blog - From The Experts
Category: From The Experts
Oxygen's Role in Fire Safety: Protecting Homes and Lives with OxyGo
Discover essential fire safety tips for oxygen therapy with OxyGo's SOC and POCs. Learn how to protect homes and lives with our advanced safety
Portable Oxygen Concentrators: What are they and how do they work?
Portable Oxygen Concentrators: What are they and how do they
Oxygen EXPO2 is Big Hit in Orlando
DMEs from Oklahoma, Texas, Florida and across the country attended Oxygen EXPO2 in Orlando, FL on Jan 21st of this year. The expo, subtitled The NEXT Tech in Ambulatory Oxygen, gave DME providers an opportunity to learn about the latest homecare oxygen trends and market opportunities. “We are all about technology and innovation, so being able to host an event like this where we can share our knowledge and help contribute to the industry is a great opportunity,” said OxyGo CEO Victoria Marquard-Schultz. The one-day conference covered topics such as the future of portable oxygen, oxygen safety, finding assets and revenues in a connected DME market, and leveraging social media to increase patient retail and referrals. The keynote address was on advances in pulmonary medicine and was given by Franck Rahaghi, MD, MH, FCCP, Director of Respiratory Care at Cleveland Clinic Florida Hospital and Clinic. Dr. Rahaghi spoke about advances in pulmonary care and the importance of getting patients to move and exercise as part of their treatment referencing the American Lung Association’s famous slogan, “If you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.” “POCs and their tankless delivery of oxygen are giving patients their freedom back,” he said, “while improving their quality of life and overall sense of happiness.” He said that ambulation could increase the life expectancy of patients on oxygen by 20%. Looking further into cutting edge patient care, Dr. Rah
OxyGo Announces Oxygen EXPO2 2020 – The Next Tech in Ambulatory Oxygen
OxyGo Announces Oxygen EXPO2 2020 – The Next Tech in Ambulatory Oxygen
Traveling with OxyGo NEXT!
Traveling with OxyGo NEXT OxyGo NEXT uses the latest state-of-the-art technologies to make traveling with your portable oxygen concentrator easier than ever. OxyGo NEXT has user-replaceable batteries, sieve beds and an easy to read LCD display with simple controls. This makes travel a breeze whether in car, train, cruise ship or on a plane! Traveling with OxyGo NEXT is straightforward and simple. One reason is it so easy to travel with is because it meets all the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for use on-board an airline. Tip: Check with Your Airline Before Your Flight It is important to note that all airlines have their own requirements when it comes to traveling with a POC. Prior to travel, you should check the website of the airline you are using, whether it's a large carrier or a small regional airline. On their website they will have a section on traveling with medical equipment. There you can find the forms you will need to prepare before your travels. This usually includes release forms from your physician for a prescription. Make Sure to Have Extra Batteries Generally, airlines require that you have 1 ½ times as much battery life as the length of the trip. With the OxyGo NEXT that's no worry! The extended battery life and effortless battery removal to switch to another battery means you can easily meet this requirement. Bluetooth Connectivity Another unique feature of the OxyGo NEXT is that it ha
Caring for OxyGo NEXT is a breeze!
