Portable Oxygen Concentrator Adapts to Patient’s Inhalation
By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 02 Dec 2014
A new portable oxygen concentrator combines size, power, and ease of use to deliver gentle and effective oxygen therapy. Posted on 02 Dec 2014
The LifeChoice Activox 4L, which weighs just 2.2 kg, features two unique technologies that work together to deliver oxygen congruent with the user's inhalation rate and breathing pattern. The first technology is Pulse-Wave, resulting in a gentle delivery of oxygen to help minimize uncomfortable side effects, such as dry nose and nose bleeds that are often associated with traditional delivery methods. The second technology, Auto Mode, is a feature that detects changes in a patient’s breathing patterns and adjusts the internal breath detection trigger accordingly, in two modes: In Active (High) mode, the system will provide oxygen to address the short and frequent breath patterns which are typical for a mobile patient. In Sleep (Low) mode, the system utilizes a more sensitive breath detection trigger to identify shallow and prolonged breathing while at rest, so patients stay saturated throughout the night. The LifeChoice Activox 4L delivers up to 4 liters per minute equivalent oxygen, and offers up to 10.25 hours of internal battery runtime. An optional external battery provides up to 4.75 hours of additional battery runtime. The LifeChoice Activox 4L is a product of Inova Labs (Austin, TX, USA).
“Activox 4L was designed to address the increasing oxygen requirements of our patients without compromising on weight or battery life,” said John Rush, CEO of Inova Labs. “This significant engineering achievement will empower patients with peace of mind and the freedom to travel with a powerful, lightweight solution for their oxygen needs.”
Oxygen concentrators use rapid swing adsorption of atmospheric nitrogen onto a zeolite mineral pellet, which leaves oxygen as the primary gas. At high pressure, the porous zeolite adsorbs large quantities of nitrogen, due to its large surface area. After the oxygen and other free components are collected, the pressure drops again, which allows nitrogen to be released. A typical oxygen concentrator has an air compressor, two cylinders filled with zeolite pellets, a pressure equalizing reservoir, and some valves and tubes.
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Inova Labs