Anyone using a SeQual Eclipse Oxygen Concentrator?

dllfo · Post by **dllfo** » Wed May 14, 2008 1:02 pm

First and foremost, I want to apologize to Johnny and our other hosts for this thread, because it mostly pertains to only one person and it is about a product I don't think they carry. If you want to remove this thread, that is ok. My breathing has taken another step downward and I have to make adjustments.

Due to additional breathing complications, I will be going on the SeQual Eclipse oxygen concentrator. Are any of you using the SeQual units? If so, what accessories would you recommend?

Next is the need for having a Ventilator I can take with me.

My Respironics BiPap Auto SV can be carried, I can plug it into the inverter in my car. But that unit was not really designed for the vibrations in our cars.

I have a 1200 watt inverter and large AGM battery to power whatever I need to use. So power supply is not a problem. I also have a solar panel I can put in my back window to surface charge the battery.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 14, 2008 1:09 pm

I personally do not use the sequal but a patient of mine does have it. It is a really nice little concentrator. The only thing I can think of is to make sure and test both of the chargers for it before you use it. That was the only problem we had out of it. The charger for the car would not work. It took about a week to get one that was working properly. Other than that it has worked fine.

dllfo · Post by **dllfo** » Wed May 14, 2008 3:10 pm

Thank you,
I can't find a DME who handles it around Sacramento, CA. Apria said no, too expensive. Lincare said no.

I called SeQual and they gave me a list in our area, but they are DME sales.
Won't deal with Medicare. Not that I blame them. They said the unit was too expensive and Medicare won't pay enough to cover the cost. I told them I had found a used one for around $2500 and they said "Good Luck". I understand how they feel about Medicare.

One of the frustrations is some smaller companies won't let you take their equipment out of town.

Soooooooooooo I am looking for a DME in the Sacramento, Ca area that will handle the unit, that is, rent it and take care of it.

Do you know if your patient is on Medicare? And thanks for the info.

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Wed May 14, 2008 3:37 pm

I don't use the SeQual, I have the Respronics Millennium concentrator. It is just a straight concentrator (no bottle fill capable)but medicare approves $199.28 a month on a 36 month capped rental. That comes to $7,174.08 over 3 years. And mine was used when my DME brought it out. Are they that high. I know this one has a 5 year warrenty. I have seen several on cpapauction with small number of hours and thought about just buying but between medicare and BCBS they are covering 100%. A these prices I don't understand why they won't deal with medicare.

Jerry

dllfo · Post by **dllfo** » Wed May 14, 2008 4:57 pm

Here is a used one for $450. New price appears to be roughly $1300-$1500, depending on who and where you get it.

American Medical Sales and Repair in Centennial, CO seems to be a good company to deal with. I have spoken with two or three of their sales people and they have been honest and "tell it like it is". Like the SeQual Eclipse II... one of them said he would NEVER recommend that as a persons only oxygen source because the portable units break down a LOT more than the home units.

American Medical rebuilds/refurbs oxygen concentrators and usually have a few of everything on hand.

The problem with warranties is getting the unit repaired and back to you. Who pays the freight? Where do you get your oxygen while your unit is being shipped somewhere.

EDIT: 6 Pt I agree with you. one place said for $3995 I would get something like 3 batteries and all the accessories possible. They lost a sale. IF they had kept a battery and a carrying bag, etc. and had hired a lady to handle the bookkeeping, they would have had a sale.

dllfo · Post by **dllfo** » Wed May 14, 2008 5:25 pm

I am posting twice in a row for a specific reason.

After hearing two salesmen, from two different places tell me the lightweight portable oxygen units like the SeQual Eclipse, Respironics Evergo, Inongen one and so on break more often and that they are NOT intended for using 24/7, no matter what the ad might say.... we thought about those things.

NO ONE around Sacramento, CA carries this unit. AND those who do will not deal with medicare.

I asked about portable liquid oxygen bottles and was told they evaporate all the time, so they don't last that long.

What are my options? I can buy another Platinum XL 5 for use on the boat. I can leave it there all the time. It is heavy duty enough I can use it as needed and they are for sale from $350 (refurbished) up to around $850.

SeQual is around $4,000 new. I can buy a Platinum XL-5 Liter for the boat and be assured of continuous flow very reasonably. We went to Denver a year ago and I took Apria's Platinum XL 5 with me. I was able to use the small M-9 bottles on Pressure Demand Regulators then, I can't use them now. The best quality and best safety for me is to buy my own concentrator for the boat, use Apria's for home and travel in the Motorhome. I also have the Homefill II unit at home, I can use it to fill the small bottles.

So until the small oxygen concentrators are better built, or the major DMEs are willing to carry them, the small units are not a good deal. They are ok to travel with, but not for use full time. IF the SeQual Eclipse II were carried by Apria or Lincare, etc and if they assured me the units are solid and will really last 24/7/365 and if they took care of medicare billing .... THEN .... and only then would I recommend one.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed May 14, 2008 10:20 pm

Shucks, dllfo. I sure am sorry to hear the SeQual isn't what their advertising implied! Hope springs eternal. The price is a choker too!

Good luck. I had hoped maybe I had stumbled across a viable and reliable option for you.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu May 15, 2008 7:31 am

Slinky, you DID find the only lightweight option out there. And maybe in a few more years, as more baby boomers hit this market, they will find a way to make it more .... maybe the word is reliable, but my guess is ... if you bought this unit to travel with, it would be fine.

I asked about pricing for rentals and every DME I spoke with said a weekly rent, which implies people rent these for short term usage, like a vacation where you are flying somewhere for a week or two. It would be perfect for that. AND it is the only portable unit with Continuous Flow.

No, you found the perfect unit, we just didn't know its real limitations. So I can buy a much cheaper Platinum XL 5 and get a 5 year warranty. Medically speaking, it feels like 2 steps forward, one back. I am pretty lucky at that.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Thu May 15, 2008 8:41 am

Well, good luck, dllfo!!