1. Pulls in air
  2. Compresses the air, while a cooling mechanism reduces overheating
  3. Removes nitrogen and other impurities via filter and sieve beds
  4. Adapts delivery settings with an electronic interface
  5. Delivers purified, medical-grade oxygen to the patient via a tube device placed in the nostrils (nasal cannula)

Oxygen machine for home use

Understanding Oxygen Concentrators

DID YOU KNOW? Roughly 1 in 7 Americans will require oxygen therapy at some point in their lives.

While the ability to concentrate oxygen continuously from the surrounding air has been around for decades, only in recent years has technology advanced to create lightweight portable oxygen concentrators (POCs).

What is the difference between an oxygen concentrator and an oxygen generator?

Key Differences Between Stationary and Portable Concentrators

Stationary oxygen concentrator

Before the invention of small, battery-powered concentrators, all oxygen concentrators were stationary home units. Ranging in weight from 30-50 pounds, stationary concentrators are still utilized today for their higher oxygen capacities and nocturnal usage. In fact, many patients typically use both stationary and portable units to fulfill their oxygen needs and maintain an active, healthy lifestyle.

Portable oxigen concentrator

Portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) are designed to travel with patients because they run for a limited time on battery power before requiring a recharge. Portable concentrators are also able to run and recharge on AC (wall outlet) or DC (automobile auxiliary outlet) power. (It’s important to note the battery life of POCs can fluctuate across brands, batteries, and settings.)

Most POCs provide pulse dose–short spurts of oxygen when the patient inhales—but some provide both pulse and automatic delivery, also known as continuous flow (more details on next page.)

Pulse dose oxygen system vs. Continuous flow oxygen system

When first considering supplemental oxygen, one of the first questions you’ll need to answer is: What type of device best fits my needs? The first determining factor is whether you’ll require a pulse or a continuous flowing oxygen unit.

What is Pulse Dose?

Think of pulse dose oxygen therapy as “on-demand oxygen” based on your breathing rate.

When you inhale, a short spurt of oxygen, called a bolus, is delivered via a tube device placed in your nostrils, called a cannula. The bolus is released in the first part of your breath—when it’s needed the most.

To understand better, it helps to envision the pulse dose as taking a drink through a straw. The amount of fluid and intensity of the “sip” is based entirely on how much you desire. This means that instead of oxygen flowing continuously to your nostrils, you’re able to directly control the flow of oxygen.

Considering the reduced size and weight when compared with traditional continuous oxygen concentrators, pulse dose units are ideal if you’re looking to maintain an active lifestyle.

What is Continuous Flow?

Continuous flow delivery, as it sounds, provides uninterrupted oxygen at a steady, specific rate regardless of your breathing. Continuous flow is the most common type of oxygen delivery and most doctors recommend this method if you require oxygen at night.

If pulse dose is akin to sipping through a straw, continuous flow can be understood better if you think about drinking from a water fountain. Water streams at a steady pace whether you’re taking a drink or not. The same applies to continuous flow units, there will naturally be excess oxygen wasted due to the constant state of delivery.

All home (stationary) concentrators operate in continuous flow delivery and can be a great solution if you lead a more relaxed lifestyle or require oxygen at night.

Traveling with oxygen concentrator

Portable oxygen concentrators are significantly lighter in weight than stationary home concentrators. In fact, some units can be as light as two pounds, with more versatile units topping out around 12-15 pounds.

Needless to say, portable oxygen technology has opened up the world of travel for patients requiring supplemental oxygen.

Air travel with portable oxygen concentrators

The FAA does not permit traditional oxygen tanks or liquid oxygen aboard airplanes, however, portable oxygen concentrators are considered safe and dozens of models and brands are approved. There are a few factors to consider to help you have a safe trip and avoid unnecessary delays or stress.

• Talk with your doctor before booking your flight to discuss your oxygen needs and get a physician’s statement expressing your medical requirement to use oxygen.
• Check that your concentrator is approved by the FAA and your selected airline.
• Consider your battery requirements. Airlines and the FAA both require you to bring batteries sufficient to power your device for 150 percent of the expected maximum flight duration. Never rely on aircraft electrical power to charge your device during a flight.

Transporting oxygen cylinders in a car

Your POC can be powered by either rechargeable lithium-ion batteries or a vehicle’s DC power outlet, so whether you’re running around town or taking a cross-country RV trip, portable oxygen concentrators can give you the freedom to explore without dragging around a cumbersome oxygen tank.

