Introduction
Hey, it's Anthony. I just wanted to talk a little bit about oxygen concentrator preferences and which concentrator makes the most sense to use in regards to the Oxyllow System. With some recent media put out by a number of foundations that discuss consumer-grade oxygen concentrators available on Amazon, there seems to be strong opposition towards them. In this market, we have two main types of oxygen concentrators: consumer grade and medical grade. I will walk you through the pros and cons of each so you can decide what's best for your needs.
Consumer Grade Oxygen Concentrators
A typical consumer-grade oxygen concentrator looks similar to this (not promoting any specific product). These units are significantly cheaper than their medical-grade counterparts; however, they do provide around 90% oxygen concentration at lower flow rates. Most of these units claim they can go up to seven liters per minute (LPM), but as you increase the flow rate, it dilutes down your concentration of oxygen.
If you're using a nasal cannula with a consumer-grade unit set at seven LPM, your actual achieved concentration would be much less than advertised—possibly closer to only around 22-23%. This is because when inhaling over a nasal cannula at higher flows like this one provides, the percentage of delivered O2 drops significantly according to charts found in my previous videos.
Medical Grade Oxygen Concentrators
Now let's take a look at medical grade units (again not promoting any particular brand or model). The significant advantage here is that they offer above a consistent 90%+ pure O₂, regardless of flow rate settings; thus, delivering an adequate amount prescribed by doctors for patients with medical needs. These devices do come at a higher cost, but insurance may help cover the expenses. Additionally, you will be required to have a prescription from your doctor in order to purchase one.
So let's recap the differences between consumer and medical-grade oxygen concentrators:
- Consumer Grade:
- Cheaper price point
- No prescription required
- Around 90% oxygen concentration at lower flow rates (drops significantly as LPM increases)
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Medical Grade:
- Higher oxygen concentration
- Require Rx
- More cost
