BOC Home Oxygen Equipment (2024)

Static cylinders are provided for patients who require high flow rates. They are designed for use in a domiciliary setting only (indoors at home), due to their size and weight they are not suitable for use as a portable cylinder.

Most patients’ experience of this type of cylinder will be as a back up to their Home Oxygen Concentrator. For these patients the Static Cylinder acts as an emergency supply for use only in the event of a power cut or concentrator fails only.

• Back-up cylinder for concentrators (enough for 8 hours of LTOT flowrate)
• Ideal for cluster headache and paediatric
• Not suitable for carrying (14 kg)
• Not suitable for trolley
• Can be used with low/micro flowmeters - connected to Schrader outlet.

ZH Cylinder Dimensions (10 litre)
L595mm x D175mm
Weight (full) 14kg
Contents: 2400 litres

Note: 0.1 & 0.5 settings are with low flowmeter

Our standard portable cylinders allow patients to continue their day to day life. These cylinders may be carried in a purpose made bag or wheeled on a trolley. They will last 7.5 hours on a flow of 1LPM or up to 22.5 hours if used with a conserving device.

• Standard ambulatory
• CD bag available
• Suitable for trolley
• Can be used with a conserver – increasing cylinder duration by 3x (approximately)
• Can be used with low/micro flowmeters – connected to Schrader outlet

CD Cylinder Dimensions (2 litre)
L520mm x D100mm
Weight (full) 3.5kg
Contents: 460 litres
(please note that the low flow rates are for when a secondary flowmeter is being used)

Note: 0.1 & 0.5 settings are with low flowmeter

These are ideal for children, or frailer adult patients who find the standard portable cylinder a little too heavy to carry. This cylinder will last 5 hours on a flow rate of 1LPM or up to 15 hours if used with a conserving device.

Your Healthcare Professional will be able to assess whether this is suitable for you.

• Ideal for children or frail patients who find standard portable too heavy
• Round-bottomed – must be laid down
• ZA bag available (not suitable for trolley)
• Can be used with a conserver – increasing cylinder duration by 3x (approximately)
• Cannot be used with low/micro flowmeters

ZA Cylinder Dimensions (1 litre)
L390mm x D85mm
Weight (full) 1.75kg
Contents: 300 litres

When we breathe, we spend only one third of the time breathing in, with the other two thirds breathing out. An oxygen conserving device works by sensing when you start breathing in, ‘turning on’ the flow of oxygen and ‘turning it off’ when you breathe out. Approximately two thirds of oxygen is saved, which dramatically increases the length of time cylinders of oxygen will last.

There are some restrictions to note when using a Conserving Device:

• Cannot be used with a mask, as the pressure sensor only works with nasal cannula
• Cannot be used when asleep. The breathing patterns of a sleeping person are different than when they are awake, and cannot consistently trigger the Conserver’s pressure sensor
• When using a Conserving Device, your cylinder will be set at 4 LPM, while the device itself will be set to your prescribed flow rate. Bear this in mind when changing from one cylinder to another.

Ensure you have the correct medical gas by checking the label and the expiry date on the batch label.

Make sure the contents gauge is in the green zone. This indicates that the cylinder is FULL.

Remove the tamper evident handwheel cover by pulling the tear ring.

Remove the valve outlet cover

Ensure the flow selector on top of the cylinder is set to zero and the hand wheel is turned off before connecting the equipment.

Attach tubing from the mask or nasal cannula to the valve outlet. Ensure the tubing is pushed on securely.

Slowly turn on the cylinder by rotating the hand wheel anticlockwise until it comes to a complete stop.

Set the prescribed flow by rotating the dial flow selector. Ensure that the correct flow rate number is clearly visible in the flow selector window.

An Oxygen Regulator measures and regulates the flow of oxygen, which is delivered via oxygen tubing to the mask or cannula worn by the patient. The Regulator will be connected to the cylinder by our Homecare Technicians.

Check you have the correct Regulator which will supply you/the patient the prescribed flow rate.

Ensure you have the correct medical gas cylinder and ensure the flow selector on the top of the cylinder is set to zero.

