The Ins and Outs of 3 Continuous Flow Portable Oxygen Concentrators

 

Continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators offer the oxygen patient a constant flow of oxygen. Many oxygen patients require continuous flow only during certain activities like while they exercise or when they sleep, while others need their oxygen continuously flowing at all times of the day and night. 

Your oxygen prescription will be unique to you and you should do your best to adhere to the recommendation set up by your healthcare team. We also recommend working with an oxygen equipment company that is a licensed distributor of name brand products.

 

 

Oxygen patients should also be wary of the medical supply company your doctor office refers you to, because this is not always the company that wants to work with you to find the right device for you. Some people will order their oxygen device from sites like Amazon because they are cheaper, but what they do not realize is these machines are faulty and not only do they break easily, you will not get the medical grade oxygen you body needs. 

 

When you work with an experienced respiratory specialist, they will ask you a series of questions, these questions will help them determine whether or not a portable oxygen concentrator will cover all of your oxygen requirements within your supplemental oxygen prescription. Your specialist should also be curious about your lifestyle and your wants and concerns as an oxygen patient, in order to best match you with the oxygen device that is going to be suited to your lifestyle.  

 

When you work with LPT Medical, we require a doctor's prescription before anything else. This way we can be sure that your device will be compatible with your oxygen requirements.

 

 

This protocol also ethically binds us to the agreement that we will not sell medical grade oxygen to respiratory patients who do not qualify for it. Secondly, we want to know about you, what are your hobbies, do you like to travel, what are your respiratory goals? This way we can match you with a device that will help you reach your goals rather than hold you back. 

 

Once we have established your oxygen requirements, we will take you through the different specifications of our devices and the pros and cons of each portable oxygen concentrator, and from there, you will feel confident choosing a device.

 

 

In this blog, we will discuss your options as a continuous flow oxygen patient. If you gave LPT Medical a call today at 1(800) 946-1201, and you were a continuous flow oxygen patient we would go through these options for you: 

 

• Respironics SimplyGo 
• Oxlife Independence Portable Oxygen Concentrator
• SeQual Eclipse 5 Portable Oxygen Concentrator

 

In this article we do not discuss any of our portable oxygen concentrators costs because our prices are lower than the manufacturer's prices, therefore we are obligated not to advertise our low prices online. To learn about how we can help make your oxygen equipment more affordable, please call us today at 1(800)-946-1201 to learn about your options. 

Respironics SimplyGo 

Let us start with the smallest and lightest weight continuous and pulse flow oxygen device on the market! 

 

 

The Respironics SimplyGo is a pulse flow and continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator that only weighs 10 pounds. 10 pounds is about as heavy as a gallon of milk, and this is still considered heavy for many oxygen patients. That is why the Respironics Simply Go comes with a wheeled cart and an over the shoulder carrying case, so you have multiple options to carry the device depending on what you are doing. 

Activities you can Accomplish with the Respironics SimplyGo

If you are an active person, you can get a lot more done with the SimplyGo than you would lugging around a bulky liquid or gas oxygen tank. This is because the SimplyGo was designed to be portable, so it has a compact and simple design that makes wheeling it behind you a breeze.

 

 

You can go for long walks because the battery life of the Respironics SimplyGo can last for up to up to 2.9 hours with a single battery. With the SimplyGo you have the option to use the external battery module, allowing your device to operate while using two batteries, this gives you even longer to be out and about with your oxygen device while traveling, during road trips, and extended trips away from your home!

 

The wide range of flow settings on the SimplyGo gives you the freedom and independence to manage your condition confidently on your own. You will never have to wait around for an oxygen delivery service to bring you new oxygen tanks, instead you can dial in your pulse flow settings of 1-6 and your continuous flow settings 0.5-2.0 LPM to match your oxygen prescription. 

Exercise 

 

 

With these strong pulse flow settings and the ability to reach 2.0 LPM on continuous oxygen flow, you will be able to start exercising or continuing to exercise daily. Exercise for respiratory patients is crucial. Exercise helps to slow down the deterioration in your lungs if you have a chronic respiratory disease, and daily exercise can help to strengthen your muscles and your lungs thereby  improving your overall quality of life.  

Travel 

 

 

If you enjoy traveling, whether it is by air plane, car, RV, or even boat, your Respironics SimplyGo will help you get to your destination worry free. All of our portable oxygen concentrators are FAA approved, and taking them with you on a plane is simple and manageable. 

