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Re: Oxygen Concentrator

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2022 2:45 am
by Boatguy
Mjwatlanta wrote: Thu Nov 24, 2022 2:12 am The bottom line is that because I never worry about running out of oxygen, or have to go to the trouble of filling a tank, I find myself using oxygen just about anytime above seven or 8000 feet and almost always at night. I think this makes for a more comfortable and safe flight. While I certainly don’t have experience with tank oxygen, I can absolutely endorse the idea that this system works well.
Excellent review. It seems much more convenient than filling bottles.

What cannula's are you using?

Re: Oxygen Concentrator

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 11:57 pm
by Mjwatlanta
Russ, it took 5 tries to get the right diameter cannulas. Here are the parts. I read the regulations and fell completely confident this setup complies.

From directtohomemedical.com.

1
Firesafe Oxygen Supply Tubing Connector - 2 Inch $4.51 $4.51
Package: RES010TC - Oxygen Tubing Connector

Salter 16SOFT High Flow Nasal Cannula with 7 Foot Oxygen Supply Tubing
1
Salter 16SOFT High Flow Nasal Cannula with 7 Foot Oxygen Supply Tubing $6.75 $6.75
Package: 16SOFT-HF-7 - High Flow 16Soft Cannula with 7 Foot Tubing
HCPCS Code: A4615
High Flow ComfortSoft Plus (Super Soft) Nasal Cannula with 7 Foot Green Oxygen Supply Tubing
1
High Flow ComfortSoft Plus (Super Soft) Nasal Cannula with 7 Foot Green Oxygen Supply Tubing $5.65 $5.65
Package: HI-7FT-WM0550 - High Flow ComfortSoft Plus Cannula with 7-Foot Tubing

The Y was from Amazon. 10pk Oyxgen Tubing Y Connectors
Visit the ResOne Store
5.0 out of 5 stars 1 rating
$9.99$9.99 ($1.00$1.00 / Count)
HCPCS Code: A4615

This is pretty much it. I do recall on of the cannulas is better than the other. But my note is at airport. I’ll report after checking.

Re: Oxygen Concentrator

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 5:34 pm
by nworthin
An outfit called Inogen Aviator some time ago offered a combination of the Inogen device along with adaptors for aviation use. They lost the ability to sell the Inogen and now partner with Main Clinic Supply for the device itself. However, they still sell interface kits. Their kits include a check valve (doubles as a visual indicator of oxygen pulse supply) and an in-aircraft charging device (not useful in a DA62 since we do not have access to adequate panel power).

I spoke with Tom Laux at Inogen Aviator (aka Windblade) and he made me up a custom kit along with some spares so I could do like Russ and use this with a Mountain High boom cannula. Basically, cut off the cannula portion and insert one end of the Mountain High quick connect (purchased from Mountain High). I ended up with a single use variant and a dual use one (the other user uses a standard cannula). The dual use set up allows for swapping out cannula ends for different users. (Invoice attached to see the kit Tom sent.) I've been very pleased with the Inogen and the adaptors. Basically use it on any flight above about 6K. One recommendation is that you also get the separate battery charger; otherwise you have to haul the entire unit home for battery charging as the charger plugs into the side of the unit itself (with the battery attached).

Finally, if anyone more clever than me can figure out how to mount the Inogen unit (other than sitting on the floor behind front seats), please let me know!
Windblade Inogen Invoice.pdf
(652.9 KiB) Downloaded 126 times

Re: Oxygen Concentrator

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2022 5:57 pm
by photoSteveZ
My home field in Colorado is above 5000’ MSL and the terrain nearby tops 14,000’ MSL, so I end up using oxygen on nearly every flight. There are already so many batteries in my life, and so many chargers, that I decided it was simpler to just adapt the Mountain High 02D2 pulse unit to the SkyOx system installed in my DA62. The 02D2 is so miserly with oxygen use, and the bottle installed in the nose of the 62 is so large, I doubt I’ll ever have to fill it between yearly service during annual inspections. Yes, I realize there’s a disposable 9V battery in the O2D2, but it can go years between changes.

