Oxygen devices and delivery systems

For patients with chronic lung disease and hypoxemia complications, oxygen use has been extended from inpatient to outpatient care. This article introduces the general situation of oxygen devices (oxygen concentrator, compressed gas cylinders and liquid oxygen) and delivery systems (high and low flow rate) . The indications, advantages and disadvantages of each device and transmission system are described. The appropriate device and transmission system can be selected according to the needs of each patient.

For patients with chronic lung disease and hypoxemia complications, the following three groups of patients with chronic hypoxemia lung disease are suitable for long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) :

1. Patients with arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) ≤55 mmHg at rest in nonrecumbent position, despite optimal treatment of underlying condition.

2. Patients with PaO2 >55 mmHg associated with evidence of central nervous system dysfunction, cor pulmonale, secondary pulmonary hypertension or polycythaemia.

3. Patients with demonstrable fall in PaO2 below 55 mmHg and desaturation during sleep and/or exercise.

LTOT use is now higher among women and is expected to increase further in the near future due to the high number of middle-aged female smokers. There are a variety of oxygen-saving devices available, and given the high cost of LTOT and its impact on patients’health-related quality of life, the choice and prescription of the best devices requires a clear understanding of these devices in the following paragraphs, we will introduce different oxygen devices and delivery systems.

Oxygen concentrators

How do they work?

Oxygen concentrators provide a safe source of oxygen-rich air.

An oxygen concentrator (sometimes called an oxygen generator) is a device that draws indoor air through a series of filters that remove dust, bacteria, and other particles. In the first stage of the concentration process, the machine forces air into one of two cylinders containing a molecular sieve material or a semi-permeable membrane, in which nitrogen is absorbed, this leaves concentrated oxygen (90% or more) and a small fraction of other gases in the indoor air.

At the same time, in another cylinder, nitrogen is desorbed and drawn into the atmosphere. In the second step, the cylinder’s function is reversed in a timed cycle, providing the patient with a continuous flow of oxygen. A typical oxygen concentrator can provide 0.5-5 l/min of oxygen flow (low flow oxygen concentrator) , while some models can provide up to 10 l/min of oxygen flow (high flow oxygen concentrator) .

Types of oxygen concentrators and oxygen delivery

There are two types of oxygen concentrators: stationary and portable.

Stationary (domestic) concentrators provide an uninterrupted supply of oxygen with a flow rate in the range of 0.5-15 L/min. Their average weight is about 10 kilograms. They have several ergonomic handles built in, offering the option of lifting or rolling the device. New miniature concentrators, making stationary concentrators more mobile than ever. The concentrator plugs into the main power supply at home and uses 300 watts (or less) per hour (about the equivalent of four light bulbs) . Backup compressed gas cylinders are sometimes provided for use in the event of a power failure.

A relatively new option is an ultra-small home oxygen concentrator that can weigh about 4.5 kg. These devices can use either alternating current (AC; e. g. from a wall outlet) or direct current (DC; E. G. from a lighter outlet) , and they can move (for example, they can easily move from room to room, or they can be transported by car) . They currently support oxygen flow up to 2 L/min.

Portable oxygen concentrators are the latest technology for LTOT users, who want small, lightweight and portable oxygen solutions in a compact and mobile unit. Portable concentrator weight, size, oxygen flow setting, range of 1L/min and battery life, and other specifications.

The main differences between stationary and portable concentrators can be summarized into four main factors:

1. oxygen output
2. volume and weight
3. power selection
4. Price

In general, there are two types of oxygen transfer in oxygen concentrators: continuous flow dose transfer and pulse mode transfer. The continuous flow dose delivery provides a stable and reliable oxygen flow based on the L/min setting, while the pulse mode delivery provides a pulsatile oxygen “bolus” when the user begins to breathe. Initially, you should adjust your individual traffic settings.

Indications

Stationary oxygen concentrators are often used by LTOT patients because they are cost-effective and safer than compressed gas cylinders. Oxygen concentrators are recommended for patients who use oxygen for more than 1.4 hours per day. The guidelines do not give instructions for choosing a transport device, but only recommend portable devices for frequent LTOT patients.

Portable oxygen concentrators for outpatient oxygen therapy are available to people already in the LTOT who want to use oxygen outside the home. Dynamic oxygen therapy can improve exercise endurance and breathing difficulties, although for most chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, oxygen before and after exercise is not beneficial. In addition, outpatient oxygen therapy can increase daily oxygen use and/or better compliance.

Advantages and disadvantages

Related costs

The global market value of medical oxygen concentrators was $1.75 billion in 2018. Between 2019 and 2025, the market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 7.4 percent. The price of the new home oxygen concentrator, which ranges from $595 to $2,000, depends on batteries and other accessories. Used oxygen concentrators are cheaper ($595-$1500) , depending on the time, warranty and equipment. However, the rental of stationary oxygen concentrators can be increased from $35 per day to more than $200 per week, with a discount for an extension of the lease. In the recent two years, with the appearance of Covid-19, increased the intense demand for oxygen-making machines, so that the price of oxygen-making machines doubled.

Compressed gas cylinders

Differences between oxygen concentrators and compressed gas cylinders:

Properties, classification and appearance

A cylinder is a metal container filled with compressed gas and held under high pressure. The oxygen capacity is determined by the size range of the oxygen cylinder. For compressed oxygen cylinders, there are three ways to transport portable oxygen:

1. Portable oxygen cylinders
2. Light oxygen cylinders
3. Domestic oxygen cylinders

When filled with oxygen, cylinders range from small portable portable walking-use cylinders (such as 53 cm tall, 3 kg in weight, and 430 litres of oxygen) to large static cylinders (such as 71 cm tall, 18 kg in weight, and 2,122 litres of oxygen) . Depending on the patient’s level of activity and fitness, exercise may require a knapsack, handcart, or wheeled handcart, depending on cylinder size and weight. Oxygen cylinders are marked in white to distinguish them from other medical gases.

