Inogen GS 100 Review

by Courtney Sornberger May 16, 2023

If you need a supplemental oxygen machine and aren't sure what to get, then look no further. In this Inogen GS 100 review, we'll cover one of the best options on the market.

Buying an oxygen machine can feel intimidating. Many options are on the market. You want comprehensive information to help you choose the best oxygen concentrator for home use.

The Inogen GS-100 is a popular option for respiratory patients who need continuous flow supplemental oxygen therapy.

With Inogen requiring supplemental oxygen therapy does not mean you need a large, heavy oxygen tank or to be confined to one room. The small light GS-100 model can deliver the oxygen you need while allowing you to move from room to room.

What this article covers:

Inogen Gs 100 Review
Benefits of Using an Oxygen Concentrator

Inogen GS 100 Review

Overview

The Inogen GS -100 Oxygen Concentrator is used on a prescriptive basis by people requiring a high concentration of supplemental oxygen.

The GS-100 is a stationary oxygen concentrator designed to fit the needs of people who require continuous flow oxygen day and night, including those who need CPAP or BI-PAP devices.

The Inogen GS-100 is the smallest at-home oxygen concentrator available and suitable for use at home or in an institution.

Weighing only 18 lbs, the GS-100 is half the weight of many other stationary oxygen concentrators today. This sleek device is designed to be discrete and easily transported from room to room.

Despite its small size, the machine provides continuous flow oxygen up to 5 LPM with increments of 1 LPM. Oxygen flow is easily adjusted on the control panel using the large face + / - push buttons.

The GS-100 uses pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology to extract oxygen from the air and concentrate it for delivery to the patient. It features a built-in oxygen monitor and alarm system to ensure safe and reliable operation.

The At Home Oxygen Concentrator has an unobtrusive noise level of 40 decibels at flow setting two. This makes it suitable for use day or night.

The Inogen At Home comes with a detachable power cord for user convenience. From the feedback we have received, the detachable power cord makes transporting and storing the unit easy, especially if you need to move it frequently.

The detachable power cord is also a safety feature of the device. You can quickly disconnect power in an emergency or malfunction without unplugging the entire machine or appliance from the wall.

This powerful device consumes only 100 watts at 2 LPM and 275 watts at 5 LPM making the GS-100 one of the most energy-efficient oxygen concentrators on the market today.

You can use the Inogen GS-100 in various climates. However, it is essential to note that extreme temperatures can affect the performance of the device and its battery life.

In general, the device can be used in temperatures ranging from 41°F to 104°F, in non-condensing humidity from 15 to 95%, and at altitudes from sea level 10,000 ft (0 to 3048 m)

As with other home oxygen concentrators, Inogen At Home can also accommodate a humidifier bottle. As per our customer comments, the humidifier significantly alleviates nose dryness and irritation. There is a mounted velcro strap on the read panel of the concentrator that you can use to secure the humidifier bottle in place.

Why It’s Great

Lightweight: The Inogen GS 100 weighs only 18 lbs, on average 40% lighter than other machines in the same class.
Small size: The compact unit makes it discreet and easy to move from room to room.
Low power consumption; The GS-100 is power efficient, using only 100w at 2LMP
Comprehensive alarm system: Inogen At Home oxygen concentrator has an alarm for almost every possible condition within the machine.
Easy to use: Servicing and washing the intake filter is simple and easy.
Continuous flow oxygen therapy: 24/7 performance for round-the-clock continuous flow oxygen.
Optional travel case offered exclusively at Main Clinic Supply

Who It’s Right for

People with chronic lung disease who require continuous oxygen flow up to 5 LPM.
People who need high-flow oxygen therapy that cannot be adequately delivered through a portable device.
Those who need a constant flow of oxygen while they sleep.
People who require constant oxygen flow but want to maintain their mobility and independence.

Detailed Analysis

Weight And Size

The Inogen At Home GS-100 oxygen concentrator is remarkably compact for a continuous flow stationary oxygen source.

Weighing only 18 lbs (8kgs) and measuring 16.5” H x 13” W x 7” D, the GS-100 is 30% smaller than its competitors.

The compact size allows for easy transport between rooms in your home. According to our clients, the sleek design ensures the unit can be stored discreetly while delivering the oxygen you need.

While lightweight and movable, the GS-100 is not a portable model. So what is a portable oxygen concentrator?

A portable oxygen concentrator (POC) is a small and lightweight one that you can carry around easily in a shoulder bag or backpack. It is suitable for people needing oxygen therapy while on the go or traveling.

Portable oxygen concentrators are powered by rechargeable batteries that allow patients to use them even when no electrical outlet is nearby.

Portable oxygen concentrators typically deliver pulse flow oxygen. They are unsuitable for people who require a high continuous oxygen flow rate.

Setup

Inogen At Home is simple and easy to set up for operation. The concentrator must be placed in a well-ventilated location to ensure clear access to the air intake and exhaust vents.

You can fit the cannula to the easily accessible nozzle fitting on top of the concentrator or to the humidifier bottle if you use one.

The detachable power cord connects to the machine quickly and plugs into an AC wall outlet.

