The device features technology that automatically adjusts oxygen delivery to a patient’s breathing rate, a feature recently evaluated in a university bench study.
CAIRE Inc has announced the US availability of its FreeStyle Comfort portable oxygen concentrator, which includes the company’s proprietary autoSAT technology. The feature is designed to automatically adjust oxygen delivery to maintain a consistent volume as a patient’s breathing rate changes during activity or at rest.
The autoSAT technology, previously a key feature in the company’s larger Eclipse 5 transportable oxygen concentrator, is often used in hospital discharge programs for patients newly prescribed oxygen. Its inclusion in the five-pound FreeStyle Comfort brings this adaptive capability to a more mobile form factor for individuals with respiratory conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“Instead of the respiratory patient having to adapt to their portable oxygen device, this device adapts to them through our patented technology,” says Ken Hosako, president and CEO of CAIRE Inc, in a release.
Supporting Bench Study Data
A recent bench study from Georgia State University, published in Pulmonary Therapy, evaluated the device’s performance. Using a lung simulator set to mimic an adult with chronic respiratory disease, researchers compared the Fraction of Inspired Oxygen (FiO₂) delivery from the FreeStyle Comfort against other POCs, wall oxygen, and a standalone concentrator at various breathing rates.
The study found that at elevated breathing rates of 30 to 40 breaths per minute (bpm), the FreeStyle Comfort consistently delivered the highest or equivalent FiO₂ among the tested POCs. At 40 bpm on a specific setting, the device delivered a statistically significant higher FiO₂ than wall oxygen. The study noted that fixed-bolus technology like autoSAT helps sustain FiO₂ during exertion, which may reduce the need for patients to manually adjust settings and support therapy adherence. The study, which measured no clinical outcomes in patients, was funded by CAIRE but independently conducted and analyzed at the university.
The FreeStyle Comfort also includes CAIRE’s UltraSense technology, which ensures oxygen is delivered in conjunction with the patient’s breath rate, and autoDOSE, which provides oxygen if no breath is detected. The device features an expanded control menu allowing users to adjust breath sensitivity and activate an airplane mode. It meets Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines for use on commercial airlines.
“As a respiratory therapist, I’ve seen how discouraging it can be when portable oxygen doesn’t seem to meet a patient’s needs,” says Cara Collins, RRT, RRT-NPS, and a product manager at CAIRE, in a release. “The FreeStyle Comfort with autoSAT technology adapts to each breath, helping restore confidence in therapy and giving patients back the freedom they may have thought was lost.”
Photo caption: FreeStyle Comfort portable oxygen concentrator
Photo credit: CAIRE
