Medical Grade Oxygen Solutions is regulated to ensure it meets strict purity standards and is only used for patients with a legitimate medical need. Oxygen that has been used for other purposes is not considered medical grade and typically has a host of impurities. Ask your supplier to verify their medical oxygen is free of contaminants.
Can you buy medical grade oxygen?
Bulk liquid oxygen is generated at cryogenic air separation units (ASUs) offsite and transported to hospitals in large tanks. The cylinders are then connected to vacuum insulated evaporators (VIE) that convert the liquefied oxygen to gaseous oxygen for supply to the hospital’s central medical gas pipeline system. VIEs require proximity to the ASU for supply, onsite maintenance and significant safety infrastructure.
Portable oxygen concentrators are the latest technology for providing long term oxygen therapy (LTOT) to patients with a range of chronic respiratory conditions including pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis and emphysema. These devices generate oxygen by adsorbing water and nitrogen from filtered air in a molecular sieve-based process resulting in a high purity oxygen gas with flow rates up to 500 litres per minute.
LTOT users receive oxygen prescriptions from their doctor and select the equipment that best fits their lifestyle and daily needs. Oxygen concentration, flow settings and battery life are all important factors to consider when choosing the right equipment. It is also critical to be open and honest with your doctor about what you will and won’t do whilst on oxygen so they can prescribe the best type of medical oxygen for you.