VBOX Inc, White Bear Lake, Minn, has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of its Trooper™ portable oxygen concentrator for prescription oxygen therapy. The Trooper will be available in second quarter of 2013 for patients who are prescribed oxygen.
The Trooper provides oxygen therapy via a wearable, full-range concentrator. The size of the device is equivalent to a small pair of binoculars and is capable of delivering a pulse of 1 to 5 liters per minute flow equivalence. Weighing 3½ pounds with its battery, the Trooper can fit in a fanny pack or purse and can be worn over the shoulder or around the waist, according to the company. Two half-pound rechargeable batteries are included, each lasting approximately 3 hours and delivering a 6-hour running time with both batteries.
The Trooper supplies a high concentration of oxygen and is used with a nasal cannula to channel oxygen from the concentrator to the patient. When available in 2013, The Trooper may be used in home, institution, vehicle, and various mobile environments.
Souce: VBOX Inc