Insert the Regulator directly into the shrader value until it clicks. Attach the tubing to the Regulator.

Set the Regulator to the prescribed flow rate by rotating the dial selector.

Slowly turn on the cylinder by rotating the handwheel anticlockwise until it comes to a complete stop.

If you need to remove the Regulator push and turn anti clockwise and repeat steps 1-5.

Your oxygen concentrator works by drawing in the air and separating out the oxygen from the other gases using a filter system. This filter traps some gases and allows the oxygen to pass through. The oxygen is delivered to you by tubing which connects to the cannula or mask for you to breathe.

Concentrators run off a normal electrical supply and as long as they have power and are in working order; will provide oxygen continuously without running out. We will rebate the running cost of the concentrator back to you.

A piped oxygen system involved connecting clear plastic tubing from your concentrator to convenient points around your home. This will allow you to access oxygen in different rooms without having to move the concentrator or have long lengths of tubing around the floor.

If you wish to find out more about a fixed piped system please call our Patient Service Centre who will arrange for the Home care technician to visit your home to carry out a survey and risk assessment. Please note we will be unable to install units in the kitchen, as this is a fire risk.

• Clean the concentrator occasionally with a damp cloth and wipe dry.
• Avoid getting water into the internals of the unit. Do not use any form of cleaner or detergent when cleaning the concentrator.
• Remove the filter and replace with the spare filter.
• Hand wash in warm water. Rinse thoroughly and remove excess water with a towel.
• Allow filter to dry naturally.
• Please switch off and un-plug your concentrator from the mains supply when removing or replacing the filter.

Your Home care technician will show you where the filter is located as this depends on the concentrator installed.

If you have been supplied a Respironics Everflo machine there are no filters for you to clean. There is a grill at the air inlet which needs to be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner weekly.

Your Home care technician will clean your internal filter when carrying out your 6 monthly concentrator service. If you are unsure which Concentrator you have please call the Patient Service Centre, who will advise you accordingly.

When an oxygen concentrator has been installed it will be serviced initially at  3 months and then every  6 months by a Home care technician. 

As part of the service, a meter reading from the concentrator will be taken. This meter reading records the number of hours your concentrator has been used. 

We can then calculate the electricity that has been used to run your concentrator. 

Your rebate can be updated in the portal. You can also share the meter reading from the concentrator via the portal or by calling the patient service center. Rebates are usually reimbursed every 3 months.

Hours used x  Concentrator Power (KW) x Electricity Rate. The NHS sets the rebate tariff.

We would like to make your electricity rebates easier by paying them directly into your bank account  via BACS. You will be provided with a BACS form to complete at the time of installation.

If you do not receive the form you can call our Patient Service Centre who will happily post out a BACS form or alternatively download the form direct from our website.

Return the completed form to:
BOC Healthcare
Patient Service Centre
Priestley Road
Worsley
Manchester
M28 2UT

Liquid oxygen allows the storage of larger quantities of gas more readily than normal gaseous oxygen.

For home use liquid systems consist of a stationary mother unit vessel and a portable flask for holding your ambulatory oxygen.

The Helios 300, Companion 500, Marathon 850 and Companion 1000 portable liquid flask are compatible.

The Caire Stoller and Caire Sprint portable liquid flasks are compatible.

Using a clean and dry cloth, wipe the male fill connector on the mother unit and the female fill connector on the portable flask.

Step 1

Position the portable flask over the recessed area on the top of the mother unit, carefully lower the flask into place so that the fill connectors are properly aligned.

Place one or both hands on top of the portable flask and press straight down directly over the fill connector, pull down and hold the vent valve lever in the open position, as shown.

Step 3

When the portable flask is full there will be a change in the sound. Close the vent valve by returning the vent lever to the upright position.

Disengage the portable flask from the mother unit vessel by pressing the portable release button and lifting the portable flask off the reservoir, as shown.

Check the content of the portable flask by lifting the contents indicated strap, ensuring the bottom back of the unit is straight. The green bar inside the clear window indicates how full the unit is. (If you have another type of flask please call our Patient Service Centre).