The SimplyGo portable oxygen concentrator is the latest edition to the respiratory product line from Philips Respironics. Recognized immediately as an improvement over the EverGo, the SimplyGo is gaining popularity since receiving FAA approval effective November 1, 2012.
The SimplyGo comes standard with the SimplyGo concentrator in an attractive carry bag, matching accessory bag, AC and DC adapters for home and car, one (1) rechargeable battery, and a mobile cart. Most retailers will provide additional batteries at a discounted price when you add them to the purchase of your SimplyGo. Other optional accessories include a desktop battery charger, humidifier bottle pouch, and airline power cord.
What makes the SimplyGo stand out from all other portable oxygen concentrators available on the market today is that it provides a continuous flow setting up to 2 LPM in a unit that weighs only 10 pounds. Until the arrival of the SimplyGo, one could not get a continuous flow unit under 17-20 pounds.
Respironics SimplyGo – What I like about it:
- Lightest POC that delivers up to 2 liters continuous flow – only 10 lbs.
- Nearly half the size of other continuous flow models, providing greater portability
- Very dependable – over 15,000 hour motor life
- Noise level – OK
- Continuous flow settings of 1 and 2 LPM
- Pulse flow settings of 1-2-3-4-5-6
- Runs on continuous or pulse flow, and charges the battery, when plugged into an automobile outlet with the DC adapter
- Takes up less space in the car than other continuous flow POC’s
Respironics SimplyGo – What I wish were better about it:
- Battery time – 3.3 hours on pulse setting 2; only 45 minutes on 2 LPM continuous. All portable oxygen concentrators have shorter battery times when set on continuous flow because the motor must run harder to produce higher levels of oxygen. However, the small size of the SimplyGo battery makes the continuous flow setting almost useless when on battery power. So if you need continuous flow only and night, when you would likely have access to an electrical outlet, then the SimplyGo is still a great unit.
- Too heavy to carry – We all have dreams of a portable oxygen concentrator providing continuous flow and still being under 5 pounds. For now the SimplyGo is as good as it gets. However, 10 pounds is still pretty heavy to carry, and the mobile cart would be necessary for most oxygen users. So if you’re looking for a super-portable unit that you can carry, you must still turn to the pulse-only models. One exception: one company, OxiMedical, offers a mesh carry backpack that will hold the SimplyGo, as an option for those who are able to handle the weight on their back.
- Higher settings are a bit misleading – Like its predecessor, the EverGo, the SimplyGo’s higher pulse settings of 5 and 6 are a bit misleading. Yes, it can product sufficient oxygen for those settings; however, it can only keep up the demand for 15 breaths per minute. Since most people breath around 20 breaths per minute, the SimplyGo will max out its oxygen capacity for many at the higher settings. The SimplyGo works best for oxygen users who need 4 liters or less.
All-in-all, I like the SimplyGo and would not hesitate to recommend it to many oxygen users.
About Allison Waters
I agree with the reviewer’s assessment. I bought the SimplyGo and love its portability. But it is indeed heavy, especially when out and about for the day when one must carry not only the unit but three other batteries and the electric cord with its transformer. Also, after a year’s use, I find the batteries don’t last anything like their stated times. In fact, they now last about half that.
We purchased a Simply Go a year ago. It is loud. Could not take it to church or movies. The battery chargers get very hot. I would be afraid to use it while sleeping.
Jan, that is not normal for the SimplyGo. It sounds as if the motor is not functioning properly, thus drawing more current that it should. The unit needs repair and the company from which you purchased the unit should assist you with getting the necessary repairs. If they are not cooperating, I recommend you contact Respironics directly at 800-345-6443 and tell them your experience. They should direct you to an authorized dealer that will assist you.
Hi Allison,
I have called Respironics several times. Everyone I talk to says to call the dealer back. The dealer, of course, says the battery charger is only under warranty for 90 days. I started talking with them about this last year right after we bought it. So now they have sent a shipping tag and we have sent it to Atlanta to be analyzed. I have to pay shipping back from the company I bought it from however. Too bad.
Hello,
I received a call that the machine is ready to be shipped back to me. They want
$45 shipping. I have already spent $3700 in purchasing this. Respironics report
“couldn’t reproduce the problem.” I have phoned the Respironics number you list several times over the past year. They always tell me to call my dealer.
So guess we are stuck with a doorstop.
Jan, did you return the whole unit, or just the AC adapter? I would ask them for the official report from Respironics to verify what issue was reported and tested. Other than requiring that you go through a dealer (just like a car manufacturer requires you to go to a dealer for auto repairs), Respironics is one of the most helpful companies with regard to their repair department.
And while $45 is a bit high for shipping, it is normal for dealers to charge for shipping. However, you should have been informed of this by the dealer when you purchased the equipment.
I would not suggest simplego for oxygen dependent who litter flow is 5 and higher when walking, because the setting is set by the machine not by the patience breath that they take, therefore leaving them without oxygen during critical moments and then there’s a warm up period even after it skip a flow, yes that same warmup you have to tolerate when you turn on the machine. Also the volume is too soft and the pulse is to slow. I am still part of the working class 10 hour a day pushing wheelchair, lifting and changing grown men diapher at a high school I am a teacher assistance in the special education program.
Thank you for providing your personal experience with the SimplyGo. Indeed, the SimplyGo is not able to handle the higher pulse flow settings when your breathing rate increases to above 20 breaths per minute. It is possible to out-breathe the machine, meaning you are breathing faster than the machine is able to produce oxygen. This is rarely an issue at lower pulse settings, but as you have experienced, it is a concern at higher flow settings. If a higher capacity of oxygen is needed, then a SeQual Eclipse 5 would be the best choice.
Allison : My serviceman for the SimplyGo says the pulse flow setting represents a 3L flow on 3 but i have argued that it only represents the bolus flow in ml. Who is correct?
Setting 3 is a rough equivalent of the liter flow and most people use the same pulse setting as they would continuous flow setting, which is most likely why your serviceman said it was the same. However, you are correct, the pulse flow setting 3 actually represents a particular bolus size in mL. This bolus size varies from one POC to another, with the SeQual Eclipse and eQuinox having the highest mL at each pulse setting using a 3:1 conserving ratio, while the SimplyGo provides less using a 4:1 conserving ratio. Of course, it gets even more complicated when you factor in the delivery method, which is why I wrote a guide to understanding pulse flow settings. Ultimately, a pulse oximeter is needed to determine which pulse setting is needed to achieve a desired blood oxygen saturation level.