How do they work?

A regulator is attached to the top of the cylinder and operates like a faucet, allowing for safe adjustment of oxygen flow, in L/min units. When the faucet is turned on manually, oxygen is delivered to the patient’s body where resistance is least by means of an oxygen delivery device, such as one with a mask or nasal cannula. The pressure reading (barometer) shows the remaining oxygen pressure in the cylinder to estimate the amount of oxygen available.

The capacity of the compressed oxygen tank is relatively low: for example, at 200 bar of air pressure and 400 litres of oxygen, the patient will have enough oxygen to last 2.5 hours, depending on the flow rate.

At home or in hospitals, cylinders are replaced by gas suppliers. The frequency of delivery depends on the cylinder size and oxygen consumption. A home-filled cylinder can be refilled with an oxygen concentrator.

In contrast to continuous oxygen flow, oxygen-saving devices provide pulse oxygen only when a patient inhales. These “on demand” oxygen delivery systems enable cylinders to last longer because less oxygen is wasted during exhalation. Studies have shown that health services can reduce oxygen use by 50%, thus reducing the number of home births and thus the cost. However, oxygen retention devices vary in their ability to maintain arterial oxygen saturation levels during exercise, and some patients have difficulty triggering these devices due to advanced lung disease.

Indications

Compressed gas cylinders are usually used in conjunction with an oxygen concentrator for patients who require supplemental oxygen at home. These patients are immobile, spend most of their time at home, and require little portable oxygen, which is why compressed gas cylinders can be used as a backup in the event of a power failure or concentrator failure.

In hospitals, mobile compressed gas cylinders are primarily used to provide temporary oxygen to patients undergoing invasive ventilation that requires diagnostic or therapeutic procedures outside the intensive-care unit.

Correlation with clinical outcomes

When standard portable cylinders were compared with lightweight cylinders in patients with COPD, in a prospective, randomised, clinical, multicentre trial conducted by the COPD Clinical Research Network, no differences were found in activity levels, oxygen saturation, Borg score or 6-min walk test.

Advantages and disadvantages

Liquid oxygen

The introduction of liquid oxygen has changed the landscape of home oxygen therapy. The first domestic LOX system was developed in 1965 to provide a larger stationary oxygen system at home, using smaller portable LOX devices that can be filled and used outside the home.

How do liquid oxygen systems deliver oxygen?

Liquid oxygen is a cryogenic liquid, i. e. a liquefied gas with a boiling point of-183 ° C.

Liquid oxygen allows a larger amount of oxygen (gas) to be stored as a liquid in a small container. The 860:1 expansion of liquid oxygen means that when a liter of liquid oxygen evaporates, it expands to about 860 liters of gaseous oxygen.

Liquid oxygen for medical use (at least 99.5% pure) must first be vaporized into a compressed gas and then heated at room temperature in the device before the patient can deliver oxygen through a tube through the nose to the nostrils. How long a patient can stay in a portable flask depends on the rate of oxygen flow that the patient is using, as prescribed by the treating physician.

Fixed storage containers (“parent containers”) and portable containers have different sizes.

These cryogenic vessels keep the liquid at a low temperature. Small fixed containers can provide a convenient supplemental supply in a car or truck during a long trip from home. If the patient is using high-flow liquid oxygen (up to 15 L/Min continuous flow of oxygen) , it is important to note that ice may form on the portable heat exchange coil due to ambient humidity freezing. These patients usually have two portable systems to facilitate continuous use, allowing deicing in one unit while using portable oxygen in the other.

Indications

Choosing the right oxygen delivery system for the right candidate is a challenge for clinicians. The choice of liquid oxygen and oxygen in compressed gas cylinders is determined by two main factors, namely, convenience and efficiency. For outpatient patients who wish to move, limited French data from the ANTADIR registry support the use of portable liquid oxygen for this group of patients. According to the literature, liquid oxygen may be suitable for those who are able to return to work, require a flow rate greater than 5 L/Min, and are able to walk, a chronic respiratory disorder patient who is unable to move without an oxygen supply. Liquid oxygen is the most practical option for outpatients who require high-flow oxygen. Figure 3 shows a patient with a nasal cannula and a liquid oxygen tank.

Correlation with clinical outcomes

Patients who used liquid oxygen were more likely to stay out of the house and use daily oxygen for longer periods than patients who used oxygen concentrators. In addition, LOX treatment improves patient compliance and health-related quality of life. Significant differences were found in the following quality of life indicators for LOX therapy and oxygen concentrators: physical function, physical care, walking, social interaction, and disease impact scores.

Advantages and disadvantages

Oxygen delivery systems

Oxygen delivery system is divided into low flow system and high flow system. The low flow system provides lower oxygen flow than the actual inspiratory flow (~ 30L/Min) . As the patient breathes in, the oxygen is diluted by the indoor air, the degree of dilution depending on the inspiratory flow. As a result, these oxygen delivery systems do not allow for accurate calculation of inspiratory oxygen fraction (FIO2) . The high-flow oxygen delivery system provides a high oxygen flow rate, and the FIO2 is stable and unaffected by the patient’s breathing pattern.

Conclusions

The proper choice of oxygen devices and delivery systems depends on the degree of hypoxemia, the available evidence for the patient’s basic diagnosis, and the patient’s preferences. Respiratory physicians should have a unified knowledge of all devices and systems to design appropriate and individualized patient-based oxygen therapy plans.