FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Find the answers to many common questions here.

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Q: What are the Inogen One’s specifications (weight, battery life, etc.)?

A: View our Inogen One Specifications.

Q: Is the Inogen One covered by Medicare?

A: Yes, the Inogen One Oxygen Concentrator is covered by Medicare and many private insurance plans. Call today to see if you are eligible to receive the Inogen One at little to no additional cost (*co-payments and deductibles may apply).

Q: Where can I get more information?

A: To receive a free brochure on the Inogen One, call us toll free today at 855-694-.

Q: Can I take the Inogen One onboard commercial aircraft?

A: Yes. With the Inogen One, traveling with your oxygen is easy. The FAA now allows the Inogen One aboard all commercial aircraft whose flights originate or terminate within the United States. Check with your airline provider for any inflight restrictions before arriving at the airport. Bring enough charged batteries with you to power your Inogen One for no less than 150% of the expected duration of the flight, plus a conservative estimate of unanticipated delays. Get more information.

Q: Is it safe to allow my Inogen One through the airport screening machines?

A: Yes, it is safe to walk through the screening machines while using your Inogen One. 

Q: Is it safe to allow my Inogen One in cold/hot environments?

A: Yes, it is safe to use the Inogen One in these conditions; if the user can tolerate the environment, then most likely the Inogen One will function without any trouble. However, if the Inogen One becomes too cold/hot, an alert will be displayed on the device.

Q: Is it safe to allow my Inogen One if I also have a pacemaker?

A: Yes, there will be no interference between the two devices. 

Q: Is it safe to allow my Inogen One when I have an x-ray or MRI?

A: Yes, we recommend attaching a 25ft nasal cannula to the device and setting the Inogen One with the technician.

Q: Is the Inogen One pulse dose? Can I use it at night?

A: Yes, the Inogen One is pulse dose, but we have developed new pulse dose technology, Intelligent Delivery Technology. Inogen’s Intelligent Delivery Technology is highly flexible to changing environments and meters oxygen delivery through the system to promote increased oxygen delivery during sleep for most patients. As breathing rate slows, Inogen’s Intelligent Delivery Technology increases each bolus dose. The technology in each Inogen One is effective at providing the necessary oxygen for most ambulatory patients during all phases of daily activity and during sleep. The Inogen One is designed to be used 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Q: How long does the Inogen One battery last?

A: View our latest specifications on battery life by clicking here. The Inogen One battery is charged by plugging it into a power source, whether that be an electrical outlet or the cigarette lighter socket in a car.

Q: Can I smoke around my oxygen concentrator?

A: Open flames should always be avoided where oxygen is in use. That includes matches, lighters, candles or smoking in any form. Anyone who wishes to smoke should do so out of range of the unit.

Q: Can I use my Inogen One in the rain?

A: Yes, the Inogen One was tested to withstand rain while transferring from a car to a home, for example, and the carry bag (backpack and hip bag)  provides another layer of protection. 

Q: Can I use the Inogen One with my C-PAP/BiPAP machine? 

A: No, Inogen does not allow the device to be used in conjunction with humidifiers, nebulizers, C-PAP, BiPAP or connected to any other type of devices. Doing so may impair performance or damage the equipment.

Q: Can I use my Inogen One with a swivel connector?

A: No, we cannot recommend the use of the Inogen One connected by a swivel connector as there is possibility of oxygen flow to be restricted. However, all Inogen One POCs are approved for use with a nasal cannula up to 25 ft. in length.

Q: How do I maintain an oxygen concentrator?

A: The following items need to be cleaned regularly:

• Particle screen – To ensure adequate air flow through the device, the particle screen should be cleaned according to the manufacturer’s instructions, generally on a weekly basis, using a mild detergent and water. The particle screen must be air dried before reuse.
• Surface – The surface of an oxygen concentrator should be regularly cleaned according to the manufacturer’s instructions, using a mild detergent and water. Important: The concentrator should never be submerged in water.

