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It is not necessary to use oxygen concentrators with a humidifier. However, if the patient (receiving oxygen therapy) complains of discomfort and dry mouth, doctors can prescribe an accessory humidifier bottle with the concentrator.
Oxygen concentrators are sometimes paired with humidifier bottles. The water-filled bottles humidify the otherwise dry oxygen before it is supplied to the patient.
This article elaborates on how oxygen concentrators work and how and why they are connected to a humidifier. We dig into oxygen humidification’s benefits and adverse effects and how to use them safely. The post also includes the five best humidifier bottles you can consider buying.
What Is An Oxygen Concentrator?
Oxygen concentrators are medical equipment prescribed to patients with pulmonary (respiratory) disorders.
Healthy lungs naturally inflate to draw in surrounding air (inspiration). The capillaries surrounding the lung alveoli (tiny air sacs) extract oxygen from the air and, in exchange, transfer carbon dioxide to it.
This oxygen binds to red blood cell proteins called hemoglobin (Hb) and is transported throughout the body. The energy produced from oxygen is essential to carry out vital body processes.
In respiratory disorders, factors like tissue damage, aspiration, and spasms wholly or partially impair the lung’s ability to inflate. This ultimately reduces oxygen levels in the body.
95% is the ideal oxygen saturation, and supplemental oxygen is advised in case of hypoxia (lower than 95% or 75 mmHg). Patients having pneumonia, asthma, covid-19, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders, and other similar diseases require oxygen concentrators to survive.
How Do Oxygen Concentrators Work?
Here’s how oxygen concentrators work:
- A compressor pulls surrounding air inside the system and adjusts its air pressure according to preset levels.
- Air is passed through Zeolite sieve filters, which only allows oxygen to pass through.
- The pure oxygen is stored in a cylinder and is then supplied to the patients via a mask or nasal cannula.
Oxygen constitutes only 21% of the air. The rest consists of several other gases like nitrogen, argon, helium, carbon dioxide, etc. Since lung capacity and function in respiratory disorders are already compromised, supplemental oxygen needs to be 100% pure.
Zeolite is a crystalline compound that serves as a scrubber for other gases. It adsorbs extra gases and eventually emits them back into the room. Zeolite is also a known desiccant with a high affinity for water. Therefore, it removes moisture from the air, so supplemental oxygen is dehumidified (dry).
What Are The Complications Of Dry Oxygen?
Our body naturally has a mucus lining that keeps the respiratory tract moist. The air we inhale also has a moisture content (except in arid climates). Both these factors keep the nose, mouth, and throat from drying.
Unfortunately, the zeolite filters remove water molecules from the air, and patients are supplied only dry oxygen through oxygen concentrators. When used for a long time, this can cause dry mouth.
This can get even more complicated in the case of mouth breathing. Nasal congestion is common in respiratory disorders and forces people to breathe through the mouth. Activities like walking, running, and exercise makes it difficult to breathe, and since the mouth allows rapid breathing, patients involuntarily switch to it.
A dry mouth is characterized by a sticky feeling and sores in the mouth and throat, and a burning or tingling sensation. Its effects can cause mild discomfort and health complications, like:
- Bad breath
- Hoarseness or voice
- Increased plaque
- Gum diseases
- Tooth decay
- Increased susceptibility to thrush (yeast infection)
- Difficulty and pain in swallowing
- Epistaxis (nose bleeding)
How Do Humidifier Bottles Work With Oxygen Concentrators?
Humidifier bottles are additional equipment for oxygen concentrators. While oxygen concentrators can be used without humidifier bottles, their combination is recommended for people having severe dryness and discomfort from dry oxygen.
Here’s how to connect humidifier bottles to oxygen concentrators:
- Start by filling the bottle with distilled water up to the max fill line.
- Next, place and secure the cap on the bottle. Ensure to seal it well; otherwise, water might leak out of the container.
- The bottle has two openings, an inlet, and an outlet. Attach the inlet nut with your oxygen tubing coming from the concentrator. Some bottles come with an adapter that can be used as tubing.
This should not be cross-threaded, or else oxygen will leak out.
- Connect the bottle outlet with the tube of the oxygen mask.
Once concentrated oxygen starts flowing through the system, you will notice it bubbling inside the bottle. This indicates that oxygen is absorbing moisture.
Humidified oxygen can relieve dry mouth and related symptoms, making the treatment comfortable for the patients.
Complications Of Using Humidifier Bottle With Oxygen Concentrator
Here are two major complications you might encounter when using a humidifier-concentrator combo for oxygen therapy:
Adverse Health Effects
While humidified oxygen prevents dry mouth, it can also exacerbate health under certain circumstances.
