Hoze-Zay wrote:I am so sorry I was up late watching the UFC fight. By efficency I was meaning, if it says it is putting out 2LPM is it really doing that. Thanks for any further info.Slinky wrote:Energy efficient? I don't know, they do make a difference in your electric bill. Enough so that many electric power companies allow a special rate for those using 02 concentrators (life saving equipment). The 02 output is actually tested w/a manometer. My local supplier actually routinely tests my concentrator's output every 6 months. The concentrator has a "counter" on it to record hours of use. The concentrator is considerably less expensive than a bunch of large 02 tanks over the course of a month.
The way these things work is that they measure the flow being delivered. If you set it for 2 LPM it will deliver 2 LPM.
One consideration here is that this 2 LPM of O2 is usually delivered into a pressurized mask which can be at say 11-15 CMs during a breathe in period. So the O2 concentrator needs to measure the volume being delivered, not the pressure.
Another consideration is why someone needs the O2 ? - e.g. if someone is still having apneas those apneas will just as effectively block the O2 as it does the normal air flow. Point being that O2 is generally for people who have a gas exchange problem (their lungs tending to not extract enough O2 from the air they breathe).
If someone has a consistent SpO2 % of 92% that is ok (even a consistent 90% can be acceptable). My typical reading is 95-96%, my wife tends to show SpO2% around 97-98%. Interestingly I am a lot fitter than she is.
DSM