title: [Clinical evaluation of an oxygen concentrator and humidifier that does not require additional reservoir water].
abstract: A conventional humidifier with a reservoir of water for humidification can produce micro-aerosols contaminated with bacteria. The present study was undertaken to determine the clinical efficiency of a membrane humidifier that does not require additional reservoir water. We analyzed relative room air humidity and oxygen levels obtained from 2 pressure-swing adsorption (PSA)-type oxygen concentrators with membrane humidifiers. A significant correlation was found between relative room air humidity and that of oxygen moistened by a membrane humidifier. Several patients with chronic respiratory failure experienced improvements in subjectively reported nasal dryness using an oxygen concentrator with a membrane humidifier. This device avoids the need to change reservoir water, and may improve patient quality of life in the home.
authors.affiliation: Division of School of Health Science, Department of Pathobiological Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University.
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Burioka
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamoto
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukuoka
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shimizu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004389:Durable Medical Equipment; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D008297:Male; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency