What Is the Highest Continuous Flow Portable Oxygen Concentrator?

Are you wondering what is the highest continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator that you can purchase these days? That is what we are going to focus on in this article, so stay tuned!

Which Continuous Flow Portable Oxygen Concentrator Has The Highest Flow Rate?

Among the many continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators in the market, the unit with the highest flow rate is the SeQual Eclipse 5 from the brand CAIRE.

CAIRE is well-known for its great medical devices. You may often see their products in most clinics and hospitals, so there’s no surprise why the Eclipse 5 has the highest flow rate available.

However, other units may dominate other aspects of portable continuous flow concentrators. You may want to check them out and see if any of them suits your interest.

Keep on reading to learn more.

How to Know if You Need a Continuous Oxygen Concentrator?

Most of the time, it is your doctor that will decide whether you need a portable oxygen concentrator with the highest continuous flow or not. If your normal activity level is low throughout the day, such a device will work best for you. 

You may recognize that most portable continuous flow oxygen concentrators do not offer breath detection technology, but this is mainly because they don’t need to. Continuous flow provides a constant and steady amount of oxygen supply, undiscriminating the changes in your breathing patterns. 

Most continuous flow concentrators are stationary, and they need to be plugged into an AC power supply to keep processing purified oxygen. However, you can easily find great portable oxygen concentrators today with continuous flow and bring them to where you need to be. You should remember that they run on battery, and you will need to charge them after using them for a considerable number of hours. 

If a person needs an oxygen supply of at least 5 LPM and above, they are typically prescribed a continuous flow concentrator. This is also the preferable option if you tend to breathe through your mouth more, especially if you need oxygen at night.

On the other hand, pulse dose flow concentrators are not recommended for as much as 24 hours because they mostly cannot detect shallow breathing while you sleep. In that case, it will set off an alarm and result in disturbed sleeping patterns.

The only downside most people see in this portable concentrator is the amount of oxygen wasted. This is because the emission does not change no matter how hard or shallow your breathing is. Pulse dose oxygen concentrators can store excess oxygen, and the constant flow of oxygen may drain the battery charge more quickly than in on-demand flow settings. 

4 Best Continuous Flow Portable Oxygen Concentrators In 2022

Oxygen therapy is a helpful method to aid those individuals suffering from breathing problems. If you are one, you are probably looking for the best portable oxygen concentrator with continuous flow.

Knowing how to choose what portable O2 concentrator to buy can be a challenge. You need to know that there are a few things that you must consider before sealing the deal, including a portable unit’s:

• Battery time
• Size and weight
• Oxygen output
• Accessories or inclusions like a strap system and a carrying case

We listed the best portable continuous flow oxygen concentrators available in the market today to make your life easier. We also included their features to help you decide, so check them out here:

1. Oxlife Independence

This portable oxygen concentrator with a continuous flow unit boasts its durability and lightweight metal construction to run a constant flow for as long as 24 hours in different settings. This machine offers both continuous flow setting and pulse dose setting. It also has built-in software that gives it the longest battery life in its class.

Oxlife Independence can provide up to 3 LMP in continuous flow and 6 LPM in pulse flow. This is considered high compared to most portable concentrators.

Features:

• Two-battery configuration
• Integrated cart system
• Integrated DC power supply
• Long battery life
• FAA Approved all airline travel

2. GCE Zen-O Portable Concentrator

Zen-O portable oxygen concentrators are great options for people who require constant and long-term oxygen therapy. You can bring it anywhere whenever you need it. Its continuous flow setting can go up to 2 LPM, and the pulse dose can reach 6 LPM. 

Unlike other continuous flow portables, this one is quiet and lightweight, only weighing 9.5 lbs. This is perhaps the most comfortable unit that you can find in all stores. You can also purchase a carry bag specifically designed for GCE Zen-o and bring it from one place to another with ease.

Features:

• Safety alarm that notifies when the battery is low
• Dual flow mode
• Field replaceable sieve bed
• It comes with a 3-year warranty

3. SeQual Eclipse 5

The SeQual Eclipse 5 of CAIRE is considered the most powerful portable oxygen with continuous flow. Its pulse setting goes from 1 to 9, and the continuous flow setting can provide as much as 3 LPM.

This unit is exceptional because of its capacity to run all night like a stationary oxygen concentrator while plugging into the power supply. It is relatively heavier than other portable concentrator machines, but they come with a wheel and a handle, so you can still move it around easily. Still, this 15 lbs device can compare to a light travel bag. 

• Rechargeable batteries
• Only generates 48 decibels of sound at 3 LPM continuous flow
• Removable cart and easy one-handed adjustment
• Works well on AC/DC power supply
• FAA approved
• It comes with a 3-year warranty

4. Philips Respironics SimplyGo 

The Philips Respironics SimplyGo is another unit most people adore. Among the rest, it is one of the lightest battery-operated continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators at only 10 lbs. it also has dual flow settings: pulse dose settings from 1 to 6 and continuous flow settings of up to 2 LPM. 

Despite being lightweight, it is incredibly durable. You can bring it anywhere as a carry-on, place it in a cart, and use it while plugged into an AC/DC power supply. It is also FAA approved and can fit easily below airplane seats so that you can experience comfort even with your oxygen therapy ongoing. 

Features:

• Long-life compressor
• Dual flow setting
• It comes in either two, three, or five-year warranty
• Utilizes a rechargeable lithium-ion single battery

If you're still not sure what to choose, we put together a comprehensive guide on how to select a portable oxygen concentrator. Be sure to check it out.

FAQs About Portable O2 Concentrator Flow Rate

Is there a 15-liter concentrator?

No. As of writing, there are no available portable oxygen concentrators that can deliver oxygen of up to 15 liters per minute. This is due to their size and limited oxygen processing capacity. On the other hand, stationary oxygen concentrators can offer 15 LPM, making it a good option if your case demands. 

Should I get a 5L or 10L oxygen concentrator?

That depends. If your concern is price, and you don’t really need an oxygen concentrator with a high flow rate, then opting for a 5L is okay. However, if your condition requires you to have an oxygen supply of more than 5 LPM, 10L is the one to go. They may be initially expensive, but they are cost-efficient in the long run. 

Is 15 liters of oxygen high?

Yes. 15 liters of oxygen per minute is considered high, and this is the flow rate given among patients that need high flow oxygen. It usually includes patients with trauma and severe respiratory distress. For example, COVID patients with serious breathing problems may require an increase in oxygen up to 15 L during treatment and recovery. 

What is the maximum flow rate for a nasal cannula?

A nasal cannula can deliver humidified and heated pure oxygen with a maximum of 60 liters per minute through high-flow nasal cannula therapy. They work by blowing heated and humidified oxygen straight to the nostrils of the patient. On the other hand, low-flow nasal cannulas can only provide a flow rate of at least 4 to 6 LPM of oxygen.  

How high does Inogen go?

Most Inogen products, especially the Inogen G5, can deliver from 1 to 6 of oxygen with a concentration level of around 90%. They make it possible through their Intelligent Delivery Technology. It makes the device highly flexible in the changing environment and ensures that the patient is provided with good amounts of oxygen.

Are Continuous Flow Portable Oxygen Concentrators For You?

Well, that’s a question for your doctor. Remember to consult them first before purchasing an oxygen concentrator, as there will be requirements and limitations that you will need to follow. For now, we hope that this post can answer the question, “what is the highest continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator.”