OptimalAire Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQs
Q: How can I get an Inogen One?
That's easy. Contact Us today and we can get you on the road to enjoying your independence.
Q: What are the specifications (weight, battery life, etc.) of the Inogen One and Eclipse models?
All specifications on our products are available to you on the .
Q: Is the Inogen One the right oxygen therapy device for me?
Your physician, respiratory therapist, or home health care provider will provide you with guidance as to which device best suits your oxygen therapy needs. The Inogen One is not intended for all oxygen patients. If your oxygen therapy prescription is between 1-5 liters per minute, talk to your physician to see if the Inogen One is right for you.
Q: Where can I get more information?
Call or Email Us today and we can set up a meeting with one of our sales associates to discuss if our services are right for you.
Q: Will using the Inogen One decrease my electric bill?
Absolutely, if you are currently using a standard oxygen concentrator. The Inogen One uses about the wattage of a normal 40 watt bulb.
Q: How much power does the Inogen One consume?
The Inogen One requires less than 52 watts when a battery is not charging in a concentrator. The power requirement may be up to 80 watts when running the concentrator and charging a battery at the same time
Q: Can I take the Inogen One onboard commercial aircraft?
Yes. For a complete list of airlines that support the Inogen One Oxygen Concentrator, please visit the Patients Page.
Q: How long after startup is the Inogen One Concentrator performing to specification?
The time required for the Inogen One to produce 90% oxygen varies depending on flow setting and the time since the unit was last running. At higher flow settings more product is moving through the system and the startup time is shorter, typically less than 15 minutes. Startup time will also be short if the unit has only been turned off for a short time. Startup times can be longer, up to 25 minutes, at lower flow settings. Keep in mind that the oxygen concentration is steadily building during these warmup times.
Q: Is the Inogen One battery considered hazardous material?
The Inogen One battery has a total lithium content of 7.92 grams (which is equivalent to most laptop computer batteries). Inogen has tested the battery to comply with UN travel regulations which control the electrical safety features and safe packaging of the battery pack. Refer to the Patient Manual and Technical Manual for additional information regarding the use, storage and disposal of the Inogen One battery.
Q: Is there a difference in the internally measured oxygen concentration if no one is breathing on the unit?
The oxygen concentration in the concentrator may be slightly lower when the unit is not delivering oxygen boluses, because the concentration is optimized when there is a normal flow of product through the system. Inogen has built in an "auto breath" mode that may be used by Providers when testing the concentrator.
Q: Can the Inogen One be used overnight?
The Inogen One is designed and cleared for use as a continuous duty (stationary and portable, 24/7) oxygen concentrator. Breath sensing in both the default and sleep settings responds to even the most shallow inspiration, even with mouth breathing. In the Inogen One sensitive mode, which we recommend for nocturnal use, the Inogen One responds and delivers oxygen with a trigger of only -0.12 cm water pressure, which is generated with a faint “sniff”. Unless the patient has known severe nocturnal hypoxemia that is refractory to their prescribed oxygen and/or frequent and prolonged apneas, there is nothing to suggest that the patient will not trigger and receive adequate oxygen in a manner consistent with the CF setting. If one makes the assumption that a patient’s daytime SpO2 on his/her current CF setting is adequate for nighttime use (as is common standard of practice), a properly titrated Inogen One will, in theory produce the same clinical effect. Inogen has completed a nocturnal clinical study comparing SpO2 and other physiologic parameters in sleeping patients using CF versus the Inogen One titrated to equal their awake CF SpO2. The preliminary report demonstrates no clinical or statistical differences between systems.
As with any device, patients should be titrated by their physician or Home Healthcare Provider to assess efficacy and tolerability, including devices utilizing conserver technology. Any questions or concerns regarding a patient’s oxygen levels while sleeping with the Inogen One can be validated with an overnight pulse oximetry study.
Q: Will the Inogen One function at high altitude?
The Inogen One is rated to function up to 10,000 feet above sea level. While the concentrator will continue to produce oxygen, the actual mass flow of oxygen to the patient is reduced by the altitude. At 10,000 feet, a bolus of a set size contains only 68% of the mass of oxygen that the same bolus volume would contain at sea level. Therefore, some patients may need to increase the flow setting when using at higher elevations.
Clinical FAQs
Q: Can a longer cannula be used with the Inogen One?
The cannula must be seven feet long or less in order to properly sense the patient's breath and deliver oxygen early in the breathing cycle, when oxygen is most beneficial. If the patient must be further away from the Inogen One, they should use the Satellite Conserver.
Q: Can an oxygen mask be used with the Inogen One?
No. The Inogen One is intended to be used with a nasal cannula, such as a Salter 1600Q or equivalent.
Q: Can the Inogen One be used overnight?
The Inogen One is designed with two different sensitivity modes. The Sensitive mode may be selected by those users who feel that the Inogen One is occasionally missing a breath detection. Most patients will experience better results at night if the sensitive mode is used. As with any oxygen source, patients should be titrated by their doctor or home health care provider to assess efficacy and tolerability. Please contact Inogen for additional clinical information.