The following items need to be replaced regularly:

• Nasal Cannula – Consult with your physician or equipment provider for replacement information.
• Filter – Most oxygen concentrator manufacturers provide filters in a replacement kit, so it can be replaced whenever necessary.
• Columns – The device will advise a  low priority message on the display screen and alert with a double beep with a solid red or yellow light that column maintenance is required within 30 days. To order new columns, click here and then follow the instructions for replacing the column assembly. 

Q: My tank provider told me that portable oxygen concentrators are noisy.  Is this true?

A: It is true that all portable oxygen concentrators (POC) make a sound, as they are mechanically converting normal air to medical-grade oxygen. If you currently have tanks, you are accustomed to having little or no sound when using them. However, the freedom and portability you get with an Inogen One far outweighs the slight hum and whoosh of the concentrator. This, like any “white noise” you encounter daily, will soon fade into the ambient sound of the world around you!

The Inogen One G3 and the Inogen One G4 are one of the quietest POCs on the market. To hear an amplified recording of the characteristics of their sound, click play below.

Listen to the quiet sound of the Inogen One G3 concentrator

Q:  I heard something in the news about rechargeable batteries causing fires, and that they were no longer going to be allowed by the airlines.  Does this mean that I can’t use my Inogen One when I fly?

A:  No – you can rest assured that the Inogen One G3, G4  and G5 are approved by the FAA for transport and use on domestic airlines.  In addition, you can transport extra Inogen One lithium ion batteries as long as these are packed in your carry-on baggage.  Please contact the airline with which you’ll be traveling ahead of time to determine their specific guidelines for transporting and using oxygen on board their aircraft.

For more information on the FAA’s ruling regarding lithium ion and other types of batteries, you’ll find a comprehensive summary at http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives…

Q: How do I report a problem with my equipment, order supplies, or leave Inogen’s service?

A: If you need assistance, please call Customer Care at 1-877-466-.

Q: How do I return an Inogen Product that has been replaced?

A: If you need assistance, please call Customer Care at 1-877-466-.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit medical oxygen generator.

Q: What are the washing instructions for the carry bags and backpacks?

A: Hand wash only in warm water, Do NOT Tumble Dry, Do NOT Iron, Do NOT Bleach, and allow to dry immediately away from direct sunlight and heat.

Questions about COVID-19 and Inogen concentrators

Inogen has been receiving questions regarding what impact the COVID-19 virus will have on Inogen concentrators and their use. The following is our response to these questions. 

Q: What happens to my Inogen concentrator if exposed to COVID-19?

A: COVID-19 is a living virus. It needs living cells to replicate. Since there are no living cells within Inogen concentrators the virus will not thrive or grow. If exposed the virus may remain active for hours to several days. If you believe your concentrator to be contaminated please follow the cleaning and disinfection procedures contained within the Instructions for Use that came with your product. Refer to What if my unit gets contaminated question below for information on cleaning.

Q: What happens if the outside of my concentrator gets contaminated with COVID-19?

A: If your unit becomes contaminated follow the cleaning procedures provided with the Product Instructions for Use. These procedures state:

Case Cleaning
You may clean the outside case using a cloth dampened with a mild liquid detergent (such as Dawn™) and water. Do not submerse the Inogen One® or its accessories in water or allow water to enter into the case; this may lead to electrical shock and/or damage.
To fully decontaminate your unit the CDC recommends using a disinfectant on surfaces after cleaning. If this is desired, over the counter disinfecting wipes may be used. Follow wipe manufacturers recommendations for use. Inogen has not validated the use of disinfectants but has determined using wipes will not hurt the function of the unit.

Q: Will using my concentrator filter out COVID-19?

A: No, Inogen concentrator filters are not designed to filter viruses.

Q: Can I add additional filters to my concentrator?

A: It is not recommended to add anything to or alter Inogen concentrators in any way. Doing so may cause the unit to stop making oxygen and may void product warranty.

Q: I have been quarantined with COVID-19 and my concentrator has stopped working. What do I do?

A: Inogen is here to help. If your product is under warranty or is on rental a replacement unit will be shipped to you. We will contact you to arrange to have your current unit sent back to Inogen once the unit has been deemed no longer contaminated. During that time please keep your current unit in a safe and secure location.