There is one potential fly in the ointment with this setup, though: if through an oversight I were to leave the panel’s oxygen shutoff valve open and the supply hose were to disconnect from the 02D2, it would empty the bottle almost overnight through the inline stepdown regulator. Ask me how I know this… ;)

Re: Oxygen Concentrator

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2022 4:29 pm
by dmloftus
nworthin wrote: Tue Nov 29, 2022 5:34 pm They lost the ability to sell the Inogen and now partner with Main Clinic Supply for the device itself.
Tom had recommended Main Clinic Supply to me as well, but I got a much better deal (previous entry on this thread) from Inogen directly.
nworthin wrote: Tue Nov 29, 2022 5:34 pm Finally, if anyone more clever than me can figure out how to mount the Inogen unit (other than sitting on the floor behind front seats), please let me know!
When flying solo, I just hang my Inogen from the front side of the copilot seat back with the carry strap. Very easy to see and access. When flying with one or more passengers, I usually hang it from the back of my pilot seat back (takes very little room and is not obtrusive to a rear seat passenger), and trust my copilot to manage the buttons. I also have the Inogen app on my phone to monitor if necessary.
With Russ's advice, I also fly with the Mountain High boom cannula. I bought some inexpensive female-to-female oxygen tubing adaptors from DirectHome Medical (URL below) that work great to hook the end of the MH tubing to the Inogen nipple or my dual cannula setup from Inogen Aviator.

https://www.directhomemedical.com/cart/ ... qzEALw_wcB

I've been flying with the Apple Watch 7 and check my pulse ox frequently. The challenge with the 7 is that it requires you to remain completely still for 15 seconds to get a reading, which is difficult if there is ANY turbulence. So I also carry a couple of fingertip pulse oximeters, hung from the control sticks, which seem much more resilient on bumpier rides. Fingertip is much more accurate than wrist readings from smart watches with PPG sensors anyway. I had previously bought the Garmin D2 Pilot watch, but the interface is really wonky so I resold it on Ebay. Ideally the Apple Watch 7 would continuously monitor pulse ox and vibrate if you got too low, similar to the Garmin, but AFAIK it only provides readings on demand. There are articles online that mention a pulse ox alert capability on the Apple Watch, but I'm thinking Apple must have removed the feature. If anyone knows how to activate, please share.

https://www.komando.com/gadgets/apple-w ... ng/826373/

Re: Oxygen Concentrator

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2022 5:49 pm
by Boatguy
dmloftus wrote: Thu Dec 01, 2022 4:29 pmThere are articles online that mention a pulse ox alert capability on the Apple Watch, but I'm thinking Apple must have removed the feature. If anyone knows how to activate, please share.
I think you are correct, they must have removed it. There is a setting to check O2 "throughout the day", but I don't think the frequency is sufficient for flying.

I've found the Watch 7 to be generally accurate, but I wear my watch a bit loose and the readings improve when I slide it further up my arm. I've also seen variations between fingers with the fingertip monitor I keep in the cockpit.

Thanks for the O2 plumbing tips!

Re: Oxygen Concentrator

Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:20 pm
by jwx96
I just bought the Inogen G5 from Main Clinic Supply. They just needed to see a scan of my pilot certificate. The customer service was really excellent and they even had a winter sale - $2364 for the G5 with a large and a small battery, a few canals and a carrying case. My sales person was Rachel at rachel@mainclinicsupply.com. Inogen wanted a little more and required paperwork from my doctor, which probably would have added a diagnosis code to my EMR. I'm an MD but they wouldn't let me fill out the paperwork myself.

Re: Oxygen Concentrator

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2023 2:19 am
by dmloftus
jwx96 wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:20 pm $2364 for the G5 with a large and a small battery, a few canals and a carrying case.
Wow - that's a great deal. Congrats!

Re: Oxygen Concentrator

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2023 5:12 pm
by mysands
jwx96 wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:20 pm I just bought the Inogen G5 from Main Clinic Supply. They just needed to see a scan of my pilot certificate. The customer service was really excellent and they even had a winter sale - $2364 for the G5 with a large and a small battery, a few canals and a carrying case. My sales person was Rachel at rachel@mainclinicsupply.com. Inogen wanted a little more and required paperwork from my doctor, which probably would have added a diagnosis code to my EMR. I'm an MD but they wouldn't let me fill out the paperwork myself.
I ordered one thru Rachel also today. She was able to use a sale code and give the same deal. Thank you jwx96.

Re: Oxygen Concentrator

Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2023 11:00 pm
by ingramleedy
Great video that Martin Pauly just finished that talks about o2 and especially portable O2 like Imogen -- Good stuff and some really good learning points:

Everything you could possibly need to know about oxygen when flying, and about carbon monoxide - explained by Dr. Brent Blue, a Senior Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) from Jackson, WY. Dr Blue introduced pulse oximetry and digital carbon monoxide detectors to General Aviation.
https://youtu.be/pOEBoeuyR0U