Invacare Portable Oxygen Concentrators Reviewed
Invacare Portable Oxygen Concentrators Revie...
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Key Takeaways
- Invacare is a global leader in the manufacturing and distribution of home and long-term care medical products, and they have maintained the high product standards to prove it.
- The XPO2 device was replaced by the Platinum Mobile, a highly mobile and easy-to-use oxygen concentrator device.
- The Invacare website and customer support information could be more accessible, so you may want to check into a local provider or find another online store when it comes to your purchase.
The Invacare company, which derives its name from the company’s focus on innovation, value, and health care, is based in Ohio and has been designing and manufacturing medical equipment since 1885. Since then, the company has become a leader in the manufacturing and distribution of home and long-term care medical products, including Invacare portable oxygen concentrators (POCs).
USCF Health estimates that there are 1.5 million supplemental oxygen users in the U.S. If you’ve been prescribed supplemental oxygen, you have a number of options, including liquid oxygen tanks and cylinders of compressed oxygen gas. You also have the option of an oxygen concentrator, which works by pulling oxygen directly from the air around you while filtering out the nitrogen—so there’s no need for a tank or refills.
While home units are usually on wheels and weigh 30–50 pounds, they still limit your day-to-day activity. When it comes to choosing a machine that has the quality, range, components, and standards you need to live a healthier life, POCs are smaller, easier-to-carry, battery-operated oxygen concentrators. Their portability can give older adults requiring supplemental oxygen access to oxygen on the go, so they can live fuller, more active lives. Staying active is critical to physical, social, and mental health as you age.
According to the National Institute on Aging: “The increasing incidence of sedentarism (sitting too much) is a growing health concern: Too many older adults don’t get enough physical activity and spend too much time sitting daily … In addition, some interventional studies have found positive results of physical activity and exercise on continued mobility.” While older adults who have trouble breathing may be more sedentary due to their condition, the sentiment remains true—and portable oxygen concentrators can help older adults have more active lives.
Here, we’ve created a guide for two Invacare portable oxygen concentrators: The Platinum Mobile and the XPO2.
Invacare’s Platinum Mobile is great for adults with both short- and long-term conditions that require supplemental oxygen for conditions such as asthma, pneumonia, sleep apnea, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while also allowing patients to move inside and outside of their home.
The Platinum Mobile is a compact and easy-to-use oxygen concentrator. It features five pulse flow settings with up to five hours of battery time (with one battery). The device comes with a reinforced bumper in the carrying case and a foam-encapsulated compressor, and it’s compliant with the IP22 water-resistance standard, which means it can be exposed to water (like rain, but not submerged) for up to 10 minutes.
One of this model’s best features is the top-loading battery compartment, allowing you to change the battery on the go without interrupting your oxygen flow or even removing the Platinum Mobile device from the carrying case. The battery door also has reinforced seals to keep the batteries drier. This device can also hold a second battery, allowing for double the battery life up to 10 hours. It’s important to note, however, that the number of hours your battery lasts is dependent on your prescribed liter flow and breathing rate.
The interface of this POC’s screen is simple and easy to use, with only four large, LCD back-lit buttons. In addition, the Platinum Mobile oxygen concentrator is equipped with Invacare’s Sensi-Pulse technology, which automatically adjusts to deliver the correct amount of oxygen.
You have the option to purchase the POC1-CONNECT USB dongle, which enables Bluetooth connectivity, so you can view your portable oxygen concentrator’s data on Piccolo O2, a mobile app that is compatible with iOS and Android phones. This app allows you to check the device’s remaining battery time and provides you with self-directed help and access to other resources, in addition to delivering diagnostic information to the cloud platform.
When it comes to affordability, the Invacare Platinum is consistently a couple hundred dollars cheaper than competitors, depending on the retailer.
Platinum Mobile Model Details
| Oxygen Output/ Flow Rate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1,000 ml/min | Oxygen Purity | 87%– 95.6% | Flow Type | Pulse | Noise Level | 40 decibels (setting: 2) | Weight | 5 pounds with one battery | Size | 9.45 by 7.5 by 3.88 inches | Battery Recharge Time | 2 hours, 20 minutes | Battery Life | Up to 5 hours with one battery | FAA-approved | ✅ | MSRP | $2,665 |
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Warranty: When ordering through the Invacare website, the warranty includes a five-year warranty on the concentrator, a two-year warranty on the compressor, and one year for the sieve and batteries.
Accessories:
- Three-way convertible carrying case (messenger, handbag, or backpack style)
- AC and DC adapters
- One battery
This Invacare model has been discontinued and has been replaced by the Platinum Mobile. However, you may still order it from online retailers like the Oxygen Concentrator Store, which notes they may have used machines available, or Cascade HealthCare Solutions, which notes that it’s subject to availability or available for rental. You can also search other online durable medical equipment stores (DME) for availability.
However, Elizabeth Lyda, a licensed respiratory therapist and research quality improvement specialist at University of Rochester Medical Center, said to use caution when purchasing a used POC. “The manufacturer may not be making replacement parts and they may be hard to find,” she said.
The Invacare XPO2 offers pulse settings from 1–5 and the control panel is simple and easy to understand. It’s FAA-approved for air travel and includes a convenient nylon carrying case.
