Chart Japan will begin renting portable oxygen (POC) concentrators in May, a business it had been planning.

The product involved is Caire Oxygen Series comprised of 3 products called Focus, Freestyle, and Eclipse which are from Chart’s affiliate company Caire. Focus and Free Style were approved as medical equipment in February, while Eclipse is expected to do this in May.

These are all battery powered PSA oxygen concentrators, standardized with a respiratory synchronization function. Focus weighs a mere 800g. Even women and elderly people can easily carry these around on the shoulder. The Free Style can likewise be carried on the shoulder and also on the back. Oxygen can be inhaled equivalent to the rate of 5 liters a minute.　If the optional battery is used, Free Style can be used for over 10 consecutive hours.

Eclipse can be used as both a portable and stationary unit. It can be adjusted precisely regarding the number of respirations and the amount of oxygen inhaled. Together with a respiratory synchronization function, it can achieve efficient oxygen respiration while decreasing electric power consumption.

According to President Tatsuo Hayashi the market awareness of portable oxygen concentrator (POC) is increasing, as which contribute to QOL for patient. Abroad, dragging around a cylinder as in Japan is extremely rare. POCs which can be carried on aircraft are increasing. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved taking the Caire Oxygen Series onto aircraft.

According to President Hayashi, “We’ll be promoting POC usage among home oxygen therapy patients through our rental business. Taking into consideration the filling and transport of cumbersome portable cylinders, we felt that we might be able to strive for a more efficiency in terms of business.”