Portable Oxygen Concentrator Comparison

How to Choose the Right Portable Oxygen Concentrator

When a doctor prescribes oxygen therapy for a patient, the patient often feels like their freedom is inhibited and finds it difficult to enjoy a lifestyle they had grown accustomed to. Since airlines do not permit the use of oxygen tanks, patients who are used to frequent travel find themselves in need of a portable oxygen concentrator.

Portable oxygen concentrators are not cheap; often costing up to five thousand dollars depending on the features the patient needs, they are considered to be a large purchase. But with so many different models available, such as the Respironics EverGo Portable Oxygen Concentrator, Sequal Eclipse 2 Portable Oxygen Concentrator, and Invacare XPO2 Portable Oxygen Concentrator, and Inogen One Portable Oxygen Concentrator, how does one decide which model will be the best portable oxygen concentrator for their own personal needs?

Pulse vs. Continuous Flow

The most important feature to consider when purchasing a portable concentrator is how much oxygen is delivered and how it is delivered. Typically patients receive oxygen in pulse mode, meaning that the air is delivered in puffs as opposed to a continuous stream. The Respironics EverGo Portable Oxygen Concentrator delivers more oxygen in pulse mode than any other model - up to 1.05 liters of oxygen per minute. Easy to use touch screen controls allow the user to easily adjust the settings as needed while the over-the-shoulder bag and rolling cart make transportation of the device easy.

Many patients who require oxygen be delivered in a continuous flow have found themselves unable to travel because of their breathing needs. The Sequal Eclipse 2 gives those patients the freedom to travel by being the only portable oxygen concentrator to offer oxygen in both pulse and continuous flow settings. Heavier and bulkier than most of its competitors, the Sequal Eclipse 2 includes a lightweight cart for easy transportation. Best off all, because of its ability to run on AC power and the continuous flow oxygen delivery mode, the Sequal Eclipse 2 can be used for both travel and in the home, eliminating the need for oxygen tanks or bulky home concentrators.

Portable Oxygen Concentrators for Airline Travel

For those who prefer to travel by airplane, it is best to choose a portable oxygen concentrator that is not only FAA approved for air travel, but offers enough battery power to last through a long flight or a possible flight delay and can handle the thin oxygen in airplane passenger compartments.

Airline cabins are typically pressurized to simulate oxygen levels found at 8000 feet above sea level. The Sequal Eclipse 2 and the Respironics EverGo portable oxygen concentrators, both of which are FAA approved, are designed to function at altitudes of 8000 feet or more, which enables the user to still get the amount of oxygen they need throughout the flight. This ability also makes them ideal for visiting places with higher elevations. The Respironics Evergo, however, offers longer battery life than the Sequal Eclipse 2 (up to 8 hours with two batteries installed). When planning for an airline trip, keep in mind that most airlines require that passengers carrying portable oxygen concentrators have enough batteries for twice the duration of the flight, as well as one extra battery.

The Inogen One oxygen concentrator, is also designed to operate at altitudes of up to 10,000 feet. The battery life of the Inogen One, however, is less than that of the Respironics EverGo, so additional batteries will be needed on flights without available DC outputs.

Overall Size and Portability

If you're going to be traveling with an oxygen concentrator, obviously you want most lightweight, compact unit available that is going to give you the performance that you need. The Sequal Eclipse 2 is significantly larger than its competitors, but this can be attributed to Sequal's ability to provide oxygen in a continuous flow. It does, however, include a cart to eliminate the need to carry the unit, and also offers the optional Eclipse Pak Accessory Bag which attaches to the cart and can hold extra batteries, chargers, and other accessories.

The Respironics EverGo is lightweight and includes both a shoulder bag and a rolling cart. The batteries used in the EverGo are slim in design and similar to the batteries used in laptop computers. Weighing approximately ten pounds with two batteries installed, the EverGo can be carried over the shoulder when boarding airplanes and is small enough in size to be tucked under the seat in front of you.

The smallest and most affordable portable oxygen concentrator available is the Invacare XPO2. Able to operate at altitudes up to 10000 feet, the Invacare XPO2 weighs approximately 6 pounds and significantly smaller than both the Respironics Evergo and the Inogen One. It comes in a handy carry bag and features simple controls for easy operation. The Invacare XPO2 has not received FAA approval as of July 2008, but you can check with your airline for the most up-to-date portable oxygen concentrator information.

Warranty Coverage and Reliability

While the warranty service on your portable oxygen concentrator is handled by the retailer you purchase it from, oxygen concentrators are covered by different warranties depending on who manufactured them. It is important to keep in mind the duration of your warranty so you are prepared with the correct information, should a problem with your device arise.

Typically warranty coverage on a portable oxygen concentrator runs from 3-5 years; the Respironics EverGo and Sequal Eclipse 2 both offer a 3 year warranty while the the Invacare XPO2 offers an incredible 5 year warranty against manufacturer's defects.

When purchasing a new oxygen therapy device, it is important to look at all of the features, benefits, and warranty coverage of each model while taking into consideration how you will be using it and what your oxygen needs are. Be sure to carefully consider the different portable oxygen concentrators available before purchasing. However, regardless of what model you choose, you are sure to enjoy the freedom of being able to travel in ways that, several years ago, were not possible for patients requiring oxygen therapy.

Check out our Portable Oxygen Concentrator Features Comparison Chart for a breakdown of important features to consider when comparing portable oxygen concentrators.

Author: Richard Chandler
Contact: Media@ActiveForever.com
Direct Dial: 480-459-3200

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