Differences Between Ventilator and Oxygen Concentrator

What Is the Difference Between a Concentrator and a Ventilator? 

There are many misconceptions about the differences between oxygen concentrators and ventilators. Many people believe that they are the same; however, there are stark differences between the two. There are many reasons why someone would want to understand the difference between the two pieces of equipment, especially with the introduction of COVID into our regular life. Our medical oxygen supply store is here to answer any relevant questions that you may have regarding these vital pieces of medical equipment. So what is the difference between a concentrator and a ventilator? We examine the details below.

Ventilator vs. Oxygen Concentrator 

To better understand the difference between a ventilator and an oxygen concentrator, it would be useful to define the two clearly. An oxygen concentrator is a medical device that gets air from the environment and removes nitrogen and other particles from it to deliver concentrated oxygen to a patient. This results in the patient inhaling pure oxygen, which gives their body the necessary amount of oxygen needed for day-to-day life.


There are many different kinds of oxygen concentrators for sale that you could choose from. As the technology has advanced, there have been more portable options introduced for people that want to reintroduce mobility into their life. Some of the most popular portable oxygen concentrators for sale at our oxygen supply store include the Inogen One G3 Portable Oxygen Concentrator and Inogen One G5 Portable Concentrator.


A ventilator is a medical machine that delivers oxygen into the lungs of individuals who have respiratory failure or other difficulties with unassisted breathing. These machines deliver oxygen directly to the lungs of patients, reducing the effort needed for them to breathe properly. These are typically reserved for patients that have rather advanced respiratory problems. 

More Differences Between Oxygenation and Ventilation 

You might still be wondering, “what is the difference between a concentrator and a ventilator?” The most important thing to keep in mind is that a ventilator will provide heavy assistance to people that have severe lung issues, while a concentrator will simply deliver oxygen to patients that need a higher concentration in their bloodstream. There are different settings when it comes to understanding in-home oxygen concentrators. These two different settings are continuous and pulse flow, and these are what influence the rate at which oxygen is delivered into the bloodstream. 

More About O2 Assist 

We hope we have answered your question about the differences between concentrators and ventilators. O2 Assist is an oxygen concentrator supplier that is dedicated to helping people that need this kind of equipment get the help that they need. Our full selection of equipment includes oxygen concentrators for home use, in-home oxygen concentrators, portable oxygen concentrator accessories, and even used oxygen concentrators. Contact us today to learn more.