Function
Oxygen machines are used to allow people to breath concentrated oxygen, according to the National Jewish Health website. This type of therapy can aid patients (both children and adults) who have lung problems by allowing them to breathe in air with more oxygen than normal air. Typically, the oxygen is delivered to the patient using a cannula, which is a small tube that delivers the oxygen from the supply source to the patient's nostrils. Alternately, a transtracheal oxygen catheter can be used, which uses a small hole that is made in the trachea to deliver oxygen directly to the respiratory system. In either case, oxygen machines assist respiration by maximizing the amount of oxygen that gets into the lungs. The two main types of oxygen machines are oxygen concentrators and compressed gas systems.
Oxygen Concentrators
Oxygen concentrators work by eliminating some of the other gases that are contained in air, according to the Automated Control Systems website. Nitrogen is one of the most prevalent gasses in the air (78 percent of the air is made of nitrogen). Many oxygen concentrators work by removing the nitrogen in the air, which then causes oxygen to be the predominant gas. These concentrators use a special material called zeolite, which filters out nitrogen from the air by binding to the nitrogen molecules. The resulting oxygen-rich mixture is then pumped out to the patient. These devices require electricity to run and can be powered using batteries or a wall socket.
Compressed Oxygen
Some oxygen machines simply use compressed oxygen, which is stored in cylinders. These devices do not need a power supply since the oxygen cylinders have a valve that regulates pressure. These cylinders come in a variety of sizes and are portable. However, compressed air systems tend to be a bit bulkier and often cannot be taken on airplanes, because the compressed oxygen is a fire risk.
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