If you’re considering travel by bus or train, oxygen systems are much more lenient when compared to flying. It’s a good idea to contact the service provider at least 48 hours prior to your departure to ensure all necessary assistance is arranged.

Cruises for the oxygen-dependent

Generally, cruise lines are very open to varying methods of oxygen therapy. If you’re considering a cruise, reach out to the cruise line when planning your trip because each cruise line has specific guidelines for traveling with oxygen (e.g., a medical release form to clear you for travel).

Portable oxygen concentrator FAA regulation

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ruled that all passengers who require oxygen must be allowed to bring FAA-approved POCs on all U.S. aircraft with more than 19 seats.

Foreign airlines must also allow portable oxygen concentrators on all flights to and from U.S soil. All OxygenDirect POCs are FAA approved, which means you can safely take them with you when flying.

Best portable oxygen concentrator for COPD patients?

Which Portable Oxygen Compressor is Right for Me?
With so many portable oxygen concentrator choices on the market, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. To narrow the options, it’s helpful to prioritize the features important to you and communicate them to your doctor or oxygen therapy product specialist.

• What does your prescription dictate?
• How long should your POC operate between battery charges?
• What are a comfortable size, weight, and noise level?

Technical specification of oxygen concentrator

Key Features to Consider When Weighing Your Options

Portable oxygen concentrator battery life

The battery life of POCs can fluctuate across brands, batteries, and settings. Typically, the harder a unit is operating the shorter the battery life (e.g., continuous flow requires more battery power than pulse dose).

Many units on the market today report that a single, fully charged battery will provide up to 4.7 hours of operation, and a double battery will provide up to 10 hours of operation.

Smallest portable oxygen concentrator

Size & Weight

Naturally, POCs are substantially lighter in weight when compared to home concentrators or alternative oxygen therapy methods. Some of the lightest units available only weigh about 2-4 pounds or roughly the weight of a pineapple.

Keep in mind that smaller, lightweight units deliver only pulse dose, typically have limited settings, and generally have a lower oxygen capacity. Medium POCs, ranging from 4-10 pounds are still able to be carried along with you and offer higher oxygen capacities and longer-lasting batteries than smaller units.

Large POCs, anywhere from 10-20 pounds, are often carried around with a mobile cart rather than an over-the-shoulder bag.

High capacity portable oxygen concentrator

The oxygen delivered by POCs is measured in LPM (liters per minute) for continuous flow or the equivalent thereof in ml/min (milliliters per minute) for pulse dose oxygen.

Your doctor will prescribe an oxygen flow rate, such as 2 liters per minute, which means you will have the equivalent of 2 liters of oxygen flowing into your nostrils over the duration of a minute. Prescriptions typically range from 1 LPM to 10 LPM with over 75% of patients requiring 2 LPM or less.

Portable oxygen concentrator noise levels

POCs are generally quieter than at-home concentrators as they are less powerful and have a smaller footprint. The sound emitted by concentrators ranges from 30 to 60 decibels, which can be thought of as a range from a whisper to a soft conversation.

If you require oxygen at night, a persistent noise may be disturbing for you or your
partner so it’s important to find the product that best suits your sleeping needs.

Use of oxygen at night

A Note About Using Oxygen at Night

If you require oxygen at night, most physicians recommend a continuous flow (at-home) concentrator. With continuous flow, patients consistently report a quieter experience that meets all oxygen needs with minimal disruption.

It’s important to note that stationery, continuous concentrators are powered by plugging into your home’s wall outlet. While most home units are equipped with a power failure alarm, it’s important to have a backup plan in the event of a power outage.

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Reasons to Get a Portable Oxygen Concentrator for home use.

Best Oxygen Machine for Home Use

Everyone has different reasons for wanting to upgrade to the convenience of a portable oxygen concentrator. But typically it’s for one of the following reasons:

Portable oxygen concentrator airplane travel

One of the biggest restrictions of standard oxygen tanks is that they are not FAA approved, requiring you to arrange for oxygen delivery at your destination and something for your trip out there. A task that is both tedious and stressful.

Possibly causing you to forgo traveling at all and miss out on important family events, dream vacations, and romantic getaways. When upgrading to a portable oxygen concentrator you will gain the ability to fly anywhere to visit family or friends while receiving oxygen treatment thanks to the FAA approval.