XPO2 Model Details
| Oxygen Output/ Flow Rate | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 900 ml/min | Oxygen Purity | 87%– 95.6% | Flow Type | Pulse | Noise Level | 45 decibels (setting: 2) | Weight | 6.4 pounds with one battery | Size | 10 by 7 by 4 inches | Battery Recharge Time | 4 hours | Battery Life | 2.5 hours (with one battery at setting 2) | FAA-approved | ✅ | MSRP | $3,148 |
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Warranty: There is a three-year limited warranty offered with the XPO2. Note: warranties on used or refurbished machines may vary, so make sure to ask your durable medical equipment provider to define the warranty on any POC you purchase.
Accessories Included:
- One battery
- AC and DC adapters
- Carry bag with shoulder strap
- Cannula
Support
The 800 number for customer support is available, however, they only offer a standard eight-hour business-day call window Monday–Friday. We called the number several times, at 9:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m., and 11:00 a.m. ET on different days. An answering message said they were closed on the first two days we tried, but we were given options to move forward during the 11:00 a.m. time frame, so it’s unclear if the general customer support line is open for a full eight hours.
Additionally, the reviews on ordering through and using Invacare’s customer support are not flattering. However, the company’s website was recently updated, so it’s a smoother experience than the previous site. On the site you can click on the “Find a Provider” button in order to see which companies sell the oxygen concentrator you’re looking for in your area.
How to Buy
Find a local oxygen concentrator provider or look at online retailers. You can check out the Oxygen Concentrator Store to see if they have the POC you need. You can also use the find a provider option on the Invacare website to find a local DME supply store. There are also plenty of more options for online purchase.
Warranty
The Invacare Platinum Mobile’s warranty when ordering through the manufacturer is five years for the concentrator, two years for the compressor, one year for the sieve, and one year for the battery.
Reviews of Invacare Oxygen Concentrators
The majority of user reviews found through Google, YouTube, and online retailers have praised the lightweight portability of the Platinum Mobile. Testers share this is one of the more durable devices when kept in its carrying case. You can drop it (though we don’t recommend it) and it won’t damage the machine thanks to the carrying bag’s reinforced bumper, the foam-encapsulated compressor, and a battery pack and ports for the plug-ins located on top of the machine. The carrying case can adjust from a case to a backpack, providing versatility for active older adults.
Several people commented that one of the best parts about this POC is how easy it is to change out the batteries because of its top-loading battery compartment.
There have been a few negative comments, mostly centering around Invacare’s poor website and customer service. One user commented that the rounded base causes the machine to tip over if not secured, and when the device tips over, it stops working. While Invacare has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, there aren’t many reviews found online specifically about the Platinum Mobile, and the ones that do exist are primarily a mix of happy customers and complaints. While the XPO2 has more reviews than its replacement, with many of them positive, there still aren’t many to be found.
Why a Portable Oxygen Concentrator Is Worth It
For anyone who needs supplemental oxygen and wishes to stay active, a POC is worth the investment in your overall health. “Portable Oxygen Concentrators allow people with respiratory problems to live at home in a safe environment,” said Anne Llewellyn, a certified nurse advocate. “[POCs] allow people to move around in their homes, go outdoors, and even travel. Making sure there is an oxygen source is important when considering travel outside of the home.”
The Invacare Platinum Mobile checks a lot of the boxes when it comes to a POC for active users. Between its smaller size, lighter weight, wearability, battery life, and easy-to-switch battery compartment, you can take this device anywhere you plan to go.
Other Portable Oxygen Concentrators We Recommend
Other brands that we recommend include:
Why Trust Us?
The AgingInPlace.org team researches, analyzes, and tests health products to help older adults make better decisions as they age. For portable oxygen concentrators, we’ve reviewed 11 manufacturers and 22 individual models on the market today to offer you our top picks.
We’re committed to bringing you the most accurate information, based on our in-depth research. Below you’ll find a description of our methodology for reviewing portable oxygen concentrators:
- Spent hundreds of hours researching POC brands and models
- Consulted medical experts and journals
- Studied the user experience through insight from professionals, user reviews, and third-party research
To provide the most fair and objective reviews and comparisons, we use a mathematical formula to score each model based on the following considerations:
- Unit weight
- Battery life
- Range of settings
- Price
- Battery recharge time
- Warranty
- Oxygen delivery method
Our team monitors and regularly updates information to ensure relevance and reliability throughout all of our content. We also consult occupational therapists, audiologists, geriatricians, respiratory therapists, professional adult caregivers, and other experts in the field to ensure we’re providing the most accurate, helpful information.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Most oxygen concentrators of this size are maintenance-free for about two years if used regularly. Filters will often need to be changed every six months.
WRITTEN BY
Kelsey Sanders is a freelance writer, editor, ghostwriter, and book coach based in West Michigan. When she’s not working in the world of words, she owns a wellness company called ThriveWell, where she works with individuals and small local businesses to create customized wellness plans. She’s also a new mom and navigating working from home with a little one.
View AuthorMEDICALLY REVIEWED BY
Elizabeth has been a respiratory therapist since 1983 and remains licensed in the state of New York. Her experience in respiratory care includes routine and critical care in the hospital setting outpatient and at home equipment modalities and management and use of home ventilators, CPAP, BiPAP, apnea monitor, nebulizer, and other respiratory-related equipment.
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