As an oxygen patient, quality, affordability, and reliability should be the characteristics of your oxygen equipment. As a longtime family owned medical equipment company in Denver, CO, and a newer oxygen supply company in Boca Raton, Fl we are always searching for the best manufactures to work with in order to provide our customers with oxygen equipment that exceeds their expectations and doesn't break the bank.
Inogen oxygen equipment offers users the quality and reliability they need to depend on their oxygen equipment all day and all night, and when purchased from LPT Medical you can expect affordability that is hard to find anywhere else.
In this article we are looking at three generations of Inogen oxygen devices, the One G3, G4, and G5. All of these devices offer the quality and reliability that you need to feel confident and covered at all times.
Quality is always an important factor to take into consideration when buying an oxygen concentrator. Fortunately, LPT Medical offers products from the most reputable manufacturers in the industry including but not limited to Inogen, Philips Respironics, Drive Medical, and more. These are the companies that are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for patients suffering with a debilitating respiratory condition. And by offering these brands, we ensure that more people around the country have access to the most state-of-the-art oxygen therapy equipment in the world.
Reliability is something that we can all agree we look for in just about any purchase, especially the more expensive and life changing expenses, like a car or of course your oxygen equipment.
Everyone is different, but we know that many oxygen users are still very independent people. With the help of a portable oxygen concentrator, oxygen users are able to rely on themselves rather than being at the will of an oxygen delivery service. Therefore, it is so important to us to provide our customers with reliable equipment that will get them through the tough days, bad weather, and even global pandemics.
So how do we offer the lowest prices on portable oxygen concentrators and all of the oxygen accessories that you need to make the most out of your supplemental oxygen therapy?
We are a small business, and so we can focus on the small things. We can also relate to a lot of our customers, so we understand their frustrations and connect with them on a personal level which makes doing business a lot more enjoyable for both parties.
Every year it becomes increasingly more difficult for people to pay for the medical equipment they need in order to treat conditions like COPD, asthma, and sleep apnea. Although many people depend on oxygen equipment to be able to live fulfilling and satisfying lives, trying to get Medicare and private healthcare companies to see them as a necessity is like pulling teeth. Oftentimes, healthcare providers refuse to pay their fair share and respiratory patients are left high and dry without many options.
To counteract this, our goal here at LPT Medical is to get an oxygen concentrator in the hands of anyone and everyone who wants one. We’re proud to offer the lowest prices on portable oxygen concentrators you can find online, alongside financing options that make monthly payments more manageable for the average buyer. We have a wide price range of products for sale and we always have second hand machines for you to consider.
Inogen is one of the leading oxygen manufacturing companies in the world, and for good reason. Their devices are powerful, lightweight, and innovative. Each generation is better than the next in some ways, but the older generation never lose their value because of how well they are built and how user friendly they are.
Some of the older generations like the G3, work even better for some patients depending on their needs and lifestyle.
This is why we created this blog, for you to see the comparisons between different Inogen devices all in one place.
The One G3 was created before the G4 and G5, but it is still one of the most popular devices on the market today. It is lightweight and powerful enough to fulfill most pulse dose oxygen patient’s needs.
When you are looking for the best portable oxygen concentrator, you want something that is lightweight. This is important for obvious reasons, you can carry your device with you with no hassle. With a small device, you can easily place it in your purse or backpack for transport, or use one of the One G3 custom carrying cases. Having a small lightweight device will allow you to maneuver around your home efficiently, you will feel less cumbersome, and your oxygen device will actually help you move around rather than hold you back.
The One G3 only weighs 4.8 pounds with the single battery, and merely 5 pounds if you decide to use the double battery, (we will discuss battery life in the next section).
The small device stands at just 7.25” W x 3” D x 8.75” H, but this compact device is also powerful, and gives off oxygen that can help you get back to healthy oxygen levels. With a small lightweight device you can start to walk and exercise more which will also improve your endurance and lung health.
The battery life of the One G3 is amazing compared to other POCs. Having a portable oxygen concentrator with long lasting battery life gives you the freedom you deserve. Because the device takes in ambient air from its surroundings, it will never run out of oxygen, all you must do is keep your battery charged, as you would your cell phone!
