Two Portable Oxygen Supplies for Medical Use

There is no way to get pure oxygen unless a doctor prescribes it for the individual due to a medical condition in which the pure oxygen helps the individual to function better, breathing easier in every day life. Pure oxygen can be dangerous, explosive even if the compressed oxygen tank is dropped, which is why oxygen supplies are strictly regulated in hospitals and pharmacies. Today, there are different oxygen supply systems that can be used in the home, but only two are commonly used as portable oxygen supply systems for medical use. The two systems each have their own strengths and weaknesses, so individuals and their doctors should fully discuss the use of each system and define what will be right for them.

Compressed or Liquid?

Compressed portable oxygen supply systems have been around for medical use the longest. When a person typically thinks of a patient who needs a portable oxygen supply, they typically think of an oxygen tank that is rolled behind the person on a little cart with a tube hanging off the side attached to a mask of nasal cannula. These compressed portable oxygen tanks for medical use are basically the same today, being found in different sizes to meet the needs of the individuals that use them. These oxygen tanks have to be filled by a professional when they get low so that the individual always has a supply of oxygen on hand. There are almost always extra tanks or some other oxygen generating system in the house, such as an oxygen concentrating system that pulls oxygen from the air, so that the individual does not have to every go without his supply of oxygen.

Liquid portable oxygen tanks for medical use are becoming more popular today since they are often more compact and easy to carry for the individual. Instead of a bulky tank, these tanks can fit like a briefcase under the arm, attached to a strap. There are others that are so lightweight that they can be attached at the waist, weighing only about four pounds. Since liquid oxygen is more compact than compressed oxygen, more fits in each tank, allowing the individual to get more out of each tank before it needs to be filled. In addition, the tanks can be filled by the individual in some liquid oxygen supplies for medical use since there is a home reservoir that they can use to fill the portable tanks. The reservoir will need to be filled by the individual about once a month, making it much more convenient than other systems.

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