Oxygen
The market for oxygen therapy has grown immensely
over the past decade, with nearly 1.5 million people relying on supplemental
oxygen to address their medical needs. While tank delivery of oxygen
remains a viable market for HME providers, patients want to continue carrying
out their daily routines and need a product that allows them to stay on
the go. That’s where portable oxygen concentrators, and the companies who
maintain the machines, step in.
In just the past few years, portable oxygen concentrators have begun to
reflect the rapidly changing technology becoming available to HME providers
and their patients. Rather than waiting for maintenance issues to occur on
their machines, providers increasingly have the ability to remotely monitor
oxygen output, battery life and more through online platforms. Now, companies
are expanding wireless connectivity to POCs in the hopes of making
24/7 monitoring possible for more patients.
At the same time, manufacturers are focused on making the machines
lighter and sleeker for patients who want POCs to blend in with the rest of
their belongings. The demand is high for machines that can provide the right
mix of portability, battery life and tank capacity to fit patient lifestyles. If an
HME provider can guarantee all three, they can see revenue growth in this
key area. Here is a sampling of the latest products and services to hit the
oxygen therapy market:
CAIRE Inc.
FreeStyle and FreeStyle 5
Cut the cord with FreeStyle portable oxygen concentrators
CAIRE Inc.’s wearable FreeStyle and FreeStyle 5 portable oxygen concentrators encourage mobility and make travel easier for oxygen therapy patients. FreeStyle models are equipped with UltraSense technology — CAIRE’s sensitive breath detection feature — and cover pulse flow settings 1-5. They feature an easy-access front-loading, user-replaceable battery. Batteries can recharge on AC (wall) or DC (motor vehicle) power, or using a desktop charger. A battery charge indicator shows uers the percentage of charge on the battery with green lights. The company says it designed the series to be priced affordably with low maintenance costs for the medical equipment provider.
3B Medical Inc
3B Lumin
Lumin offers ozone-free cleaning for CPAPs and accessories
3B Medical is releasing the 3B Lumin disinfecting unit to disinfect a CPAP mask and accessories. Lumin claims a 99.9 percent kill rate for harmful bacteria, viruses, mold and fungus, and ozone—free disinfecting in a 5-minute cycle. It is compact enough for countertop use. The product was developed in response to several pulmonary physicians expressing concern over their COPD patients using an ozone based product, according to Jose Llana, M.D., 3B’s national director of sales. “We wanted to develop a product that would not damage the CPAP machine itself, and had zero risk of exposing a respiratory patient to a lung irritant,” he said.
CAIRE Inc.
CAIREview
System enables remote management of oxygen devices
CAIRE Inc.’s new telehealth solution, CAIREview powered by SynsorMed. is now available on Android and iOS platforms, and uses Bluetooth technology to help providers monitor the use of the CAIRE oxygen concentrators in their fleet. Utilizing a smart device or desktop computer, providers can view oxygen flow rates; reverse geotrack the location of a device; and troubleshoot alarm codes, thus avoiding costly after-hours visits. The CAIRE Companion 5 stationary oxygen concentrator is the company’s first device equipped with the app, and will be followed closely by the Eclipse 5 portable oxygen concentrator this year.
GCE Group
Zen-O
POC offers patients the best of both worlds
The Zen-O portable oxygen concentrator provides both continuous flow up to 2LPM and pulse mode up to setting 6. Using Rate Responsive Technology, Zen-O automatically increases the amount of oxygen delivered if a patient’s breath rate rises without the need to change the settings in advance. The FAA-approved POC also features field-replaceable sieve beds and can hold two batteries in the unit to optimize battery life.
OxyGo LLC
OxyGo
24/7 POC that keeps users on the go
The 4.8-lb., five-setting OxyGo shows users exactly how much time they have left on the battery, which they can easily change and can use at the same time, either in the car or at home. A double battery provides 10.25 hours of use .The OxyGo is also clinically validated to be used 24/7, so it can supply medical oxygen at home or on the go.
Inogen
Inogen One G3
POC can run around the clock
- The Inogen One G3 features five pulse flow settings with 1,050 ml output.
- Can be used 24/7, so it can supply medical oxygen at home or on the go.
- Provides 10 hours of battery life with two batteries; is airline approved; and weighs under 5 lbs. with one battery.
Philips Respironics
SimplyGo Mini p
A vacation-ready portable oxygen option
- Conforms to FAA standards, now available for on board aircraft use
- Designed and tested to be reliable and durable in real-world environments.
- Two battery options are available: a standard battery that lasts 4.5 hours, and an extended battery that typically lasts nine hours.
Invacare Corporation
Invacare Platinum Mobile Oxygen Concentrator with Connectivity
POC Communicates Usage Data
- POC, app and provider portal help give oxygen providers better asset utilization with control over costs.
- Providers have remote visibility to POC data to see how their POCs are being used.
- Hot-swappable, top loading batteries provide up to 10 hours of charge.
GCE Group
Zen-O lite
Designed for active patients on long-term oxygen therapy
- The Zen-O lite weighs only 5.5 lbs. and delivers up to 1050 ml of oxygen per minute in pulse mode.
- Features rate responsive oxygen delivery, ensuring appropriate patient saturation.
- Design incorporates field replaceable sieve beds for convenient low-cost onsite maintenance.
Responsive Respiratory Inc.
Cylinder Stand
Resuscitation supplies for cardiac emergencies
Responsive Respiratory expands their cylinder stand offerings with upgraded dual-use MM/M60 stand. The upgraded stand features a set of extended length thumbscrews to secure either of the two cylinder sizes. The dual-use design aids the reduction of inventory for providers and is idea for placement of back-up cylinders in oxygen patients’ homes.