Q: I have been quarantined with COVID-19 and want to know if it is safe to continue using my concentrator?

Questions about Portable Oxygen Concentrators

Dear COPD Coach,
I have been looking for a portable oxygen concentrator and have noticed that the continuous flow models are much larger, heavier, and have less battery time than the pulse models. My questions are, first why is this so, and second can anyone using oxygen use a pulse model?

—Confused

Dear Confused,
You are correct when you say that continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) tend to be significantly larger. There is a very good reason for this and it is really based on simple mechanics.

Oxygen concentrators all work pretty much the same. The ambient air we breathe contains about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% of other gasses. The concentrator has the job of taking as much of the nitrogen out of the air as is possible while leaving the oxygen. To do this, the concentrator draws in air through the inlet filter where a compressor compresses the air and puts it into the first of two cylinders called a zenolite tower which contains sieve beds. The sieve bed’s job is to become saturated by the nitrogen. A valve then opens (that’s the “poofing” noise you hear) and then the oxygen is pushed into a second zenolite tower where additional nitrogen is removed while the nitrogen in the sieve bed is released out of the unit. The oxygen, now at around 95% purity, also leaves the unit and travels to the user.

In order to produce large volumes of oxygen continuous flow models must have very large compressors and very large sieve beds to absorb enough nitrogen. In the case of a portable continuous unit it must have larger batteries in order to power the larger compressor. Pulse units have much smaller sieve beds and smaller compressors and therefore can use smaller batteries.

Continuous flow units put out a specific adjustable dose we measure in liters per minute. The oxygen put out by pulse units cannot be measured the same since it does not produce constant oxygen for one minute. The output of a pulse unit is determined by the size of the individual pulse (called a bolus) and is measured in milliliters per breath. The other thing that must be taken into account with pulse units is the number of pulses of oxygen they produce in a minute. It is very easy to “over-breathe” these units by trying to take more breaths than they are capable of producing.

Granted, much of the oxygen in a continuous flow unit is wasted simply because we pause between breaths. Most pulse units are designed to produce a pulse when it senses you are taking a breath (conservers work the same).

Another difference between pulse units is the purity of the oxygen and when and how the bolus is released. In some cases the bolus is released immediately when it senses a breath, and in other cases it is spread out longer or occurs later in the breathing cycle. All of this affects how you are saturated with oxygen. If the bolus is released late and you are taking short breaths, some of the oxygen could be wasted.

Talk to your doctor if you have more questions.

Battery technology is advancing at a rapid pace with batteries becoming smaller and lighter but with greater capacity. However the limiting factor with producing smaller continuous flow unit remains the size of the sieve beds and the size of the compressor needed to produce the large volume of air required. So, until the technology changes in those areas we will be left with larger and heavier continuous flow units. This is also why portable continuous flow units do not put out more than 3 liters per minute.

Before purchasing a unit you should consult with your pulmonologist to determine if a pulse unit is right for you. Remember also that most people requiring supplemental oxygen require more oxygen while exerting and that might be more than what the unit is capable of producing. Also, the numbers on a pulse unit are settings NOT liter flow, so don’t think that a setting of 3 is necessarily the same as 3 liters per minute on your continuous machine. The only way to determine if you are being properly saturated by a particular unit, be it pulse or continuous, is do check your saturations with a pulse oximeter during rest and exertion. You will most likely respond the same with different units. This is a test best left to a medical professional!

If you intend to travel with your pulse unit you have to consider that it might not be suitable for use while sleeping. Many supplemental oxygen users are “mouth breathers” (especially while sleeping) and pulse units are triggered by nasal inhalation. Therefore, the effectiveness of the sensitivity of the unit should be determined. if you intend to use it during while sleeping.

So, long story short, POCs are not a “one-size fits all” proposition. Make sure you speak with a medical professional prior to purchasing a unit, and don’t hesitate to return the unit if it is not keeping you properly saturated!

-The COPD Coach

Coaches Corner is aimed at providing information for individuals with COPD to take to your doctor, and is not in any way intended to be medical advice. If you would like to submit a question to the Coaches Corner us at . We would love to hear your questions and comments. You can address your emails to The COPD Coach.

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