Once connected to the electricity supply, a simple ON button press switches the machine on.

The flow setting prescribed by the physician or clinician is set by pressing the + (increase flow) or – (decrease flow) buttons.

Performance

The Inogen At Home oxygen concentrator capacity is 5 LPM

The GS -100 has five flow settings and delivers 90% (+6%/-3%) oxygen, 1 L/min per setting.

The GS 100 concentrator filters air and separates the nitrogen to produce concentrated oxygen via pressure swing adsorption (PSA).

Air is drawn into the oxygen concentrator through a filter to remove dust and other particles.
The air is compressed and directed through a molecular sieve containing zeolite pellets.
The zeolite pellets are made of a material that can absorb nitrogen from the air, leaving behind concentrated oxygen.
The oxygen is collected and delivered to the patient through a mask or nasal cannula.
Unused nitrogen-rich air is released back into the environment.

How much oxygen the Inogen produces depends on your settings or whether you have a 5l or 10l oxygen concentrator.

The GS-100 delivers a continuous flow of oxygen. Continuous flow means that the device will deliver the same volume of oxygen regardless of the patient’s breath rate.

The desired oxygen concentration is generally reached within five minutes after the device is powered on.

Flow Setting	Flow Rate
1	1.0 LPM
2	2.0 LPM
3	3.0 LPM
4	4.0 LPM
5	5.0 LPM

The concentrator must be placed in a well-ventilated area to ensure adequate airflow to the device. There must be at least 6 inches between the air intake, exhaust, and any furniture or walls.

Safety

Inogen GS100 uses an intelligent alarm system to monitor various parameters during operation and indicate any malfunction.

While the alarm system is comprehensive, mathematical algorithms and time delays are used to reduce the probability of false alarms.

The highest priority alarm will be displayed if multiple alarm conditions are detected simultaneously.

Alarm messages are categorized by urgency and accompanied by visual and audio indicators.

Low Priority Alarm - A solid yellow light is visible, and the alarm beeps twice.
Medium Priority Alarm - A flashing yellow light is visible, and the alarm beeps three times.
High Priority Alarm - Flashing red light indicator and the alarm beep five times.

inogen gs100 reviews

Alarms are triggered by:

Low oxygen: Flashing yellow light Triple beep after every 25 seconds. The concentrator is producing oxygen at a slightly decreased level. Contact your equipment provider to arrange service.
Sensor fail: Solid yellow light, one beep. One of the concentrator’s sensors has malfunctioned. If the condition persists, contact your equipment provider to arrange service.
Low flow: Solid yellow light, one beep. The concentrator is producing oxygen at a slightly decreased rate. If the condition persists, contact your equipment provider to arrange service.
Service needed: Solid yellow light, double beep. The unit is operating to specification but requires service at the earliest convenience.
Oxygen error: Flashing yellow light Triple beep after every 25 seconds. The concentrator is producing oxygen at a low concentration. Switch to a backup oxygen source and contact your equipment provider.
Flow error: Solid yellow light, double beep. Proper oxygen delivery has not been detected. Check for kinked tubing. If the condition persists, switch to a backup oxygen source and contact your equipment provider.
Fire hazard: Flashing red light. Five Beep after every 10 seconds. Smoke has been detected inside the device - the device will shut down.
System hot: Flashing red light. Five Beeps every ten secondsConcentrator temperature is too high for operation.
System cold: Flashing red light, five beeps every ten seconds. The concentrator temperature is too cold for operation.
System error: Flashing red light, five beeps every ten seconds. A backup source of oxygen is required.
Power error: No light, continuous audible alarm only - Concentrator lost power during operation.

Power

The GS-100 operates with an A/C wall power supply of 100-240V, 275W, and 50-60Hz. This is sufficient power to deliver 5 L/min to patients through 100ft (30m) of tubing.

The Inogen device is auto-sensing. This means the power supply can automatically detect the voltage of the electrical system it is connected to and adjust its output accordingly to allow worldwide use.

When set to the Flow Setting of 2, it uses the same amount of energy as a 100W light bulb, while on setting five, the power consumption is 250W.

User Interface & Controls

The At Home GS-100 has a user-friendly interface. Based on our experience, the oversized controls make it easy for people with impaired vision or limited dexterity to operate.

The interface has only three buttons. An on and off power button and two setting control buttons. One press of the ON / OFF Button turns the machine on. Press and hold the same button for one second to turn the device off.

The flow setting indicator is next to the setting control buttons. The – or + flow setting control buttons select the setting as shown on display. There are five settings, from 1 to 5. A green LED illuminates the desired setting.

Also on the control panel are two visual alarm indicators.

General Caution Indicator Light for low to medium priority response. A yellow light indicates either a change in operating status or a condition needing attention.

A flashing light is a higher priority than a non-flashing one. The red indicator light turns on when column maintenance is required within 30 days.

General Cleaning & Maintenance

The Inogen GS100 is easy to maintain and requires no special maintenance by the user other than weekly particle filter cleaning.

The casing can occasionally be cleaned using a damp cloth and mild liquid detergent.