According to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), ideal relative humidity ranges from 30 to 50%. Humidity beyond this specified range is unhealthy and damaging to your health and your house.
Each humidifier bottle has a specific capacity, and doctors decide which size is compatible with your concentrator’s pressure and flow settings.
If you don’t adhere to the prescription, or technical issues like oxygen leak, disruption in pressure, voltage fluctuation, etc., occur, the oxygen might get over-humidified.
This leads to complications like difficulty breathing (oxygen becomes too dense with moisture), discomfort, worsening of COPD symptoms, frequent asthma attacks, discomfort, and lethargy.
Rainout
Rainout is common in devices attached to humidifiers (like oxygen concentrators, CPAP machines, etc.). This is because the temperature difference between the room and inside the machine causes the development of condensation. As a result, water droplets collect in the tubing.
In concentrators, this water accumulation in tubing disrupts oxygen flow and renders the supplemental therapy ineffective.
Here’s how to drain a rainout:
- Turn the concentrator off.
- Disconnect the oxygen tube from the humidifier bottle.
- Place the tube into a tank, and turn the machine on.
- Refer to your user manual for control settings, and switch the LPM (liter per minute) oxygen flow to the maximum level. The high-pressure flow will force water out of the tube.
- Once the tube is drained, reconnect it to the humidifier, adjust the settings per the prescription, and ensure the connection is sealed properly. Oxygen bubbles in the humidifier bottle indicate secured tubing.
What Liquid Is Used In Oxygen Humidifiers?
Oxygen humidifiers use only sterile and distilled water. Mineral or impure tap water contains particulate minerals, salts, and impurities that can clog the tubing and cause microbial growth inside the humidifier bottle.
Humidification requires water. When using a humidifier bottle, you must fill in water (according to the container’s capacity).
Hard water contains minerals, like calcium and magnesium, and salts. If you use this in an oxygen humidifier, the particulate matter will be left behind while the air uses up water. The buildup serves as a nutrition-rich supply for bacteria and mold growth.
These germs can enter with oxygen into your body and cause various infections.
Over time, the mineral residues might clog the tubing, obstructing the oxygen flow.
Similarly, tap water contains various impurities like dust, debris, pathogens, etc. These particles can also contaminate /interfere with the oxygen flow.
To avoid these complications, you should always use only filtered, mineral-free water in oxygen humidifiers. It is also crucial to regularly change the container water atleast every two days because stagnant water is a favorable breeding ground for pathogens.
Best Humidifier Bottles For Oxygen Concentrator
Here are the top five humidifier bottles you can buy for your oxygen concentrator:
Oxygen Humidifier Bubbler Bottle By Drive Medical
Oxygen Humidifier Bubbler Bottle By Drive Medical is a high-quality humidifier. It can store 500 ml of water, allowing for a significant runtime compared to other options in the same price range.
Pros
- Can last for more than 10 to 16 hours
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Not suitable for low-flow oxygen treatment
HealthLine Humidifier Bottle And Tubing Connector
HealthLine Humidifier Bottle And Tubing Connector is a three-ounce bottle that works on a corded power supply. The package comes with a humidifier adapter that easily connects with the concentrator.
Pros
- 88 ml /3 oz guarantee a long runtime
- Comes with humidifier adapter
Cons
- Might not fit a lot of oxygen concentrators
Westmed 6 LPM Humidifier Bottle
Westmed 6 LPM Humidifier Bottle is perfect for mid to high-flow oxygen therapy. It comes with a 15” adapter tubing that enables you to use the concentrator from a comfortable distance.
Pros
- Comes with a 15” adapter
- Excellent customer service
Cons
- Not suitable for low-flow oxygen therapy
BOTTEGA Oxygen Humidifier Bottle
BOTTEGA Oxygen Humidifier Bottle is multifunctional equipment. It comes with an oxygen filter, connecting tube, and nasal hose. Its oxygen flow meter is highly sensitive and helps regulate the flow.
The bottle has a detachable design, which makes it easier to clean and maintain. Another plus point of the BOTEGRA humidifier bottle is its durability. It is made of premium PVS which is non-toxic and lasts long.
Pros
- Low-maintenance
- Oxygen flow meter
- Non-toxic and durable
Cons
- Little expensive
Salter Labs High Flow Oxygen Bubbler Bottle
Salter Labs High Flow Oxygen Bubbler Bottle is a popular choice for oxygen therapy. This is a clear container designed for high-flow oxygen treatment. It is most effective when used with Salter 1600HF nasal cannula.
Pros
- Great for 6 to 15 LPM
- App-controlled
Cons
- Not for low-flow oxygen therapy
