Pulse Dose Oxygen Delivery Systems

Question: How does Pulse Dose work?
Pulse Dose dramatically extends the use time from a supply of oxygen, offering increased mobility with improved comfort and increased efficiency. The reliability and safety of Pulse Dose oxygen delivery has been proven effective in clinical testing.

Because oxygen is released only during inhalation, the constant flow of oxygen into the nostrils is eliminated. Many users find Pulse Dose oxygen delivery more comfortable than continuous flow delivery systems. The short “pulse” of oxygen delivered during inhalation is almost undetectable, and the humidity in the room air helps maintain a normal level of moisture in the nasal cavity. This greatly reduces the discomfort of dehydration associated with a continuous flow oxygen system.

When inhaling, your diaphragm moves down and causes a drop in pressure in the lungs. Air flows in through the nose and mouth to equalize the pressure. This negative pressure is also present at the nose and mouth during inhalation. This pressure signal travels through the nasal cannula to a pressure sensor in the Pulse Dose conserving device. An electronic circuit then opens an electrical valve to deliver a precisely metered dose of oxygen. When the valve is closed, the sensor is ready to detect the next inhalation.

Question: Am I really getting enough oxygen?
Yes. Pulse Dose delivery gives you a precise burst of oxygen at a relatively high flow rate at the leading edge of each inhalation. This assures that the oxygen delivered flows deep into the lungs for maximum benefit. Pulse Dose requires less oxygen to deliver the same therapeutic benefit as continuous flow oxygen delivery.

Question: Why can’t I use a cannula which is longer than 35 feet?
The Pulse Dose triggering is not significantly affected by the cannula length, but the delivery of oxygen is affected. If the cannula is longer than 35 feet, the pulse of oxygen is delayed. Remember the therapeutic moment during the inhalation cycle. If the oxygen is not delivered during this time, the benefits will not be realized.

Question: Can I use a humidifier with Pulse Dose?
No. Pulse Dose is not able to sense inhalation through the water in the humidifier. Also, many patients find that humidification is not necessary with Pulse Dose. They find that Pulse Dose improves comfort because it delivers a very small amount of oxygen during the early part of inhalation, while the rest of the inhalation is composed of normal room air.

Question: When I’m breathing faster, I don’t get a pulse with each breath. Don’t I need a dose every time?
Because Pulse Dose breathes with the patient, it has an upper limit (40 Breaths Per Minute) that keeps you from getting too much oxygen. When breathing slowly, you receive a dose with every breath. As breath rate increases (up to 40 BPM) Pulse Dose still delivers a dose with every breath. At this point, you are getting more oxygen per minute because each pulse delivers the same amount of oxygen with each breath while the number of breaths has increased. With continuous flow oxygen, the oxygen delivered is constant. As you breathe faster, the enrichment of inhalations actually decreases because each breath is being diluted with a greater amount of room air.