POC’s or Portable Oxygen Concentrators, are medical devices used for people who have low oxygen in their blood. The POC takes in air, purifies it, then through a connected tube (Cannula Tube,) provides the user with newly formed air. Before the POC receives the air, it is typically twenty percent oxygen and eighty percent nitrogen. After the air goes through the process inside the POC, it comes out at about ninety to ninety-five percent pure oxygen and the rest nitrogen. Most Portable Oxygen Concentrators have two types of delivery processes with different levels of air pressure. Some have the ability to deliver a constant flow, whereas most use a pulsing system. Once this is set, you select the air pressure level based on what is necessary for you. Usually, pulse settings are used with POC’s for daytime use which will help your battery last longer. A continuous flow is used at night while you sleep, because you have your device plugged into an outlet with no worry for battery consumption.
How their Powered
Portable Oxygen Concentrators can be powered by either a rechargeable, portable battery or by plugging them into an outlet (which will charge your portable batteries during use). Additionally, most portable devices come with a car adapter for charging and use in vehicles. Portable batteries can last from three to ten hours based on the device you possess and delivery process you are using.
The Process Inside
- Portable Oxygen Concentrator takes in the air
- It compresses the Oxygen
- Removes the nitrogen from the compressed air
- Readjusts the way the air will be delivered
- Purified air is sent through the Cannula Tube and distributed to the user
- This process is continuously repeated throughout the day
What Makes up a Portable Oxygen Concentrator?
The two main parts which make this process possible are the compressor and sieve bed.
- The compressor simply compresses all the air which is received by the concentrator. Once the air is in the compressor, it is delivered in a continues stream to the sieve beds.
- The sieve beds are filters which work to remove the nitrogen from the air to create the purified oxygen. The concentrator pushes the compressed air into the first sieve bed which works to remove the Nitrogen and pushes the pure oxygen into the product tank. While the pure Oxygen is pushed into the product tank, the first sieve bed fills with nitrogen. Once that bed is filled the air flow moves to the second sieve bed.
- During the change in air pressure to the first bed, it releases the nitrogen and some oxygen back into the compressor. The second bed then receives that compressed air to once again separate the oxygen from the nitrogen.
- All purified air is pushed into the product tank and sent through the nasal tube to deliver the oxygen to the user.
Additional parts included in Portable Oxygen Concentrators are the cooling system and Cannula Tube.
- The cooling system is used to keep your Portable Oxygen Concentrator from overheating.
- The cannula tube is the nasal tube which delivers the purified oxygen to you directly
- The cannula is necessary because it delivers the oxygen directly into your nose for better absorption of the purified product.
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