Portable Oxygen Equipment
Portable Oxygen Equipment will include the
oxygen dispensing units (oxygen concentrators, oxygen tanks and oxygen cylinders) as well as the different items
that support this delivery - flow regulators, nose cannulas, masks and tubing as well as conserving devices and
carriers, among others.
Portable Oxygen Equipment:
The
whole reason behind portable oxygen equipment is so that you can enjoy a more active life style even when you need additional
oxygen.
If you need portable oxygen equipment this means that you have been prescribed
with supplemental oxygen and the diagnosis indicates the amount and the frequency that you must receive
oxygen. It also means that the prescription and diagnosis is taking into account your lifestyle and your
needs relating to activities. Oxygen portable units allow you to further enjoy day to day
activities.
This probably includes your professional and work demands, your leisure time that could include
exercise (walking, golf, etc.), your social life and your family life.
The most important aspect of all this is that you can and should live an active life - hence
the portable side of the oxygen equipment.
Aside from getting your oxygen through your oxygen unit
(portable oxygen concentrator, tank or cylinder) there are a
series of additional accessories that are not only useful, but in many cases indispensable. No matter your type of
oxygen supply equipment you will need a nose cannula or a face mask and a flow regulator - specially in the cases
of stored oxygen (liquid or compressed) as these will extend the amount of oxygen you will have as they avoid
wasted flow of oxygen. Finally for many people pulse oximeters that allow you to measure your oxygen saturation.
For mobile purposes, something in which to carry your oxygen unit becomes a must.
Defenition Of Portable Oxygen Equipment
The term portable oxygen equipment includes:
a. Oxygen supply system
b. Oxygen Accessories
Nose Cannula :
This is a tube like piece through which the oxygen is fed to the nose. There are also
other types of oxygen directing alternatives, such as oxygen masks and mouth delivery systems.
They are used to regulate the amount of oxygen that is being delivered. These devices
also help reduce oxygen waste as they are set to deliver oxygen as you inhale and this means that unlike regular
oxygen flow where the delivery is made at specific intervals and thereby also delivering during exhalation, the
oxygen supply will be extended.
These are small devices that are used to read the mount of oxygen saturation in the
blood. They are placed over the tip of the finger and read off the saturation level (in people with healthy oxygen
saturation the levels are between 90% and 98%). Before these units were introduced it was nearly impossible for a
patient to identify their oxygen saturation and this meant that they were dependent of tests that had to be made in
a clinic or hospital. This in turn limited their mobility and what is even more important, reduced their
lifestyle.
Carriers and Trolleys:
Additionally there will be carrier alternatives that go from small backpacks to pull along
trolleys as well as similar types of accessories. For anyone looking for a portable oxygen unit so as to enjoy
greater mobility, having the right trolley, cart or better still, backpack, makes all the
difference.
The
phrase portable
oxygen equipment will normally be applied to oxygen delivery systems that are used by patients on long
term oxygen therapy. However other portable oxygen equipment uses must include underwater diving, fish farms, oxygen bars and
beauty related treatments (due to facial skin benefits).
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