So we can find the best portable oxygen concentrator for your needs!
If you’re looking for a portable oxygen concentrator for sale in 2022 you’ve likely put a lot of time and effort into your research. We created this blog for you to make your life easier while shopping for a portable oxygen concentrator that— first and foremost — meets your oxygen demands, but also one that is affordable, lightweight, and easy to use.
This is often easier said than done because many sites offer knockoff or low-quality oxygen therapy devices that don’t live up to their hype. One good way to avoid these scams is to do some research on the brand of oxygen concentrator you’re interested in.
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Brands like Inogen, Respironics, and AirSep are some of the most trusted on the market. There is a lot of information on the internet about these companies, so if you search a brand and can’t find any information on them, it’s best to look elsewhere.
Luckily, here at LPT Medical, we only sell portable oxygen concentrators from the most trusted brands in the world
In this guide, we’ll be taking a look at the lightest pulse flow portable oxygen concentrators available to you in the year 2022. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to leave them in the comment section below, or call 1 +(800)-946-1201.
What is a Pulse Flow Oxygen Concentrator?
Portable oxygen concentrators are generally divided into two different categories: pulse flow and continuous flow.
Pulse dose portable oxygen concentrators are much more technically advanced than their continuous flow counterparts because they offer a system that delivers oxygen in boluses (doses) only when it’s needed by the oxygen patient.
Alternatively, continuous flow units put out a constant stream of oxygen irrespective of the user’s breathing.
It’s important to understand the difference between these two devices because the most “lightweight portable oxygen concentrators” are pulse dose devices. This type of oxygen delivery isn’t advised for all patients.
You maye require continuous oxygen flow to treat your respiratory condition so you should first speak with your doctor or pulmonologist and consider the pros and cons. Read on to learn about some of the lightest pulse flow units on the market.
The AirSep Focus
The AirSep Focus portable oxygen concentrator is one of the lightest weight portable oxygen concentrators. Weighing in at just 1.75 pounds, you’ll be amazed at what AirSep has been able to pull off with this small portable oxygen concentrator.
In fact, it’s so small that it can be worn on your belt or stored in a purse! AirSep was one of the first companies to produce an FAA-approved oxygen concentrator, so it’s no surprise that they were able to accomplish this feat as well.
The dimensions of the AirSep Focus are just 6.4” H x 4.8” W x 2.5” L, so this oxygenator is as small as it is light. Because of its form factor, many oxygen patients and retailers have given it the name the “mini portable oxygen concentrator.”
Owners of the AirSep Focus find that they’re able to do more and achieve more due to the device’s small and lightweight design. Rather than having to lug around a heavy and bulky oxygenator, many people forget they’re even wearing their Focus.
Pretty much the only downside to the AirSep Focus is that it only goes up to a flow setting of 2 with a maximum oxygen output of 330 ml/min. Unfortunately, this isn’t enough oxygen to suit many oxygen patients, so it would not be uncommon if this particular device won;t work for you and your condition.
Regardless of this downside, it’s pretty remarkable what AirSep has been able to accomplish, and it’s innovative design gives us a glimpse into the future of what could become of other concentrators in the future.
The Inogen One G4
The Inogen One G4 is another pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator praised for its extremely lightweight design. At 2.8 pounds, it’s just over a pound heavier than the AirSep Focus — still very light for a modern POC.
It’s also the lightest portable oxygen concentrator to offer pulse flow settings 1 to 3 (630 ml/min of 90% (+6%/-3%) oxygen). So it is slightly more powerful than the mini AirSep device listed above.
One major benefit of the Inogen G4 over the AirSep Focus is that it offers almost twice as much oxygen output and one additional flow setting. While you likely won’t want to wear the G4 on your belt, it will still feel very light compared to the large majority of concentrators on the market.
So, if you experience back pain or another issue but still require a higher oxygen output, the G4 may be a better option for you.
Last but certainly not least, the G4 is backed by the Inogen brand, one of the most trusted and reliable portable oxygen companies in the world.
Since the early 2000s, Imogen has been pushing the industry standard higher and higher by offering some of the most useful and convenient oxygen devices ever made.
As opposed to the bulky and heavy oxygen tanks of the past century, Inogen knew it was time for a change. Each machine they release has unique features and strengths so they’re always worth looking into.
The Inogen One G5
The Inogen One G5 is the latest pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator by Inogen. It was released in the summer of 2019 and is widely considered to be the best portable oxygen concentrator currently on the market.
Aside from offering the highest oxygen output of any pulse flow unit and the longest battery life behind the CAIRE Freestyle Comfort, it is also one of the lightest portable oxygen concentrators weighing in at just 4.7 pounds.
When compared to the AirSep Focus, the Inogen One G5 weighs quite a bit more — almost 3 pounds more to be exact. But there’s a reason for this! The G5 has a total oxygen output of 1260 ml/min as opposed to the Focus’ 330 ml/min.
With the basic single battery that comes with the G5, it lasts about 6.5 hours on one charge whereas the Focus battery will only last about 1.5 hours.
So yes, the Inogen One G5 weighs quite a bit more than the Focus, but in terms of efficiency and power, the G5 is miles ahead of the AirSep Focus.
