Gadgets Now | Debashis Sarkar 10 May, 2021, 08:36AM IST

The air we breathe has two major components: around 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. Now, to get only pure oxygen, you need to eliminate nitrogen along with other impurities. An oxygen concentrator does exactly this. In simple terms, it’s a device that sucks in air from the room with the help of a motor, passes it through a filter, heats the air, eliminates nitrogen, compresses the oxygen, passes it through clean water and delivers concentrated oxygen for you to breathe.

You can imagine it to be an advanced air purifier with compressors, motors, pressure regulators, heat exchanger and other components. An oxygen concentrator doesn’t produce oxygen, it simply concentrates it.

The flow of pure oxygen is measured as ‘Litres Per Minute’ or LPM. Ideally, you would at least need a device that can offer a supply of 5LPM continuously. Nowadays, you even get models offering 10LPM.

The affordable models from Philips start around Rs 45,000 for models with a capacity of 5 LPM. The battery-powered ones cost over Rs 1 lakh depending on the capacity. A model with a capacity of 10LPM can easily cost over Rs 1.5 lakh. Note that there’s no fixed price for a certain model and you will have to do your own market research. Also, you may also find local dealers that rent concentrators.

E-commerce platforms in India don't specifically cater to medical equipment. While you may find deals on Amazon, Flipkart and other websites, you will have to consider warranty, authenticity and service network before purchasing one. Even if you wish to buy online, talk to local dealers or a medical professional who has enough knowledge about concentrators. Always visit the website of the brand to verify the product before using it.

The air filters need to be cleaned occasionally and also an oxygen concentrator needs servicing every six months. Also, you need to change the water in the humidifier water bottle to avoid the growth of bacteria.

In India, you will find these devices in homes where people suffer from asthma or other respiratory illnesses. In countries like China, it is quite common to find oxygen concentrators in households with senior citizens.

No, it cannot. An oxygen concentrator and an oxygen cylinder are required for two different purposes. An oxygen cylinder offers pure oxygen instantly at any desired flow rate and it has the ability to fill the lungs with oxygen irrespective of the person's capability to breathe. On the other hand, while using an oxygen concentrator, the person needs to have the strength to at least be able to breathe on his own and inhale the pure oxygen from the concentrator.

Another thing to note is that an oxygen concentrator is easy to move around and is portable while oxygen cylinders are bulky and heavy.

The condition of the lungs matters a lot more than the Spo2 level while using an oxygen concentrator. Also, the device can only help in mild infection where the blood oxygen or SpO2 levels are around 85 to 88. If the SpO2 readings fall below 85, the person would soon need to be put on medical oxygen supply.

Another important thing to remember is the health of the overall respiratory system. It is quite possible that a person with SpO2 reading of 88 is unable to breathe properly using an oxygen concentrator.

You need the advice of a doctor to buy the right type of oxygen concentrator and also to know whether or not it will be useful for the particular patient. Doctor’s advice is also required for the time duration and flow rate of oxygen therapy.

You can either opt for a continuous or pulse flow model. A continuous flow model means the rate of oxygen delivery can’t be changed. For example, if it offers 5 litres per minute (LPM), a continuous flow rate model will offer 5LPM continuously irrespective of whether the person is inhaling or exhaling. On the other hand, a pulse dose model detects inhalation and supplies oxygen only when the person is breathing in.

Also, you can opt for a battery-powered device or a direct power model. Most affordable concentrators need to be plugged into a power source. The models with a battery backup are expensive but the battery life is usually under two hours when fully charged. So, if you stay in a region where there are frequent power cuts, a battery-powered model will be helpful. However, note that if there are prolonged power cuts then you need to keep a medical oxygen cylinder as a backup.

An oximeter is a must-have device while using an oxygen concentrator. You need to monitor the SpO2 levels to see how the body is reacting to the oxygen concentrator. If the device is used for long periods of time then the rate of oxygen delivery may dip and the person may require medical oxygen immediately.

Whether you are buying online or offline, ask your doctors for the specific model beforehand. Philips is a known manufacturer of affordable oxygen concentrators in India and other brands include ResMed, Invacare, AirSep, Medtronic, BPL, Inogen among others. Always ask for the warranty details, service network and check with professionals to know whether the device is original or not. Also, visit the website of the brand to verify the product before using it.