 

The Respironics SimplyGo is a compact device, its’ dimensions are 10” H x 6” D x 11.5” W, so it can easily fit under the seat space in front of you during your flight in the car during a road trip. 

 

If you travel long distances, you might be worried about the battery life of your device. 

If this is the case for you, you can always purchase the Respironics External Battery Charger which gives you the ability to recharge your batteries without plugging your concentrator into the AC or DC power cables the device comes with. It’s a single-bay charger and recharges one battery at a time. It’s equipped with a 110v power cord allowing you to plug it into any 110v wall outlet.

 

The external battery charger also has the ability to recalibrate your batteries! If you ever feel like your batteries aren’t holding a charge like they used to, simply recalibrate them on your charger.

 

You can also get the external battery module, this is a device that connects to your Respironics SimplyGo allowing you to attach a second battery. Essentially, you are able to double the battery life of your Respironics SimplyGo, affording you more time with oxygen before you have to charge the device again. 

 

If you are traveling by plane a lot, it would be wise to look into the airline’s plug in capabilities, because there are a lot of planes that offer AC charging docks, in which case you could charge the batteries, use your oxygen device, and flight across the country at the same time. 

Oxlife Independence Portable Oxygen Concentrator

 

 

O2-Concepts is probably a name you haven’t heard much about in the oxygen industry, but the Oxlife Independence portable oxygen concentrator by O2-Concepts is right up there on the list of the best continuous portable oxygen concentrators. It’s a sleek looking unit that is extremely durable and offers a number of different features that work to make your life easier! 

 

Whether you’re looking for a concentrator to travel with or you want something for everyday use, the Oxlife Independence is capable of supplying you with oxygen 24/7.

Cutting-Edge Technology 

 

 

The Oxlife Independence is the world’s first “smart” portable oxygen concentrator. It is equipped with DNA technology which is powered by the Verizon network. DNA technology takes the Oxlife and puts it in its own class of concentrators.

 

With DNA technology, your Oxlife Independence will monitor your usage and corresponding environmental conditions to adapt and proactively support your needs. It tracks vital data like hours used, breathing rate, ambulation, and more!

 

Life PT Medical and O2-Concepts will be able to remotely monitor your concentrator and your machine will notify us if there is anything wrong with the unit. And should the unfortunate event happen where someone steals your concentrator or it somehow gets lost, DNA technology lets us find it’s most recent location!

Reliable and Durable to Withstand the Trials and Tribulations of Time 

 

 

The Oxlife Independence is durable, but it is also user friendly. The hard-bodied shell protects your Oxlife from everyday wear and tear and accidental bumps, 

 

The most unique feature on the Oxlife Independence is the integrated travel cart. Most continuous flow portables have to be secured to a cart before use. The Oxlife’s integrated cart provides you with seamless transitions from storing to using your concentrator. The folding handle allows you to have your Oxlife ready to store or ready to use in seconds.

 

The large wheels make it easy to maneuver in large crowds, around your house, and while you’re exercising. They make it so you won’t have to worry about going up curbs/stairs or avoiding puddles outside. And they are replaceable in case anything happens to them!

Built to Last 

 

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The Oxlife has a built in compressor rated to last up to 20,000 hours! You will be able to depend on the device 24/7 without a problem, even if you use a CPAP or BiPAP device while you sleep. It offers both pulse flow and continuous flow delivery modes so if your oxygen prescription changes over time, your device can be adjusted to cover your needs rather than needing to buy a new one. 

 

On pulse flow it goes from 1-6 and on continuous flow it goes from 0.5-3.0 LPM so the device is powerful enough to cover most oxygen patients with some wiggle room to crank up the flow in the case of an emergency or other instances when you need a higher than normal flow. 

Great Battery Life

 

 

Battery life is one of the most important features in a portable oxygen concentrator and when you are looking into buying a portable oxygen concentrator, looking for a device with efficient flow to battery life ratio is essential. The Oxlife Independence has the ability to operate using one or two batteries, and it gets great battery life for a continuous flow machine.

 

With one battery you will get up to 1.25 hours of battery life on a setting of 2 LPM and up to 3.00 hours of battery life on a pulse setting of 2.

 

With two batteries you will get up to 2.5 hours of battery life on a setting of 2 LPM and up to 5.75 hours of battery life on a pulse setting of 2.

 

This goes to show how much you can accomplish with a Oxlife Independence by your side!

SeQual Eclipse 5 Portable Oxygen Concentrator

The SeQual Eclipse 5 is the 4th generation model in SeQual’s extremely popular Eclipse line of concentrators. In fact, the Eclipse 5 is one of the best selling and most reliable continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators on the market. It offers the highest oxygen output on the market, gets good battery life, and it was also designed for the US Military.

 

 

 

Most Powerful Continuous Flow Portable Oxygen Concentrator 

The SeQual Eclipse 5 has the highest oxygen output on the market. It offers pulse flow settings 1-9 and continuous flow settings 0.5-3.0 LPM. With such a wide range of oxygen settings, the Eclipse 5 can accommodate most oxygen patients and it will be able to adjust to your needs when needed!

 

Along with offering pulse flow settings 1-9, the Eclipse 5 is equipped with Auto-Sat technology. Most portables that offer pulse flow can only provide a fixed amount of oxygen per minute based on your breathing rate.

 

With Auto-Sat technology, you don’t have to worry about that. Whether you are walking upstairs, exercising, or simply having a bad breathing day your SeQual Eclipse 5 will monitor your breath rate and give you a consistent bolus dose every time it detects a breath.

 

That’s not the only way the Eclipse 5 guarantees that you get your required oxygen though…

 

When you are using pulse flow and your Eclipse 5 doesn’t detect a breath, you will still get your oxygen! So if you dozed off watching a movie, flying on an airplane, or riding in the car and your Eclipse 5 doesn’t detect a breath, it will automatically switch over to continuous flow to keep providing you with oxygen.

Durable and Reliable 

 

 

The SeQual Eclipse 5 is one of the most, if not the most, popular continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators on the market. That is largely due to its long-standing track record for being durable; it was designed for the US Military, that should tell you something.

 

The hard-bodied shell of the Eclipse 5 is extremely protective. It can withstand bumps and bruises with any damage, so it will last a lifetime. 

 

One of the best things about the Eclipse 5 is that it requires very little maintenance from you to keep it running. All you need to do is clean out your oxygen filter once every week or two in order to make sure your are getting purified oxygen depending on how often you use your Eclipse. 

Portable and Easy to Travel With 

 

 

Despite the SeQual Eclipse weighing upwards of 18 pounds, it is simple and easy to take with you wherever you go. 

 

It comes with a wheeled travel cart with smooth wheels that makes pulling your concentrator behind you seem effortless.

 

The oversized wheels, elevated platform, and telescopic handle make going up curbs and stairs a breeze.The design also protects your concentrator from water when you have to go over puddles or when it’s snowing.

 

The telescopic handle lets you adjust the travel cart to the height that is most comfortable for you! And if you ever need to store your concentrator the handle slides all the way down and locks. So if you’re traveling you can keep your SeQual on the travel cart and it will still fit underneath the seat in front of you!

 

Depending on the setting of your oxygen flow, the SeQual Equinox can last anywhere from 1.3 hours to 5.9, so the battery life allows you to be about and about longer without having to worry about charging your device. 

 

When you do need to charge your Equinox, it is super simple, and you have multiple options, so no matter where you are, as long as there is a DC or and AC outlet, you will have the tools to charge the device, and you can always continue to use the device while it is charging, 

 

 

A Simple Comparison 

 

 

As you can see, there are a few key differences between the SimplyGo, Oxilife, and the Eclipse. For one the SimplyGo weights much less than the Oxlife or the Eclipse. The battery life of the Eclipse and the Oxlife is greater than that of the SimplyGo. 

 

All of the devices are reliable and durable, but the Eclipse is known for its low maintenance requirements.

 

You can travel by plane, car, boat, or foot with any of these devices, but the Respironics SimplyGo is the most compact and lightest to carry around with you. However, all three are small enough to fit under the seat in front of you while you travel on an airplane. The Equinox has a telescopic handle that makes traveling a breeze.  

 

The Oxlife has DNA technology that can track certain health related information, so this device is great for people who are interested in keeping track of their breathing stats. 

 

It can be overwhelming to look over all of this information and then have to decide on the device you want, which is why we have respiratory specialists waiting for your call. Give us a call if you have any questions or concerns, or simply leave a comment on this blog if you have any questions.