The At Home device has a particle filter that removes dust particles from ambient air. Cleaning the particle filters is simple and can be done by the user. The particle filter must be cleaned weekly using a mild liquid detergent to ensure adequate airflow through the device.

If the particle screen is not cleaned frequently, higher internal operating temperatures will decrease the life expectancy of the concentrator.

Particle filters must be thoroughly rinsed in water and allowed to air dry before reuse. While additional filters are inside the At Home Concentrator, frequent maintenance is not required under normal operating conditions.

The visual indicator on the device interface lights up when the air inlet filter is dirty and requires replacement. You can replace the air inlet filter or get your equipment provider to do it for you.

The output filter is located behind the cannula nozzle fitting. It protects the user from inhalation of small particles in the product gas flow. Inogen requires that this filter be replaced between patients.

The nasal cannula should be replaced regularly. A single-lumen cannula of 4 to 100 feet in length must be used.

Inogen At Home Service

The Inogen At Home is only intended to be repaired by authorized technicians. Disassembly of the device by an untrained and authorized person will void the product warranties.

Inogen recommends arranging a backup oxygen supply during a maintenance visit. The technician may need to turn off the concentrator for approximately 30 minutes.

A small portable oxygen concentrator, for example, is useful as a backup during maintenance.

Service includes the youtube filter replacement, an oxygen purity check, and a column change.

The following table estimates running hours in typical environmental conditions for temperature, humidity, and air pollution. Smoking around the device will severely shorten its life expectancy.

Service Item	Estimated Service Requirement Frequency
Compressor	20,000 run hours
Columns	18 to 24 months
Valves	25,000 run hours
Particle Filter	20,000 run hours with regular cleaning by the user
Cooling Fan	25,000 run hours

Warranty

Inogen offers a 3-year warranty on its oxygen concentrators, and you can purchase an extended lifetime warranty.

It’s essential to read the terms of the warranty carefully. Warranties on parts and accessories vary from 30 days to one year.

Warranties are not transferable and are granted only to the original purchaser of the product.

The limited warranty does not apply to routine service items or disposable items such as nasal cannulas or interfaces.

Price

The Inogen At Home GS-100 retails at $1,645.00. The sale package includes an AC/ wall power supply and an ultra-soft nasal cannula.

The accessories price may vary between dealers, but the prices below give you a guideline for maintenance parts.

Inogen Output Filter Kit

Regular price

$35.00

Inogen At-Home Particle Filter

Regular price

$39.95

Inogen At Home Column Filters (Pair)

Regular price

$169.00

Benefits Of Using An Oxygen Concentrator

Improved Oxygen Levels: Oxygen concentrators are designed to remove nitrogen and other gasses from the air, leaving behind concentrated oxygen delivered directly to individuals with low blood oxygen levels. This can help improve their breathing, reduce shortness of breath, and increase their energy levels.
Convenience: Oxygen concentrators are lightweight and easy to move from room to room or take on the go. This provides greater convenience for individuals who need oxygen therapy, as they do not need to be confined to a single room or location.
Easy storage: Oxygen concentrators do not require special handling or storage, making them more convenient to use than oxygen tanks.
Cost-Effective: Oxygen concentrators are a cost-effective alternative to traditional oxygen therapy.
Unlimited oxygen supply: While traditional oxygen tanks need to be refilled or replaced when they run out of oxygen, oxygen concentrators do not have this limitation. They can be used for an extended period, providing a reliable source of oxygen therapy without frequent maintenance or replacements. This can help reduce overall healthcare costs for individuals who need oxygen therapy.
Safe: Oxygen concentrators are designed with safety features to ensure they are safe. For example, most models have alarms that alert users if the oxygen levels fall below a certain threshold. Oxygen concentrators do not use flammable gases or liquids, making them safer than traditional oxygen tanks.
Environmentally Friendly: Oxygen concentrators are more environmentally friendly than traditional oxygen tanks, as they do not require refills or replacements. This can help reduce waste and make them a more sustainable option for individuals who need oxygen therapy.

If you are in the market for an oxygen concentrator, remember that you cannot buy an oxygen concentrator without a prescription. The government regulates oxygen and requires a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider to purchase it.

The oxygen you need depends on your medical condition and your healthcare provider's recommendations.

Your doctor or another qualified healthcare professional will determine the appropriate amount of oxygen for you based on various factors, such as your condition's severity, age, weight, and activity level.

Conclusion

There are several key factors to consider when shopping for an oxygen concentrator, including the oxygen flow rate, portability, power source, and ease of use.

Oxygen concentrators can be pricey, so consider your budget and any insurance coverage you may have. However, when it comes to life-saving equipment, you do not want to compromise brand quality.

The Inogen At Home GS 100 provides a practical, convenient, and cost-effective way to deliver oxygen therapy to individuals who require a continuous flow rate of up to 5 LPM.

At Main Clinic Supply have a "Low Price Guarantee" on all of our portable oxygen concentrators. We offer a variety of lightweight, life-changing portable oxygen concentrators to meet your individual needs.

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Inogen GS 100 Review