Evaluation of the System O2 Inc portable nonpressurized oxygen delivery system.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the performance of the System O2 portable non-pressurized delivery system (SysO2). This device produces oxygen through chemical reaction and might have utility for emergency/field use.


METHODS
Performance was evaluated with 10 unmanned trials conducted under standard laboratory conditions. Measures included oxygen flow (mean and peak), total oxygen yield, and system weight-indexed yield.


RESULTS
Oxygen flow peaked at 5.74 +/- 0.28 L x min(-1) (mean +/- SD) at 16.9 +/- 1.5 minutes before rapidly falling to zero. Mean flow was 2.98 +/- 1.52 L x min(-1) with a total yield of 62.9 +/- 6.6 L. Mean oxygen fraction was 0.96 +/- 0.15. The weight per unit of oxygen is substantially higher than for commercially available pressurized cylinders; e.g., 47.7 vs. 10.2 g x L(-1) for the small 246 L M9 cylinder.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the limited flow rate and supply duration, we believe the SysO2 system does not offer significant advantage over the available pressurized oxygen systems as a source for emergency oxygen.
Pollock
Neal W
NW
Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Environmental Physiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. neal.pollock@duke.edu
Hobbs
Gene W
GW
D004867:Equipment Design; D005392:First Aid / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*
D010100:Oxygen