Over the past decade there have been large strides taken in the technology used to make portable oxygen delivery systems. These improvements have meant that the various types of portable oxygen systems available have become a lot easier to carry arround and much more convenient to use. Even though these portable oxygen tanks are extremely safe to use, caution should always be exercised in the vicinity of oxygen tanks. The most obvious consideration would be to not allow anyone to smoke near an oxygen tank as a stray spark or ember could ignite the oxgen, causing facial burns. With the variety of oxygen supplies on the market it is not immediately obvious which one to purchase so here is a brief run down of the most common products.

Compressed oxygen which comes in cylinders is stored as a gas. The flow of this oxygen is controlled by a flow meter and a regulator which is attached to the tank. In order to inhale the oxygen, it flows through a lightweight 2 pronged tube called a nasal cannula. These oxygen tanks can vary in size depending on the amount of oxygen that is required by the user. You can purchase everything from a small portable cannister to larger cylinders which need to be pushed round on wheels. Oxygen cannisters must be well taken care of as it is important they are kept upright and handled carefully as the oxygen is stored under extreme pressure. The smaller, portable cannisters are not reusable and must be replaced when they are empty. This sort of oxygen delivery system is generally used by people who don’t need supplementary oxygen all the time, instead using it just for certain tasks.

At very low temperatures oxygen will turn to a liquid and will change to a gas when warmed. The benefit of using a liquid oxygen delivery system is that it comprises of a large stationary unit from which 6-8lbs worth of portable cannisters can be filled. These types of portable cannisters are usually available with a shoulder strap so that they can be carried round. Larger cannisters can be wheeled around alongside the patient. The advantage of liquid oxygen is that it takes up much less space than compressed oxygen. It is for this reason that they are preferred by people who are more active.

An alternative form of oxygen delivery system is an oxygen concentrator. The are typically stationary units which run on electricity. The disadvantage of these is that they cannot be used to fill portable cylinders, however because they run on battery power they are extremely portable. Like compressed oxygen they come in different sizes and designs. Some will be the size of a backpack and can be wheeled around, others will be the size of a small flask and are extremely lightweight. This system works by extracting oxygen from the air and can deliver it in a purified form at a high flow rate. These are by far the easiest types of equipment to maintain as they require no refilling. The other benefit they have is that they are much cheaper than other types of oxygen delivery. If you are looking to travel by air then this would be the most sensible choice as they are accepted by most commercial airlines.

Author Bio: Trevor Richards is writing on behalf of Pure O2, a leading UK supplier of portable oxygen.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: health, home oxygen, portable oxygen, POC, oxygen concentrator, breathing, air