Daily use of the portable oxygen concentrator

With a portable oxygen concentrator, there is no need to schedule refills or predict the number of tanks you will need for the week. Instead, a POC can be used every day thanks to rechargeable batteries.

Once the battery is low simply swap out for an extra battery, or charge the battery while using the unit with the AC power supply through any of your home’s wall outlets.

While many units also give you the ability to power and even charge the concentrator in your vehicle with a DC power supply.

Not to mention that a POC will give you the freedom to exercise regularly, socialize, run errands, enjoy hobbies, attend pulmonary rehab, and much more with little to no restrictions.

Oxygen concentrator vs oxygen tank

Oxygen tanks are bulky, ugly, cumbersome, and restrictive. Not to mention the constant headache of scheduling regular tank refills or replacements.

When you have COPD or another respiratory disease you already have enough to worry about. You want to focus on improving the quality of life with your respiratory disease not constantly worrying about if your supply of tanks will last or if your delivery will arrive on time.

Tanks are also wasteful and tend to leak oxygen, which is potentially very dangerous. As you probably already know, oxygen is flammable and you need to take extra precautions with your tanks or liquid oxygen.

With a portable oxygen concentrator you can have peace of mind knowing your concentrator isn’t leaking oxygen into your car or the room you’re in and you drastically reduce your chances of an oxygen-related fire with a concentrator.

In fact, you would need to hold an open flame near your nasal cannula or smoke a cigarette while using your concentrator to risk having an oxygen-related fire.

How much does oxygen cost per month?

Owning Your Concentrator Outright

Instead of having to pay a monthly fee for renting oxygen tanks or having your insurance pay a monthly fee, a lot of oxygen patients want to own their equipment outright.

Most insurance companies and Medicare classify portable oxygen concentrators as a luxury device, especially if they have already rented you tanks and a home concentrator.

With a portable oxygen concentrator, you have the ability to seamlessly change your flow rate to your precise needs, the option to extend battery life, customize alarm settings, use accessories that enhance portable use by minimizing strain, and select POC’s are even CPAP/BiPAP compatible.

Owning your oxygen equipment also gives you the ability to upgrade to a newer unit at any time you see fit. Whether your flow rate gets increased or a newer, lighter model comes out you can upgrade on your own time.

Does medicare cover portable oxygen concentrators?

Dealing with medicare or your insurance for durable medical equipment (DME) is frustrating and confusing. Often times patients run into the problem of Medicare not covering the exact POC they want, or not covering a POC in all because they are viewed as nonessential.

You will also be tasked with finding a reputable company that deals with Medicare. Once you are able to find one, you may only rent the unit in 5-year cycles and never have the option to purchase the concentrator outright. Then you and/or your insurance company are faced with paying a recurring monthly fee for something that you will never be able to keep.

If you are new to oxygen and you have not been supplied anything by a DME through your insurance or Medicare plan you have a much better chance of getting a portable concentrator paid for by your insurance company or Medicare.

If you have already been provided supplemental oxygen tanks or liquid oxygen Medicare and insurance are going to classify portable oxygen concentrators as luxury devices since they have already provided you with a portable oxygen setup.

How to choose oxygen concentrator?

Once you begin the journey of finding the best portable oxygen concentrator for your medical oxygen needs, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind.

1. Find a portable oxygen machine that completely meets your lifestyle and medical oxygen needs.
   • Do you need pulse or continuous flow, CPAP/BiPAP compatibility, or the ability to charge in the car?
   • You should also take into consideration that as your disease progresses your flow settings may change so it may be smart to purchase a POC with higher flow settings.
2. How will you be using the POC daily?
   • Will, it only be used during times of peak physical activity and while traveling or will you be using it 24/7?
   • Keep your personal and respiratory health goals in mind while comparing different oxygen concentrators.
   • Instead of simply basing your purchasing decision on which unit is the lightest or offers the longest battery life.
3. Thoroughly research all oxygen concentrators online
   • Read product reviews from patients because there is no better way to get insight into a concentrator than from a current user
   • Educate yourself on POC’s by watching product videos
   • Find a concentrator that will meet your medical oxygen needs of today and in the future as the disease progresses
4. Do your due diligence on portable oxygen concentrator distributors
   1. Ensure you are dealing with a reputable company that values its patients by checking reviews from previous and current customers.
   2. Specifically reviews and testimonials discussing delivery time, customer service, product education assistance, and overall satisfaction. A legitimate place to search for company reviews is on the Better Business Bureau (BBB.org).
   3. What services do they offer that you may need? Such as a buy-back program, FREE lifetime tech support, or a full-service repair center.
   4. Keep in mind that just because a company may have the lowest pricing, doesn’t mean they are the best or most legitimate option. This is why looking at reviews, testimonials, and company reputation before buying is extremely important.