Is it no secret that oxygen delivery companies will keep you waiting around for hours on delivery days, and sometimes they don’t even provide you with the correct equipment.
Having an oxygen device that is battery power gives you the responsibility, and in turn, the independence to take care of your oxygen needs without relying or waiting on anyone else.
With the Inogen One G3, you have 2 different battery options to choose from:
The One G3 8-Cell battery keeps your Inogen One G3 at 4.8 pounds and supplies you with up to 4 hours of battery life. It’s perfect for quick errands, doing things around your house, gardening, or exercising.
The One G3 16-Cell battery adds about a pound of weight to your Inogen One G3, but it supplies you with double the battery life, so you can go about 8 hours with oxygen before you have to recharge or replace the battery with a backup. When you think about it, adding an extra pound of weight to get up to 4.5 additional hours of battery life is a pretty good deal!
The 16-Cell battery is ideal for things like traveling, long trips away from your house, and using as a backup power source in case of a power outage.
The Inogen One G3 is a pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator. It does not have the ability to provide a continuous flow. It offers pulse flow settings 1-5 and can accommodate nearly any oxygen patient who can use a pulse flow.
Many respiratory diseases that would require supplemental oxygen are progressive in nature. COPD for instance gets worse overtime, and it becomes more severe without the proper treatment and lifestyle changes. So if you require a setting of 2 or 3, the Inogen One G3 provides you with some wiggle room for an increase in your flow rate should your disease progress into a more severe state.
This is so important, because if you and your doctor decide that your flow rate should increase you won’t have to worry about getting a new oxygen concentrator, all you will have to do is simply turn your device up a notch, and be diligent about the difference in the battery life.
Whether you’re looking for a portable oxygen concentrator to make your everyday life easier or if you want something that will give you the freedom to travel anywhere you can dream of, the Inogen One G4 should be at the top of your list.
The oxygen output of the One G4 is for a select amount of oxygen patients. The pulse flow device can give off 210-630 ML/Min which is a range of settings 1-3. Of course, this device will not work for those who need a higher oxygen output, but if you are within this range, owning the One G4 has some amazing perks, and you should continue reading this section!
The One G4 weighs 2.8 pounds and stands at 7.2” H x 5.91” L x 2.68” W, the G4 is the smallest and lightest portable oxygen concentrator and its battery life is surprising for how small this machine is.
Because of its small size, the Inogen One G4 is perfect for any occasion. Its compressor is rated to last 20,000 hours so you can have peace of mind using it every day. It’s small enough to carry virtually anywhere without feeling like your arm is going to fall off. And traveling with oxygen has never been easier than it is with the G4.
With the padded shoulder strap, you will be comfortable carrying your Inogen One G4 to the doctors, through the airport, or at the store. And at 2.8 pounds, you will use very little energy to carry your oxygen with you.
Just like its predecessors, the Inogen One G4 offers 2 different battery options:
With the One G4 single battery, you can get up to 2.25 hours of use on a single charge on a setting of 2. This setup is perfect for making trips to the doctor’s office, running to the store, doing things around your house, and exercising.
The One G4 double battery, on the other hand, gets up to 4.5 hours of use on a single charge. Despite doubling your battery life your Inogen One G4 will weigh a mere 3.3 pounds with the double battery installed. This setup will give you the freedom and independence to travel, go to sporting events, or get dinner and see a movie.
Falling asleep while using oxygen can be difficult, especially if you have trouble sleeping in the first place. If your doctor recommends using oxygen while you sleep, this means that your blood oxygen levels are low enough even while resting. Therefore, getting accustomed to sleeping while using your oxygen is necessary for getting the most out of your oxygen therapy.
Luckily if you have the One G4,it is a approved for nighttime use while you sleep because it is equipped with Intelligent Delivery Technology. As long as you don’t require a CPAP or BiPAP machine to sleep, the One G4 should work for you while you sleep!
The Intelligent Delivery Technology works by being more sensitive when detecting your breath and it is more efficient at delivering your oxygen to ensure minimal amounts of your oxygen get wasted.
To ensure a minimal amount of oxygen gets wasted, Intelligent Delivery Technology delivers your oxygen within the first 400 milliseconds after your G4 detects your breath. This almost guarantees that you are receiving the full bolus dose of oxygen.
When you sleep, your breathing rate slows. Intelligent Delivery Technology monitors your breath rate and it will increase or decrease the amount of oxygen in each bolus dose depending on your breath rate and the oxygen setting you are using. So, if you are breathing at a rate of 10 breaths per minute your Inogen One G4 will double the amount of oxygen per bolus dose compared to if you were breathing at a rate of 20 breaths per minute. This guarantees you are getting your required oxygen!
One of the major reasons why other pulse flow portable oxygen concentrators don’t work for nighttime oxygen while you sleep is that they only detect a breath when you inhale through your nose. This is nearly impossible to control while you’re sleeping. With the Inogen One G4 you won’t have to worry about that because it will even detect shallow mouth breaths while you sleep to deliver your oxygen.
If you aren’t sure if the Inogen One G4 will work for you at night, you can always speak with your doctor about it or get a sleep test to make sure before you try it yourself.
The Inogen One G5 is the portable oxygen concentrator that truly has it all. It weighs less than the Inogen One G3, has improved battery life compared to the G3 for extended mobility, you can enjoy interruption free oxygen therapy sleep mode technology, and it is easy to carry with you wherever you go!
This is a 4.7 pound device that stands at 8.15" H x 7.19" L x 3.26" W. The One G5 comes with a G5 custom carrying case, so it will sit perfectly nested into a protective case that you can strap over your shoulder. Or you can purchase the One G5 backpack, that is awesome for longer trips away from home because you can fit you One G5 along with extra batteries, charging cables and all of your personal items.
Similarly to the One G3 and One G4, the One G5 has two battery options. You can go with the single battery that comes with the device, and this will last you 3.5 hours on a flow setting of 3. If you decide to upgrade to the one G5 double battery, you will get 7 hours on a flow setting of 3!
Having a device that will last this long will give you the freedom to breathe without worrying about running low on oxygen. You will find yourself enjoying life more and stressing less, its a simple thing that makes a huge difference in wellbeing.
You can recharge the One G5, One G3, and One G4 one of two ways, you can either use a traditional wall outlet, or you can even use the DC charger that adapts to the cigarette lighter in your car, so you can also charge your device while you drive.
Also, you can continue to use the device while it charges, so you don’t have to worry about the periods of time you spend with your device attached to the charger.
If you do not like to relax while your device is plugged in, you need an external battery charger for your portable oxygen concentrator. This will allow you to charge the batteries while you’re on the go. Just be sure you plug in the external charger every night so it is ready to be used the next day!
The flow settings on the One G5 can cover just about any pulse flow oxygen patient. The settings go all the way up to 5, or 1260 ml/min. This is great for respiratory patients whose current oxygen setting is any from 1-4, allowing wiggle room to increase the dosage of oxygen in the case of exalted symptoms for example, a COPD exacerbation, or if your disease progresses.
If your doctor approves sleeping with oxygen and you specifically talk to them about using the Inogen One G5 while you sleep, and you do not use a CPAP or BiPAP machine, you are able to sleep soundly with the One G5 thanks to the presence of Inogen's intelligent Sleep Mode Technology.
Essentially what this means is that as your breathing rate becomes more shallow as you sleep, the Sleep Mode Technology will go to work by increasing each bolus dose of oxygen.
Even if you are a mouth breather, the Sleep Mode Technology is able to detect shallow mouth breaths that are frequent when sleeping. This will then tell the Inogen One G5 to trigger a bolus dose based upon your specific fixed minute volume.
Overall, the One G3, G4, and G5 are great portable oxygen concentrators, whichever you decide on should be based on your oxygen requirements first and foremost.
You can rest assured when you purchase an Inogen device you are getting a quality and reliable oxygen device. If you have any questions about these devices or any others please email us at info@lptmedical.com or you can give us a call and speak with a respiratory specialist at 1(800)-846-1201.
To learn more about how much a portable oxygen concentrator costs, a simple google search will not explain in full all of the sale prices, nor will you be able to see the discounted prices on used and refurbished units.
Due to the manufactures advertising policy, sellers cannot show their marked-down prices, this is a common misunderstanding in the medical equipment world, and it can seem misleading at first glance. The best way to know you are working with an ethical company, and real people, is to call and speak to one of us!