Q: Does the Inogen One have a built-in oxygen purity analyzer?
Yes. The Inogen One will alarm if the oxygen concentration drops.
Q: Does the oxygen concentration depend on the flow setting?
No. The oxygen concentration is 90% +/- 3% at all flow rates.
Q: Must I have a prescription to purchase the Inogen One?
Yes. The FDA mandates that a prescription is required to use any form of man-made supplemental oxygen.
Q:What type of cannula can I use with the Inogen One?
Inogen has validated the use of the Inogen One with a Salter 1600Q high flow cannula. Other types of cannulas may be used. Please assure that the cannula fitting is tight on the nozzle.
Q:Why is my cannula fitting so loose on the Inogen One Concentrator?
The connection to the Inogen One nozzle works well with many cannulas, including the Salter 1600Q, but the fit will be looser when using certain types of cannulas. Please make sure that the cannula fitting is tight, with no leaks.
Q: Will the Inogen One work for TTO (Trans Tracheal Oxygen) users?
The Inogen One utilizes a pulse based oxygen delivery system that senses and responds to the pressure drop created by inspiration. The use of the Inogen One in conjunction with any oxygen delivery other than a nasal cannula has not been validated. Transtracheal oxygen (TTO) catheters are single lumen, very small diameter tubes, typically 9-13 cm in length and 9 French in diameter that are surgically placed directly into the airway via stoma. The catheter tip resides inside the patient's upper airway, normally resting a few centimeters above the carina. Inogen currently has no clinical or technical data supporting the use of the Inogen One with TTO catheters.
System FAQs
Q: "Battery Empty, Attach Plug" - Why does the message remain after I attach the AC power supply?
If the concentrator is run until the battery is depleted, the system is shut down (oxygen production is stopped) and this message is displayed. Even if the user connects the power plug at this time, further action is required. In order to cease display of the message, the user should press the ON/OFF button to shut the unit down completely. The user should then press the ON/OFF button to restart the concentrator.
Q: "Battery Error, See Manual" - Why do I get this message, and what should I do next?
This message is displayed if the concentrator has difficulty communicating with the battery. The user should remove the battery and reinstall it (first shut the unit down or power it using the AC power supply). A battery error will prevent the battery from powering the concentrator.
Q: "Battery HOT Warning" - Why do I get this message, and what should I do next?
The concentrator will shut down if the battery temperature is too hot. If the battery is just below this temperature, the user will receive the Battery HOT Warning on the display, along with an audible warning. This warning is simply intended to alert the patient that continued use of the battery may result in system shutdown if the battery temperature continues to increase. Note that the temperature of the concentrator and battery will be higher when used at higher flow settings. Suggestions for reducing the battery temperature are provided in the Patient Manual. If the battery regularly becomes too hot, please contact Inogen Customer Care for further instruction.
Q: "Battery HOT, Not Charging" - Why do I get this message, and what should I do next?
In order to begin charging, the battery must be below a certain temperature. If the battery has recently been discharged in a concentrator, depending on environmental conditions, it may exceed this temperature and must cool down prior to charging. To expedite cooling, the user may run the unit on AC power, remove the battery for 10 minutes, or replace the battery with a cool battery, if desired. If the battery is left in the concentrator, the alert will continue to appear until the battery cools sufficiently to begin the charging sequence.
Q: "Comm Error" - Why do I get this message, and what should I do next?
This message is displayed if the concentrator has difficulty communicating with the battery. The user should remove the battery and reinstall it (first shut the unit down or power it using the AC power supply). The battery will continue to power the concentrator if it is the sole source of power, but the concentrator will not be able to track the remaining charge on the battery. If AC power is used, the battery will not charge with a comm error showing.
Q: "Error 1, Call Provider" - Why do I get this message, and what should I do next?
This error may result from an error in communication between the battery and the concentrator. Remove the battery and reinsert in the concentrator.
Q: "Error 16, Call Provider" - Why do I get this message, and what should I do next?
If this error repeats itself to the point of becoming a nuisance, please contact us and let us bring you ease.
Q: "Error 4, Call Provider" - Why do I get this message, and what should I do next?
This message indicates that the concentrator has detected pressure that is lower or higher than expected. When this happens, the concentrator is shut down. An Error 4 message is usually due to a low pressure condition. This may be caused by placing the concentrator in the Satellite setting without connecting a Satellite Conserver, or by having a leak in the tubing to the Satellite Conserver. This situation will allow the product gas to leak from the system, thereby reducing the internal pressure. If the user is sure that such a leak did not occur, then there may be a problem with the concentrator and it may need to be returned for troubleshooting. Note: the error 4 message will not display until the concentrator has been operating for at least five minutes.
Q: "Error 8, Call Provider" - Why do I get this message, and what should I do next?
This message indicates that the concentrator software has detected oxygen concentration below 50%. When this happens, the concentrator shuts down. An oxygen concentration this low may be caused by placing the concentrator in the "Satellite" setting without connecting a Satellite Conserver, or by having a leak in the tubing, allowing the product gas to leak from the system, thereby reducing the oxygen concentration. If the user is certain that such a leak did not occur, there may be a problem with the concentrator and it may need to be returned for troubleshooting.
