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Types of Oxygen Machines

Oxygen machines provide high levels of oxygen to people with respiratory conditions. Some machines contain compressed forms of oxygen and convert them into breathable oxygen when in use. These machines suit people who need oxygen only for short periods. People who need constant oxygen supply would benefit more from machines that extract oxygen from the air.

  1. Oxygen Concentrator

    • According to the UK National Health Service, an oxygen concentrator absorbs air from the room and filters it to obtain oxygen. A plastic tubing delivers the oxygen to the patient's mask or nasal cannula, which consists of soft tubes that go into the nose. An oxygen concentrator usually requires electricity to run and stays in one room. Long tubing allows the patient to move around within a limited range. An oxygen concentrator works quietly and takes up little space. However, the patient usually cannot reimburse the electricity cost.

    Liquid Oxygen

    • According to the National Lung Health Education Program (NLHEP), liquid oxygen tanks contain oxygen that has been compressed into liquid form. Oxygen needs to remain at a temperature of about -297 degrees Fahrenheit and under pressure of 18 to 22 psi. It usually weighs little, making it highly portable. The patient usually receives a base unit that contains a large amount of oxygen and uses it to fill a smaller portable unit. A liquid oxygen machine does not need an electricity source to operate, making it suitable for patients who live in areas where power outage often occurs. It runs quietly and has no major moving parts.

    High Pressure Oxygen

    • According to the NLHEP, high pressure oxygen systems consist of cylinders and regulators that contain gaseous oxygen compressed at high pressures. Patients in the 1980s generally only had access to high pressure oxygen systems. Only oxygen providers could handle the heavy units, which patients required two or three of every week. As of 2010, various sizes of high pressure oxygen cylinders exist. They usually serve as back-up systems and as portable units when patients use oxygen concentrators at home.

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