ASOURCE Navi

Earlier this month, we began to see news about the serious shortage of medical oxygen in Indonesia and Myanmar, where the number of corona infections is increasing rapidly. Since mid-March this year, India has been hit by a "second wave" of new coronavirus infections, and the lack of medical oxygen has become a problem. The device has been put into the medical field and is helping to solve the shortage of oxygen for medical use. Although the number of new infections per day in India is declining, there are concerns about the spread of the delta plus strain, which is a further mutation of the delta strain, which is said to be highly contagious. Therefore, I summarized the mechanism of the oxygen concentrator and the applicable patients.

Quoted from 14th series of the Japan Federation of Medical Devices Industries Our Lifestyles and Medical Devices Oxygen Inhalation at Home—Home Oxygen Therapy

Medical oxygen is produced by an oxygen concentrator, which concentrates the oxygen contained in the air. Air is composed of approximately 78% nitrogen, approximately 21% oxygen, and a small amount of other gases. By removing the nitrogen from the air, it is possible to create a mixed gas with an oxygen concentration of 90% or more. I can do it. There are various methods for this, but the most commonly used is zeolite, a mineral that has the property of adsorbing nitrogen when pressure is applied. Zeolite is placed in an oxygen concentrator and pressurized to adsorb nitrogen to create high-concentration oxygen, after which the nitrogen is discharged so that it can be adsorbed again. It can deliver flow rates up to 7 liters/minute.

Oxygen concentrators used to be large in size, but are now being miniaturized to the size of fan heaters and air purifiers. In addition, since many elderly people use it, there are also models with a larger LCD screen and voice notifications when the power is off. In recent years, portable oxygen concentrators that are easier to carry for going out or traveling and have a built-in battery have also appeared. As a device for inhaling oxygen, a nasal cannula is commonly used because it is simple and does not cause a feeling of pressure or blockage. This device is widely used as home medical equipment.

Oxygen concentrators are mainly used for home oxygen therapy (HOT), in which patients with chronic respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension, chronic heart failure, cluster headache, etc. inhale oxygen at home. Approximately 170,000 patients use it, and among them, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients account for a large proportion. In 1985, it became covered by insurance, and oxygen therapy became possible even at home. And now, due to the epidemic of the new coronavirus infection, it is used as respiratory management for patients with moderate or higher illness.