How to get a portable oxygen concentrator?

How to Purchase a Portable Oxygen Concentrator?

Not just anyone can go out and buy a portable oxygen concentrator. The only way to legally purchase a POC according to federal law is to have a written prescription for medical-grade oxygen from your doctor. If you do not have an oxygen prescription, we will be unable to sell a concentrator to you as they are regulated by the FDA and FAA.

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A portable oxygen concentrator continuous flow, also known as a POC, functions unlike any standard or liquid oxygen tanks you may currently be using.

Instead of scheduling regular refills or replacements for tanks, a portable oxygen concentrator takes in ambient air and sends it through a filtration process to produce medical-grade quality oxygen.

This innovative process is powered by a rechargeable internal/external battery or both, depending on the oxygen concentrator you choose. They may also be plugged into an AC or DC outlet to power and even charge the unit during treatments.

Continuous flow oxygen concentrator

How does a continuous-flow oxygen concentrator work?

Easily put, an oxygen concentrator pulls in ambient air from its surroundings. The air is then compressed and nitrogen is removed by the air filter and sieve beds to deliver purified medical grade oxygen via a nasal cannula. The level of oxygen delivered is regulated by the flow rate set on your machine.

Whether you are a caregiver or an oxygen patient, you’re here because you want to improve your’s or your loved one’s personal freedom and quality of life.

In this guide to portable oxygen concentrators we will cover everything from their history, why they vary in size, differences in continuous and pulse flow, reasons why you need a POC, traveling tips, purchasing a concentrator, and much more.

Oxygen concentrator vs oxygen tank

To help you make the most informed purchasing decision so you end up with an oxygen concentrator that meets your oxygen and lifestyle needs fully.

Oxygen therapy isn’t something that was newly introduced in the past century, in fact, the molecule of oxygen was discovered all the way back in 1772.

Shortly after oxygen was discovered, the medical implications were quickly realized, specifically for patients suffering from respiratory illnesses.

The use of hyperbaric oxygen chambers to treat COPD or other respiratory illnesses is still widely debated. Typically doctors will not use a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to treat COPD as the increased pressure could cause your lungs to leak into the chest cavity and eventually collapse.

Smallest portable oxygen concentrator

The term “portable oxygen” implies that the medical device is lightweight, durable, easy to use, and most importantly small.

Hubs can be judged by how easily they can be carried on the shoulder. The smaller the hub, the easier it is to carry it under your shoulder without interrupting your walk.

Another important benefit of small portable oxygen concentrators is that they are much easier to store.

If you ever need to store your hub, you can be sure that you will find a place for it.

Plus, since you don’t have to carry small portable oxygen concentrators on the floor, you won’t have to worry about not being able to place it on a table where it can spread germs. The most common sizes are:

• 5-liter continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator
• 6-liter continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator

Portable oxygen concentrator FAA approved

After patients began to see the incredible benefits that home oxygen concentrators provide, younger and more active patients wanted a method to supplement their active lifestyle on the go.

Cumbersome metal-oxygen or liquid oxygen tanks were the only answer for patients that wanted their oxygen therapy while away from home, however, they severely restricted patients from doing things they enjoyed most, especially traveling.

To help enhance the lives of patients with COPD and other respiratory diseases, manufacturers went to the drawing board to design a portable version of the effective home oxygen concentrator that would be approved by the FAA.

After the development of the Inogen One and the AirSep LifeStyle portable oxygen concentrators, the FAA approved these portable concentrators for in-flight use in 2005.

Paving the way for the portable oxygen concentrators of today and solidifying a new standard for oxygen therapy.

Portable oxygen concentrators with continuous flow

After years of testing and research, manufacturers were able to make incredible strides in the functionality of portable oxygen concentrators.

Today, the battery life of portable oxygen concentrators has been greatly increased and many can be enhanced with the use of an external battery. Many portable concentrators are able to be charged and powered in your car, truck, R.V., or boat through the cigarette lighter outlet.

