The Air Water affiliate, Air Water Medical, which deals in the home therapy business, and Ikiken, a manufacturer of oxygen concentrators, have developed a small oxygen concentrator called the Konatsu3 SP. This concentrator is of lighter weight, conserves energy, is safe and can be used with ease. It makes it possible to move the oxygen concentrator around indoors easily, and can be carried in a car. All of this goes a long way to make the life of a patient easier and better.

Oxygen concentrators for home use can be said to form the basis of home therapy. The number of patients is about 170,000, and is increasing at the rate of about 3,000 a year (based on JIMGA statistics). The type currently in use, however, weights over 30kg, making it in effect a stationary type. A patient has to move about indoors while dragging a long extension tube. Also, accidents causing fire occur when inhaling oxygen due to careless use of fire such as with cigarettes, resulting in the death of around 10 patients a year.

In 1982 Air Water began importing oxygen concentrators for medical use and became involved in business in the home therapy, the first time in Japan. Later it began to produce these itself, and continued to expand into the areas of home respiratory treatment, the sleep apnea syndrome treatment, and mechanical in-exsufflators. In February of 2013 it took over the businesses of home oxygen therapy and home transfusion pumps from Terumo。The current new oxygen concentrator came about through collaboration between Air Water and Terumo involving their knowhow and knowledge, as well as their technology accumulated over the years.

Electric power consumption less than 1/3

The Konatsu3 SP is characterized by a basic rethinking of the compressor which is the main component to strive to make it smaller in size and lighter in weight. The technology, innovation, and development were all accomplished in house. As a result of this, electrical consumption has been reduced to less than 1/3 (1 liter per minute, 35W, with an electricity fee of 680 a month). The unit is 330 mm wide, with a depth of 293mm, and a high of 590mm. A huge reduction in weight was achieved, resulting in a weight of 9.9kg, including the battery. Based on a design which utilizes an extendable handle and large wheels, the range of the activity of the patient has been greatly expanded, as he is now able to move freely about the room. Because it can be recharged by a car battery, it can be easily brought into hospitals, schools, inns, and hotels.

Furthermore, the sound it gives off during operation with a setting of 1 liter a minute is 21dB (A), making this a quiet design, with a noise level of that of the russelling of the leaves of a tree. It can therefore be used comfortably at night and during sleep. With a built in battery there is no need to worry about stoppage during a power outage. Even if by some chance a fire were to break out, it has Terumo technology whereby the supply of oxygen stops and a conflagration is prevented. The battery can be easily changed as it is a cartridge type, so that the operational time can be extended. Because a battery lasts 3 hours, the compressor can cope with a power outage during a disaster. All of the operations are accompanied by voice guidance, so that mistakes can be avoided.

President Haruyuki Higashi who is also manager of the Home Medical Care Division of the Medical Company of Air Water stated, “I would like to make all of the home oxygen therapy patients feel comfortable, and especially would like children suffering from ventricular septal defect to use this. This is an illness which can be healed through surgery. Konatsu3 was developed with the hope of reducing the lack of comfort during the few years before surgery as much as possible.

It will be deployed mainly at hospitals attached to universities and major hospitals. The initial target calls for renting 500 units. Higashi went on to say, “I would like to reach 3,000 units as soon as possible. In this way, based on the Konatsu3 SP we’ll expand our current share of 15% to larger in the oxygen concentrator market.”