Here at LPT Medical, our goal is to get a portable oxygen concentrator in the hands of anyone who needs one. While oxygen tanks get the job done, we strongly believe that having a portable, lightweight oxygen device can significantly improve the lives of COPD patients around the world by empowering them with more freedom and ease of use than they ever thought possible. However, before we can recommend an oxygen concentrator to you, we need to learn a little bit about your condition, lifestyle, budget, and long-term goals. Reach out to our respiratory specialists at 1-888-416-3855 or email us at info@lptmedical.com to get started.

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In this post, we’re going to be looking at the Oxlife Independence. This is a continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator manufactured by the industry-leading experts over at O2 Concepts. If you recall from last month, we reviewed the Oxlife Freedom which is essentially the pulse dose version of the Oxlife Independence. They’re built on a similar architectural design, so you can expect the same power and reliability from the Independence. Just remember that it is a continuous flow device so it will be a little heavier and bulkier than its pulse dose counterpart.

If you want to see a full unboxing and review of the Oxlife Independence portable oxygen concentrator, watch the video above. If you’d like more detailed information on the unit, continue reading below.

Highest Oxygen Output in its Class

One of the concerns many oxygen patients have when they upgrade to an oxygen concentrator is whether or not they will be able to receive the oxygen they need to stay healthy. After all, everyone has different oxygen needs whether they’ve just been prescribed oxygen or they’ve been on oxygen for many years. As a result, this concern is well placed. Not all concentrators will work for every oxygen patient, so you should be careful before making any decisions.

With that being said, the Oxlife Independence is on par or better than other oxygen concentrators in its class when it comes to oxygen output. On its maximum setting, the Independence puts out 3.0 liters per minute (LPM) of oxygen. And it can go up to a maximum pulse dose setting of 6 which exceeds that of the leading portable oxygen concentrator on the market, the Caire FreeStyle Comfort. You can switch between pulse dose and continuous flow on demand, but it’s important to speak with your doctor first who can tell you which setting is best for you.

The great thing about having such a high oxygen output is that it affords more oxygen patients to experience the benefit of portable oxygen concentrators. Now, even patients with high oxygen demands are able to travel freely whether it’s by car, bus, or plane. You’ll also have the flexibility to adjust your oxygen flow up or down depending on what you’re doing. For example, if you’re sedentary, you may want to reduce your oxygen flow rate; whereas if you’re exercising, you may want to increase your oxygen flow rate.

Built for Ease of Use on the Go

Something that goes hand-in-hand with portability is ease of use. When you’re out of the house, whether you’re out for a walk or on a trip across the country, the last thing you want is to deal with is a complex or poorly designed electronic device. The experts at O2 Concepts recognized this need and as a result, they focused a lot of time and energy into making the Oxlife Independence simple and easy to use. 

The first thing that you’ll notice about the Oxlife Independence is that it has a sleek design. The all-black matte finish means that you won’t notice any scuff marks or fingerprints. However, despite this, you should still take care to clean it regularly to prevent it from collecting germs and bacteria. Be sure to follow the cleaning instructions listed in the user manual to prevent damage to the unit.

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There are many other quality-of-life design choices that were built into the Oxlife Independence. For example, batteries are replaced via the back of the unit rather than having an internal battery or a battery that’s inserted into the bottom of the unit. This makes it very easy to swap out battery packs on the move. Since it holds two batteries, you can even swap them out individually while the unit is still powered on meaning there is no downtime in your oxygen delivery. 

Just like the Oxlife Freedom, the interface on the Oxlife Independence is intuitive. There are only four buttons on the interface. One to turn the device on and off; one to switch between continuous and pulse flow; and two for adjusting the flow rate. That’s it! There’s no need to spend hours sifting through the user manual just to figure out what everything does. Most people will have no problem using their concentrator straight out of the box.

One of the First “Smart” Oxygen Concentrators

Chances are, you’ve probably heard the term “smart” technology before. This is a relatively new term but it refers to technology that helps us stay connected and is constantly learning and improving our experience. Smartphones, for example, don’t just make calls and send texts. They’re all-in-one tools that can help us improve every aspect of our lives whether it’s our fitness routine, diet, or enabling us to stay connected with people around the world.

The Oxlife Independence uses something called Dynamic Network Analysis (DNA) technology which we referenced in our post about the Oxlife Freedom. DNA is a type of “smart” technology that allows oxygen patients to stay connected with their healthcare providers. The benefit of this is that they will be able to ensure that you are complying with your oxygen treatment plan and they can help you troubleshoot any problems that you are having. In other words, it adds a whole new level of security to your medical oxygen delivery.

According to O2 Concepts, DNA links all Oxlife Independence devices to a secure proprietary network. Your oxygen provider can monitor your oxygen usage to ensure compliance with your prescription, monitor the state of your equipment, and schedule routine equipment maintenance to avoid costly repairs and equipment downtime. And the best part of all of this is that it is completely optional. You don’t need to feel like you’re being forced to use this added feature if you do not want or need it.

5-Year Product Warranty

Another major concern oxygen patients have when upgrading to an oxygen concentrator is that they will be less reliable than their oxygen tanks. While concentrators like the Oxlife Independence are built with complex electronic components, the important thing to remember is that your device is backed by a 5-year warranty. Most oxygen concentrators only come with a 3-year warranty, so this goes to show that O2 Concepts puts a lot of faith in their products and their ability to operate for many years without issue. What this means for you is that you can go about your day with peace of mind that if anything goes wrong, you will be covered.

Conclusion

O2 Concepts is a brand that’s been praised for the power and reliability of its oxygen concentrators and the Oxlife Independence is no exception. With up to 3.0 LPM of continuous flow oxygen and six different pulse dose settings to choose from, you’ll have plenty of flexibility to adjust your oxygen delivery depending on your level of activity. From top to bottom, the Independence was designed to be easy and comfortable to use while away from home so that you don’t have to constantly stop what you’re doing to consult the user manual.

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Since the Oxlife Independence doesn’t hold any compressed oxygen like a traditional oxygen tank or liquid oxygen tank, it’s approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for in-flight use. You’ll be able to take this concentrator on any commercial aircraft within the country. Just be sure to contact your airline well in advance to see what their restrictions are. Most airlines require you to carry at least 1 ½ times the duration of your flight in batteries to account for any delays.

We will gladly provide you with an Oxlife Independence if you have been prescribed oxygen by your doctor. However, we also want to make sure that it’s the right device for your medical needs and your lifestyle. Give our oxygen concentrator specialists a call and we’ll walk you through the whole process from choosing an oxygen device to presenting you with your buying options and even helping you to receive financial compensation through Medicare. You can reach out to us either by phone or email.

Oxlife Independence Specs