While many portable concentrators also contain sleep mode technology, which will allow you to use your POC 24/7 such as with a home oxygen concentrator.

• Portable oxygen machines also feature numerous audible alarms that help keep you safe and let you know when an error has occurred.
• So you can rest assured knowing that your oxygen concentrator is functioning properly at all times of use.
• Any concentrator without an alarm system is not FDA or FAA approved.
• To make operating a portable oxygen concentrator as user-friendly as possible, the entire functionality of the concentrator is controlled by an easy to operate control panel.
• As technology advances select POC’s are even beginning to feature a touch screen control panel.

How does an oxygen concentrator work?

The functionality of an oxygen concentrator may seem like magic at first but in reality, it’s easily explainable. An oxygen concentrator functions by taking ambient air from the surrounding environment. The air is then sent through an internal sieve bed that removes nitrogen and delivers medical grade oxygen to you via a nasal cannula.

A concentrator is operated electrically by its rechargeable internal/external battery, the AC power supply through a standard wall outlet, or in your car, boat, or RV with the DC power supply.

Learn the step by step process of how oxygen concentrators make their own air below.

What does an oxygen concentrator do?

How Oxygen Concentrators Make Their Own Oxygen:

• Step 1: The concentrator pulls air from its surrounding area
• Step 2: Air is then compressed and the cooling mechanism protects the unit from overheating
• Step 3: The Sieve beds and filter remove nitrogen from the air
• Step 4: Medical grade oxygen is then delivered via a nasal cannula according to your preset flow setting

Battery pack for portable oxygen concentrator

Charging a Portable Oxygen Concentrator

Depending on the portable oxygen concentrator you choose, you may have some or all 3 of the charging methods that will be discussed.

All concentrators can be charged while stationary using an AC power supply through any conventional US or Canadian power outlet. Giving you access to every flow setting while the concentrator is charging.

For charging on the go, the majority of concentrators can at the very minimum be powered through your car battery with a DC power supply, while others will be powered and charged on every flow setting.

When you have more than one battery it can become cumbersome to charge each one individually with the AC power supply. To help, certain oxygen concentrator manufacturers rolled out an external battery charger option. Which operates with its own AC power supply and will charge a battery externally from the concentrator.

How Charging Works:

• The AC power supply unit cord plugs into the concentrator while the 3 pronged power cord plugs into a wall outlet.
• The electrical current from the wall outlet will travel through the power supply and begin charging/powering the concentrator’s battery.
• The oxygen concentrator will begin to charge automatically whether the machine is On or Off.
• The length of the charging cycle depends on a couple of things:
  • the remaining charge left in the battery,
  • whether or not you are using the POC while charging,
  • the flow rate you use while charging

Continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator

Oxygen Delivery: Pulse Flow vs. Continuous Flow

Pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator

A pulse flow delivery oxygen concentrator is the on-demand delivery method. Rather than providing a continuous stream of oxygen, pulse flow delivery reads and reacts to your breathing rate. At the onset of inhalation, the portable concentrator will recognize your breath and deliver a bolus dose of oxygen.

Since a pulse flow POC only delivers oxygen on-demand, less oxygen is wasted and you get better battery life. With each breath, you will hear the machine makes a faint pulsing sound.

Continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator

As its name implies, a continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator will deliver a constant and continuous flow of oxygen per minute, whether you are inhaling or exhaling.

These POC’s, are for patients that require 0.5 to 3 liters per minute of oxygen. Certain patients can use pulse flow during the day but need a continuous flow at night while sleeping to be used with CPAP/BiPAP or because they breathe too shallowly to trigger the pulse.

A continuous flow is also used by patients who breathe through their mouth rather than their nose. A great way to visualize how continuous flow works is to imagine it as a sink faucet. Once you turn it on to fill your cup a “continuous” stream of water will flow no matter how filled the cup is.

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An oxygen concentrator is a type of medical device used for delivering oxygen to individuals with breathing-related disorders.

Individuals whose oxygen concentration in their blood is lower than normal often require an oxygen concentrator to replace that oxygen.

An oxygen concentrator device uses a battery or plugs into an outlet to receive, purify, and distribute air for those who have a low level of oxygen in their blood.

These devices are lighter and less bulky than traditional oxygen tanks. They can lead to a more active lifestyle for those who have additional oxygen needs.

Medical oxygen concentrator

what does an oxygen concentrator do?

