India is battling with the second wave of the pandemic. Seeing a large number of people gasping for oxygen, hospitals running out of beds, and an increasing death toll, there has not just been a rise in the demand for medicines but also oxygen concentrators in India. With hospitals falling short of oxygen cylinders and concentrators, people are bringing concentrators home to ensure that they or their loved ones don’t struggle for oxygen.

However, there is a general lack of awareness on what exactly is a concentrator and related questions like how it works, what are its types or when do you need one. Here is a quick guide to help you find answers to all these questions and more. Take a look.

What is an oxygen concentrator, and how does it work?

An oxygen concentrator is medical equipment used in case of breathing-related illness. A healthy pair of lungs need 21 per cent of oxygen concentration to function properly. However, in case of any breathing-related ailment such as Covid-19, lungs get affected and find it difficult to operate with natural oxygen concentration. It requires more concentrated oxygen and it is then when a patient needs medical intervention.

A concentrator is like an oxygen cylinder only with zero hassle of refilling. It basically sucks air from the environment, eliminates unwanted gases, concentrates oxygen which is taken in through a pipe by the patient. However, it should be used only in case of mild or moderate Covid-19 cases and strictly under medical supervision.

When should you buy an oxygen concentrator?

Any medical equipment should be bought only if it is advised by a medic. A concentrator can be bought if the patient is unable to maintain normal oxygen saturation level. An oximeter can be used to detect oxygen level. Normally, oxygen saturation below 93 needs medical intervention.

What are the other factors to keep in mind before you buy oxygen concentrator?

-- Capacity: First and foremost is the capacity. The oxygen concentrators mostly come in two sizes- 5L and 10L. smaller one provides 5 litres of oxygen in a minute, while the bigger offers provide 10 litres of oxygen in a minute. Most of the portable concentrators come with 5L capacity. A 10L is always better than 5L capacity concentrators.

-- Concentration level: Another most important factor is the oxygen concentration level. Every concentrator has a different oxygen concentration level. Some can provide you with air that has 87 per cent oxygen, while others promise the same up to 93 per cent. It is always best to go with one that can give around 93 per cent oxygen concentration.

-- Portability and warranty: There are two kinds of concentrators. There are home oxygen concentrators that are ideal for patients at home. They have to be directly plugged into a wall socket. Then there are portable ones which are comparatively smaller but ideal for patients who have to travel or need to be taken to the hospital.

-- Oxygen flow: The concentrator, based on the oxygen flow, can mainly be divided into two types- continuous oxygen flow and pulse dose oxygen flow concentrator. As the names suggest, a continuous flow concentrator maintains constant flow of oxygen irrespective of whether patient is breathing in or not. With Pulse dose concentrators, it is different. Instead of maintaining constant flow, this concentrator detects a change in the air pressure in the nasal cannula of patient and accordingly flows oxygen doses. Pulse dose can help in short term illness wherein you need oxygen in doses but for maintaining saturation for a like term like for a week or month, in case of Covid-19, then you would need a continuous flow one.

FAQS related to oxygen concentrators:

-- What is the maximum saturation you can attain using oxygen concentrators?

-- What is the average cost of an oxygen concentrator?

The average cost of a 5L machine is Rs 30,000 and for 10L it is Rs 40,000.

--What precautions should be taken when using a concentrator?

Make sure the machine is placed far from the window as it can suck dust and particles from outside. Do not put the concentrator close to a flame. Only a cannula should be used to deliver oxygen.

Will the concentrator work in case of a power failure?

-- A concentrator will only last for 2 to 3 minutes in case of power outage so you will need a backup.

70 years on the throne: When Queen Elizabeth visited India

Akshay's Samrat Prithviraj is less Prithviraj Chauhan, more Prithviraj Kapoor | Movie Review

100 days of Russia-Ukraine conflict: Redefining the nature of limited wars 

The new abnormal: Air pollution is not just a winter thing in Delhi anymore | Deep Dive

Visa scam: Karti Chidambaram's anticipatory bail plea rejected

Sidhu Moose Wala murder: New CCTV footage shows killers fleeing in Alto car after abandoning Bolero

Clashes break out between two groups in Kanpur

DIU Video: India's Covid-19 snapshot

Lawrence Bishnoi admits his gang killed Sidhu Moose Wala; Speculation and concerns over Putin's health; more

Hyderabad gang rape case: Mercedes used in crime belongs to Telangana MLA, say sources 

Putin's top commander goes missing in Ukraine

"Salman Khan inspired me": Meet The 'Body Builder' Jailor of Tihar Jail, Deepak Sharma

Copyright © 2022 Living Media India Limited. For reprint rights: Syndications Today

Add IndiaToday to Home Screen