Discover the essential guide to selecting an oxygen concentrator for COPD patients, including tips on usage, maintenance, and care to ensure long-term health benefits during winter and beyond. Safeguard your family's health with our detailed and professional advice.
Winter is hard and even harder for the elderly with COPD! Cold air stimulates the respiratory mucosa, aggravating symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. In addition, winter is the peak season for colds and flu, which brings multiple blows to COPD patients. Long-term home oxygen therapy is an important nursing method for COPD in the stable period. Therefore, the elderly need to choose a suitable home oxygen concentrator. This article outlines the most detailed oxygen concentrator purchase, maintenance, use, and maintenance tips in 2024 to protect your and your family's health.
How to choose an oxygen concentrator:
Should I choose a healthcare type or a medical type for a home oxygen concentrator?
Key point 1: Oxygen concentrators are divided into healthcare type and medical type
Most healthcare-type oxygen concentrators are non-medical devices, while medical-type oxygen concentrators are Class II medical devices
Key point 2: The main difference between healthcare oxygen concentrators and medical oxygen concentrators
Healthcare oxygen concentrators do not have medical device registration numbers, while medical oxygen concentrators have been registered as Class II medical devices and have medical device registration numbers. They are products that meet standards in terms of specifications and production processes.
As the gas flow rate of healthcare oxygen concentrators increases, it is difficult to maintain an oxygen concentration of 90%. However, medical oxygen concentrators continuously output an oxygen concentration of no less than 90%. And they can supply oxygen for a long time, even 24 hours a day.
Therefore, medical oxygen concentrators can be used in daily scenarios, but if healthcare oxygen concentrators are used in medical scenarios, they will often delay treatment, which must be carefully considered.
Key point 3: Choose an oxygen concentrator according to different needs
Health oxygen concentrator (1L/2L): used for people with mild hypoxia, such as pregnant women with mild hypoxia, students, and mental workers who use their brains a lot and are under great pressure.
Medical oxygen concentrator (3L/5L and above): more suitable for people with respiratory diseases, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, people with hypoxia, and people who need to breathe oxygen for a long time.
(Note: People with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases: When people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and other lung diseases choose oxygen concentrators, the choice of oxygen flow should be based on the degree of hypoxia and the underlying disease. It is recommended to follow the doctor's advice and not buy blindly!)
2. How to use the oxygen concentrator correctly
Installation and connection of home oxygen concentrator:
You need to install the device according to the user manual (after you receive the OLV portable oxygen concentrator, we will provide you with a detailed manual and installation and use video. You only need to follow our instructions to easily use the oxygen concentrator) Make sure that the oxygen tube, mask or nasal cannula of the normal oxygen concentrator is firmly connected to the device and the power supply is correctly connected.
Set the oxygen flow rate of the portable oxygen concentrator:
You can adjust the oxygen flow rate according to the doctor's prescription or individual needs. In general, the oxygen flow rate is between 1-5L/min, and the specific situation depends on the treatment needs of different diseases.
Wearing oxygen equipment correctly
- Oxygen concentrator mask:
The mask should cover the mouth and nose to ensure that there is no air leakage. Different types of masks are suitable for different oxygen flow rates and treatment methods.
- Oxygen concentrator nasal cannula:
The nasal cannula is suitable for low-flow oxygen therapy. When using it, the cannula should be inserted into the nostril correctly to avoid discomfort.
- Oxygen concentrator flow monitoring:
Blood oxygen saturation can be checked regularly during use to ensure adequate oxygen supply.
Precautions in the operation of home oxygen concentrator
When using oxygen, the humidity in the air may decrease. Consider using a humidifier to avoid causing dryness in the respiratory tract.
- Keep the oxygen concentrator stable:
Try to avoid shaking or hitting the device during use, especially for portable devices, to avoid battery damage.
Oxygen concentrator maintenance and care: How to ensure the long-term effective operation of the oxygen concentrator
- Clean the shell of the machine
The shell of the oxygen generator should be cleaned 1-2 times a month. If dust is inhaled, it will affect the oxygen production effect and even damage the machine. Before cleaning the shell, cut off the power supply, apply a little detergent on the outside of the chassis with a clean towel, use it to wipe the outside of the shell, and then wipe it dry with a dry towel!
Be careful not to let liquid penetrate into the gap of the chassis. If the body is damp, it will affect the molecular sieve inside the oxygen generator.
- Clean or replace the filter cotton
Cleaning and replacing the air intake filter cotton is very important to protect the compressor and molecular sieve and extend the life of the oxygen generator. Please clean and replace it in time.
The oxygen generator must not be operated when the filter cotton is not installed or is wet, otherwise it will cause lasting damage to the machine. It is recommended to clean or replace it every 200 hours of work. If there is obvious dust accumulation, it should be replaced immediately regardless of the length of use.
Cleaning method: Use diluted detergent to clean, then rinse with clean water, dry it, and then install it back on the machine.
- Cleaning the nasal oxygen tube
The oxygen tube is used when breathing oxygen, and the nasal oxygen tube is best used by one person only.
The nasal oxygen tube is a disposable product. If it needs to be reused, it should be cleaned with medical alcohol after use.
Cleaning method: Soak it in medical alcohol for about 5 minutes and then dry it. After cleaning, please check whether there is foreign matter or damage in the nasal oxygen tube. If there is foreign matter or damage, please stop using it and replace it with a new one.
Note: During the cleaning process, please be sure to keep the nasal oxygen tube dry. If liquid accidentally enters, replace it with a new one in time.
Clean it once a week and replace it immediately if it becomes yellow or changes color
- Humidifier bottle cleaning
When using an oxygen concentrator, it is recommended to use purified water in the humidifier bottle and replace it daily. The humidifier bottle should be cleaned every 3 days. You can use clean water or neutral detergent to clean the humidifier bottle to ensure the hygiene of oxygen production. If there is a scale attached, soak it with 40ml of vinegar, then scrub and rinse it clean. In addition, it is recommended to disinfect the humidifier bottle once every 7 days. Soak it in 75% medical alcohol or 500mg/L chlorine-containing disinfectant for half an hour, then rinse it with clean water and dry it.
When the humidifier bottle is not in use, please keep the bottle dry to prevent bacteria from growing.
After maintenance, the oxygen concentrator must be dried to keep the inside of the oxygen concentrator dry to prevent water droplets from entering the machine and causing mold or water droplets causing machine failure.