[embed]https://youtu.be/qUvzx-C4yOk[/embed] How to Care for Your OxyGo NEXT OxyGo NEXT is the newest addition to the line of portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) provided by OxyGo. It was created to provide the user with the ease of not only a small compact device, but one that is easily serviceable, too. For patients and providers, servicing the OxyGo NEXT is extremely simple. An important tip to remember when taking care of your concentrator is to keep the inlet filters on the outside clean and free of dirt, debris, and animal dander. A clean filter allows full airflow to the unit. Keeping your filter clean is done by simply removing the filters from the outside of the concentrator, rinsing them out with dish soap and warm water, and allowing them to dry before placing them back on the unit. We recommend you clean your filter at least once a week or more frequently if necessary. It is important to keep the body of your portable oxygen concentrator clean. Wiping the exterior of the unit down every now and then will help increase the life of your concentrator. Keeping your concentrator inside its protective carrying case can also help keep the unit safe from excess wear and tear. Serviceability of the OxyGo NEXT The two biggest issues people tend to have with portable oxygen concentrators are maintaining the sieve beds and batteries. Like other OxyGo POCs, the OxyGo NEXT has user replaceable sieve beds and batteries that are easy to replace in t
How Technology Can Enhance Growth at Home and at Work
How Technology Can Enhance Growth at Home and at Work
Using the Portable Oxygen Cylinder
The portable oxygen cylinder is a modality that permits an active oxygen user to leave the home to go shopping, to run errands, go to the doctors, to church, on vacation, etc. Activities of daily living as well as the quality of life can be greatly improved with the addition of a portable oxygen cylinder system. A portable oxygen cylinder contains medical grade oxygen (99% or better), which is compressed into a cylinder to 2,000 p.s.i. There are special composite cylinders that can hold as much as 3,000 p.s.i. Attached to the top of the cylinder is the regulator which reduces that 2,000 p.s.i. to a much more workable 50 p.s.i. The regulator also indicates the pressure that is remaining in the cylinder as well as controls the flow rate of the oxygen output. The flow rate is set to the prescription as ordered by the physician. The prescribed flowrate is set by turning the control knob. The portable cylinders vary in size. The larger the cylinder, the more oxygen it will hold, and thus last longer. The size and number of cylinders provided are usually based on the patient’s daily activities and the prescription from the doctor. The typical portable cylinder system used to be the E cylinder with a two-wheeled cart. Most portable cylinders today are made of aluminum, but in earlier years the cylinders were made of steel and weighed upwards of 30 pounds. An E cylinder running continuously at 2 liters per minute would last approximately 5 hours. The next size smaller is the D cyl
Using the Pulse Oximeter
A pulse oximeter is a medical device that is used to measure how much oxygen is being carrying in a person’s blood. More specifically, it measures how much oxygen is being carried in a person’s hemoglobin. The measured result is termed “percent saturation.” The normal blood oxygen saturation for a healthy adult is 97% +/- 3%. Hemoglobin is attached to our red blood cells and carries the oxygen leaving the lungs to the cells. Hemoglobin also carries carbon dioxide—the end-product of energy—back to our lungs so that it can be exhaled. The pulse oximeter can quickly measure the hemoglobin that is saturated with oxygen, providing a digital readout on a display screen. Pulse oximeters also measure the pulse rate, which is also displayed on the screen. Pulse oximeters can be powered by electricity, battery, or both. They come in various shapes and sizes. Hospitals and medical facilities more frequently use commercial-grade, electrically- and battery-powered units, while the much smaller, more affordable finger pulse oximeters are widely used by medical professionals and patients alike. Pulse oximeters are very easy to use. The most common form of measuring oxygen saturation in an adult is using the finger probe which gently clamps onto a finger. Within seconds, the saturation and pulse are displayed. There are a variety of other probes which can also be used with the pulse oximeter. There are probes that attach to the ear lobe, and for newborns, infants and neonates, t
Using the Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) Chamber
Respiratory patients using a metered dose inhaler (MDI) can improve the effectiveness and accuracy of medication placement into their airways and lungs by incorporating a metered dose chamber with their MDI. The MDI attaches directly to the MDI chamber, providing a space for the medication to remain suspended in the air a few seconds longer, improving the amount and dispersion of medication into the airways and lungs. There are two different styles of MDI chambers. The standard chamber is usually a cylindrical device where the MDI attaches at one end and a mouthpiece is at the other. The second device is called a valved holding chamber. How to use both the standard and valved holding chambers: Remove the cap from the MDI and chamber. Shake well. If this is the first time using the MDI, prime the canister by pushing down on the MDI and pointing into the air. A second prime may be necessary. Insert the MDI into the open end of the chamber (opposite of the mouthpiece). Place the mouthpiece of the chamber between your teeth and close your lips tightly. Exhale all of your air out of your lungs. Press down on the canister one time. Breathe in slowly and completely through your mouth. FOR VALVED HOLDINGCHAMBER ONLY — If you hear a horn-like sound, slow your breathing down as you are breathing too quickly. Hold your breath for 10 seconds to allow the medication to be absorbed into the lungs and airways. If you cannot hold your breath for 10 seconds, hold as long as y