Generally, you can’t buy an oxygen concentrator over the counter. A doctor must prescribe it after they’ve completed a thorough medical evaluation. The doctors will also typically show the patients how to effectively use these concentrators while traveling and in their home.

Oxygen concentrators filter surrounding air, compressing it to the required density and then delivering purified medical grade oxygen into a pulse-dose delivery system or continuous stream system to the patient.

An oxygen concentrator device uses a battery or plugs into an outlet to receive, purify, and distribute air for those who have a low level of oxygen in their blood.

These devices are lighter and less bulky than traditional oxygen tanks. They can lead to a more active lifestyle for those who have additional oxygen needs.

How do home oxygen concentrators work?

Home oxygen concentrators are powered through a wall outlet and are intended for stationary therapy.

All these machines are in continuous flow mode and deliver a constant rate of oxygen, regardless of inhalation or exhalation. Home oxygen concentrators can deliver anywhere between 1-10 liters per minute of oxygen, based on your prescription.

As a result, these machines are heavier. They typically weigh between 40-60 lbs, and are often on wheels to easily be moved from one room to another.

When making a purchase, it is important to compare several factors including liter flow, weight, noise, power usage, and altitude.

Oxygen concentrator how it works?

An oxygen concentrator receives air, purifies it, and then distributes the newly formed air. Before it goes into the concentrator, air is made up of 80 percent nitrogen and 20 percent oxygen.

An oxygen concentrator uses that air then it comes out as 90 to 95 percent pure oxygen and 5 to 10 percent nitrogen.

The nitrogen is separated to give the patient the highest dose of oxygen possible, as it is difficult to get that percentage of oxygen without the help of a medical device.

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Portable Oxygen Concentrator FAA Approved: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) generally prohibits the use of personal oxygen units during flights because they contain compressed gas or liquid oxygen, which are defined as hazardous materials.

However, the FAA does allow the onboard use of certain portable oxygen concentrators (POCs).

You can carry and use a portable oxygen concentrator approved by the FAA on board certain flights worldwide at no charge and according to FAA regulations.

FAA approved oxygen concentrator

Current FAA rules allow, but don’t require, airlines to accept portable oxygen concentrators. Some airlines may not accept them or may charge a fee. Please note that because of safety-related space limitations, not all carriers permit the use of oxygen concentrators and/or only accept specific types.

FAA approved oxygen tanks

In addition, portable oxygen concentrator models will be accepted that have a manufacturer’s label stating in red lettering:

“The manufacturer of this Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) has determined this device conforms to all applicable FAA acceptance criteria for POC carriage and use onboard aircraft.”

Other appropriately labeled portable oxygen concentrator brands and models may be carried in the cabin with the batteries removed, if they meet our carry-on size and weight requirements, or maybe transported as checked baggage.

You must have an ample supply of fully charged batteries for the full length of your flight and any ground connection time where the portable oxygen concentrator will be used, plus three hours of extra battery time in case of flight delays or other disruptions.

Please note that in-seat electrical power is available on a limited number of aircraft, and there’s no guarantee that the in-seat power will operate or be capable of charging your POC.

Portable oxygen guidelines

Portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) are considered assistive devices and don’t count toward carry-on bag limits whether or not they are used onboard. They must fit underneath the seat or in an overhead compartment. Some seating restrictions may be necessary to comply with certain FAA safety rules.

How to travel with oxygen on a plane?

If you wish to use a POC on board, you must meet the following requirements before boarding the aircraft:

• You must notify us that you’re planning to use a POC onboard the aircraft.
• We suggest that you print the Medical Certificate for POC Use form available on the website.
• Are suggest you print the Medical certificate for POC use form available on the website.

The Medical certificate for POC use must:

• State whether oxygen use is medically necessary for all or a portion of the flight listed on your itinerary.
• Specify the maximum oxygen flow rate in liters per minute corresponding to the pressure in the cabin of the aircraft under normal operating conditions.
• State that the expected total operating time of the portable oxygen concentrator (POC) extends the entire length of the flight plus three hours.

Portable oxygen concentrator batteries

You must make sure that all extra batteries are properly protected from short-circuiting by having recessed battery terminals or by packaging the batteries so they do not contact metal objects, including the terminals of other batteries.

• You must make sure you have ample batteries to power the portable oxygen concentrator for the duration of the flight, any ground connection time where the POC will be used, plus three additional hours to allow for unanticipated delays.
• There is no electrical power available for use on all aircraft.
• In-seat electrical power is available on only a limited number of aircraft, and there’s no guarantee that any available in-seat power will operate.

Portable oxygen concentrator faa approved list

A recent American Medical Association report said more than 30 million Americans have chronic lung disease, and of those, an estimated more than 1 million Americans require home therapy involving breathing medical oxygen.
The FAA previously approved these portable oxygen concentrators for use:

• AirSep FreeStyle
• AirSep LifeStyle
• AirSep Focus
• AirSep FreeStyle 5
• Delphi RS-00400
• DeVilbiss Healthcare iGo
• Inogen One
• Inogen One G2
• Inogen One G3
• Inova Labs LifeChoice
• Inova Labs LifeChoice Activox
• International Biophysics LifeChoice
• Invacare XPO
• Invacare Solo2
• Oxlife Independence Oxygen Concentrator
• Oxus RS-00400
• Precision Medical EasyPulse
• Respironics EverGo
• Respironics Simply Go
• SeQual Eclipse
• SeQual SAROS

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If you’re a respiratory patient with a condition such as COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, or cystic fibrosis, you’ve likely accepted change as a normal part of your life.

Being able to implement treatments into your life such as pulmonary rehabilitation, supplemental oxygen therapy, and an improved diet routine is never easy, but it is essential if you want to feel better and improve your long-term prognosis.

But it’s important to remember that COPD treatment rarely remains stagnant. There will likely be a time — whether it’s several weeks, months, or years down the line — when you’ll need to make adjustments to your routine. This could be due to your doctor discovering more information about your condition or it could be caused by a serious event such as a COPD exacerbation.

Either way, you’re going to need to be adaptable in the way that you approach your condition. For example, if your doctor prescribes you 4 hours of supplemental oxygen a day, you might be tempted to get a cheap oxygen device that will simply “get the job done.”

However, since COPD is a progressive disease, it’s safe to assume that you will eventually be prescribed more oxygen use by your doctor. When this happens, you’ll be stuck in a difficult situation where you need to sell your old oxygen device and get a new one that better suits your long-term needs.

What is the smallest portable oxygen concentrator?

The AirSep Focus is an extremely lightweight portable concentrator and doesn’t require refilling it with oxygen.

The mobile unit weighs less than 2 pounds and is currently the lightest and smallest oxygen concentrator out today.

The AirSep Focus is well known for being the smallest and most comfortable to wear portable oxygen concentrator on the market.

How do portable oxygen concentrators work?

You could look at it this way – you can focus on living an active and healthy lifestyle after your oxygen needs are met by such a small and easy to carry portable oxygen concentrator.

Despite its small size, you will find that the Focus has the same excellent battery life as larger portable oxygen concentrators, and is just as dependable and robust, and is a perfect unit for travel, high altitude activities, or hikes.

Battery-powered oxygen concentrator

How many hours do home oxygen concentrators last?

If you have a small portable oxygen concentrator, it should have batteries that continue to give you the kind of freedom you need.

The two micro batteries that come with your AirSep Focus will last for up to 3 hours (1.5 hours for each one). These are powerful lithium-ion batteries that you can recharge with the AC/DC power supply when you are sitting still. To charge them back to 100% from 0% takes around 4 hours total.

If you need more time to be completely mobile, such as when you are doing some long-distance traveling, you can use the supplemental AirSep Airbelt battery pack.

This small battery pack is worn around your waist and can be plugged into the Focus for an added battery life of as much as 3.5 hours.

This comes in handy if you want to travel by air, and your airline requires that you have much more than what your 2 micro batteries can give you.

If you want to spend a day out of the house with friends without having to stop after 3 hours and charge your batteries, the Airbelt is ideal for you.

FAA approved oxygen concentrator

Air travel is already possible with the AirSep Focus because it is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for use on a passenger airplane.

Just think of how easy it would be to take the Focus with you on a flight, because of how small and light it is. It’s also as quiet as they come, the puffs of air only as audible as a whisper.

The people around you will hardly be aware that you are receiving oxygen therapy, since the carry bag and strap that come with your Focus like other small handbags.

Mini portable oxygen concentrator price

The AirSep Focus Package includes the Focus unit, two micro-batteries, a universal power supply, a shoulder strap, and carrying bag cannula, and a manual.

This package has a price of $2695.

• 5-liter continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator
• 6-liter continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator

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