Q: "System HOT, Shutdown" - Why do I get this message, and what should I do next?
If the internal system temperature is too hot, the concentrator will display this message and shut down. While it is unlikely that the system will become this hot, the risk of this situation can be minimized by operating the unit in a comfortable environment and ensuring the intake and exhaust are clear of obstructions. The intake particulate filter should be kept clean, and there should be no filter in the exhaust vent.
Q: Can the Inogen One be used in conjunction with a CPAP/BiPAP/ TTO Scoop?
The Inogen One is a pulse-dosed system that responds to the pressure drop created through the patient's inspiration. Within a CPAP mask there is still a pressure drop during inhalation. Since the Inogen One is equipped with two sensitivity modes, faint breathing is still detectable in many cases when the “S” mode on the concentrator is selected. Inogen is currently testing and validating the Inogen One for use with a CPAP device. However, the Inogen One is not yet indicated for use with a CPAP device by the FDA.
Q: Do I harm the concentrator if I run it while it is on its side? I need to put it on its side to fit it under my chair (or in some other specific location).
This should not harm the concentrator, but it is designed to be used in an upright position and should be used that way whenever possible.
Q: Sometimes I receive a pulse (bolus) that is noticeably larger than I expect. Why?
The Inogen One keeps track of the patient's breathing rate and adjusts the pulse size in an attempt to deliver a constant amount of oxygen independent of breathing rate, depending on the current flow setting. If the patient breathes rapidly, the pulses will be smaller, and vice versa. If the Inogen One conserver misses one or more breath detections due to cannula removal, misadjustment, or other reason, then the next pulse will be larger than previous pulses since the perceived breathing rate is lower.
Q: The flow setting shown on the display does not match the setting I selected with the knob. What do I do?
This indicates a problem with the flow control knob. Please contact us and we will happy to assist.
Q: What should I do if I get an "Oxygen Low" message?
This error message indicates that the oxygen concentration is below 82% while the concentrator is used in one of the pulse flow settings (setting 1 through setting 5). This error may occur if the concentrator is turned on, but is not being used (no one is breathing on the device). To confirm this is the issue, either breathe with the cannula, or place the device in satellite mode for 1 to 2 seconds and then return the flow control back to the original setting. After a few minutes, the O2 alert should clear.
Q: Why do I get a "Maximum Flow Exceeded" message when using the Satellite Conserver (in Satellite mode)?
This error message indicates that the oxygen concentration is below 82% while the concentrator is used in Satellite mode. This can happen if the Satellite Conserver is set to Setting 4 or 5 and the user is breathing rapidly. The oxygen concentration can also drop if the concentrator is set to Satellite mode and the tubing is not connected properly. Verify that the tubing is connected and there are no leaks.
Q: Why do I get a "Tubing Error" message when using the Satellite Conserver?
This error message will only appear if the concentrator is set to Satellite mode. This error message indicates that either: (a) the oxygen concentration is below 50%, or (b) the concentrator pressure is too low while the concentrator is used in Satellite mode. These conditions can occur if the concentrator is set to Satellite mode and the tubing is not tightly connected. Verify that the cannula forms a tight seal on the nozzle.
Q: Why do I hear the motor "rev up" and then decrease in speed?
The concentrator operates a pressure swing adsorption system. As the system pressurizes and depressurizes the sieve bed, the load on the compressor changes accordingly.
Q: Why does the battery appear to stop charging before it is full?
In some cases the Inogen One display will show that the battery charge is stopped at a particular % charge (for example, 96%). This may be an inconvenience to the user, since "Battery Full" is not displayed, but is not cause for concern. In fact, the battery is fully charged in this case. The user should use the battery as usual, and may consider running it through a conditioning cycle, which is generally a good idea from time to time. The conditioning cycle involves completing a full charge, followed by a full discharge and another full charge. This is described in the Patient Manual and Technical Manual.
Q: Why does the concentrator not turn on when I have it connected to AC power?
If the Inogen logo does not show on the display when the unit is plugged in, then the unit is probably not receiving power. This is usually caused by a loose connection between the AC power cord and the power supply. Make sure all power connections are tight and that the AC power outlet is operational (not turned off by a wall switch, etc.). If the concentrator still does not respond, the AC power supply may be faulty. To check this, the user may try powering the concentrator using the Mobile Power Adapter in an automobile. If the concentrator then works, the AC power supply should be replaced. If the Inogen logo does show on the display when the unit is plugged in, but the concentrator will not power on, then the ON/OFF switch may be faulty.
Q: Why does the concentrator occasionally deliver an oxygen pulse when I am not inhaling?
The system has two breath detect modes. In the sensitive mode (S displayed in the upper left corner of the LCD) the breath detection is more sensitive and may trigger due to the movement of the cannula. If this occurs more often than desired, the patient may return the breath sensitivity to the default mode (no S displayed).
Q: Why does the front panel display look strange?
Garbled text on the Inogen One display may indicate a poor internal connection of the LCD. Do not attempt to open the concentrator. Note: The concentrator will continue to provide oxygen to specification.