What do mountain climbers, coal miners, office workers in a burning building, and geriatric patients have in common? A need for a portable emergency supply of oxygen. Who knows how many coal miners could have been saved in recent weeks or years if each miner had a two hour supply of oxygen with them. Office workers exiting a burning building also have a need for portable oxygen supply. Forward aid stations in Iraq or in hurricane damaged cities could use such a device also. And as for mountain climbers, a few years ago I was at 13,000 feet on Mt. Rainier and I and my companions were suddenly absolutely drained, from the effects of altitude. We rested a bit, and just didn't have the juice to continue another 1000 feet. Even 15 minutes of oxygen might have made a real difference to us then, but carrying a compressed oxygen bottle is just too heavy for such a trip, or for the other situations mentioned above.
A Boise, Idaho company has recently obtained FDA approval for a portable, non pressurized oxygen generation system that could help in each of these situations. The devices made by Ox-Gen Inc. generate oxygen instantly in a non-pressurized product by combining two chemicals with a quick twist of a knob, and instantly produce 99.97% pure oxygen for 15 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the size of the unit. The 15 minute version weighs less than half a liter of water, so its actually practical to take on a climb of a mountain not usually requiring oxygen, but on which oxygen could be life saving for someone experiencing pulmonary edema.
Frank Fossella, President and Chairman of OX-GEN, has guided this project through the development of several prototypes and the FDA approval process, and the company is now ready to start production of these products. Their web site is at www.ox-gen.us, and their products are shown in more detail there.
My Dad needs a very small oxygen supply for mobility. He is a World War II Vet and just lost his wife in February and really is just too... "Stoic" to drag an oxygen tank around. Could you please give me a recommendation as to what brand offers the smallest most compact airsupply unit of unlimited oxygen? I would be forever in your debt.
Sincerely
Michael
Posted by: Michael S. McCord | June 15, 2006 at 10:04 PM
Good article, I am also interested in the smallest most compact airsupply like McCord.
Posted by: Portable Oxygen | November 06, 2008 at 03:16 AM