While it may be tempting to choose the lightest portable oxygen concentrator you can find, it’s worth taking all aspects into consideration before making a final decision. Check out this post to learn more about how the G5 has revolutionized oxygen therapy.
Another great aspect of the Inogen One G5 is all of the oxygen accessories you can get to make the most of it. Unlike most oxygen companies, Inogen loves to provide their audience with plenty of options for customizing their oxygen use allowing for more freedom, comfort, and ease-of-use.
Some of our favorites include the Inogen G5 backpack which allows you to carry plenty of personal belongings with your G5; and the external battery charger which enables you to charge two G5 batteries at once — one on the G5 and the other on the external charger.
The Inogen One G3
Yes, you read that right — another Inogen concentrator has made it onto this list! Why? Because the Inogen One G3 only weighs 0.1 pounds more than the Inogen One G5. In the grand scheme of things, this is a pretty negligible amount especially when you have many other factors to consider when choosing a POC.
Despite being released all the way back in 2015, the G3 remains very relevant in the year 2022 which is due, in part, to its lightweight design.
Similar to the Inogen One G5, the G3 is an all-around great oxygen machine. It offers up to 4.5 hours of battery life with the 8-cell battery and it delivers up to 1050 ml/min of 90% oxygen with flow settings 1 through 5. So, despite its lightweight design, the G3 offers plenty of power for COPD patients with higher oxygen demands. It’s also pretty small at just 8.25” H x 8.75” L x 3.0” W.
Believe it or not, the biggest competitor of the G3 is the G5. While Inogen is focused on making each one of their concentrators better than the last, they also want to offer a variety of oxygen generators that meet different needs. What this means is that older portable oxygen concentrators like the G3 will still be relevant many years into the future.
You can also rest easy knowing that Inogene will support these concentrators with repairs, replacement parts, and warranties as long as oxygen patients like you find use in it.
LifeChoice Activox 4L
Last but certainly not least, we have the LifeChoice Activox 4L portable oxygen concentrator. This is one of only two oxygen machines released by ResMed, but it’s arguably the best they have to offer!
At just 4.8 pounds, the LifeChoice Activox 4L weighs the same amount as the Inogen One G3, but it offers some additional features that many oxygen users may find appealing.
Rather than coming with an external battery that attaches to the device, the Activox 4L comes with a powerful internal battery that can last up to 10.25 hours on a flow setting of 1!
In other words, you’ll be getting over twice the battery life of the G3 straight out of the box and you won’t even have to lug around any additional weight. Combined with the external battery, the Activox 4L offers an incredible 15 hours of battery life on a setting of 1!
Conclusion
Out of all the factors to consider when choosing a portable oxygen concentrator, weight is one of the most important. Some patients experience back pain or other health issues that prevent them from carrying a lot of weight so it’s important that these people are able to get the oxygen they need without overburdening themselves.
Other oxygen patients want lightweight portable oxygen concentrators because they’re easier to carry and don’t cause you to become out of breath so quickly.
No matter your reason for wanting a light portable oxygen concentrator, the ones listed above are the best the market has to offer. However, there are plenty of other factors to consider before purchasing a POC, so stay tuned to our blogs if you’d like more comparison articles like this.
As always, if you have any questions, be sure to leave them in the comment section below or fill out the form on the side of the page so that one of our respiratory specialists can reach out to you.
Choosing a portable oxygen concentrator can be tricky because there are a lot of options out there. So best way to begin is by narrowing down your options based on a few components we will discuss in this article.
Based on whether you need pulse dose, continuous dose, or both and the flow rate you need, you will be able to narrow down your options.
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After you have a list of concentrators that will meet your oxygen requirements, you can continue narrowing down your option based on the unit’s weight, battery life, noise level, and sleep mode technology.
These priorities are based on your lifestyle and the qualities of life you value most.
You can start by asking yourself some questions:
Do I need a unit that is lightweight so that I can carry it easier while running errands?
Do I need a light weight unit so that I can start exercising more often?
Do I need a unit with long lasting battery life because I travel a lot?
Do I need a unit with long lasting battery life because I like to be outside without a power source for long periods of time?
Do I need a quiet unit because I am very sensitive to noise?
Do I need sleep mode technology because I already have trouble sleeping?
Once you have determined the list of units that meet your oxygen needs and have an idea of which lifestyle choices you prioritize, you should have a pretty great idea of which portable oxygen concentrator is best for you!
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If you need help setting up these components, please call 1 - 800 - 946 - 1201, and a respiratory specialist will be happy to help guide you through this process.
Below is an infographic that goes through a few of the most popular oxygen concentrators on the market, and the “pros and cons” of each. You will notice there are very few cons, which is why they are so popular!
If any of these machines seem to be a great fit for you or if you do not see a machine that fits your needs, call us at 1 - 800 - 946 - 1201 or send us an email at info@lptmedical.com
You’ll be happy to know that every time you call LPT Medical, you’ll be connected with an experienced respiratory specialist who will be able to answer all your questions; whether it’s a question about an oxygen concentrator, financing information, Medicare, or pricing, we’ll get you squared away so you don’t have to worry.
The most popular portable oxygen concentrators of 2020 are linked here:
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