Released on: December 26, 2007, 12:43 pm

Press Release Author: Orbit Medical

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: Orbit Medical a leading durable medical equipment distributor
offers break through technology that enhances the lives for those who suffer from
chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). The HomeFill system offered by Orbit
Medical is the most advanced refillable home oxygen system on the market. The
HomeFill system allows patients to regain their independence!

Press Release Body: Contact:
Cameron Smith
Orbit Medical
801-713-4167



ORBIT MEDICAL OFFERS BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY THAT GIVES NEW INDEPENDENCE, IMPROVED
HEALTH TO HOME OXYGEN PATIENTS

New technology can help the more than one million mostly older people on home oxygen
therapy as treatment for emphysema, bronchitis, and other chronic respiratory
conditions

Salt Lake City, Utah, 12/26/2007 - For the individual diagnosed with respiratory
disease requiring continuous home oxygen therapy, life can suddenly seem very
limited. Everyday activities once taken for granted, such as doing the laundry or
going outside, are no longer so simple.

A breakthrough in portable home oxygen technology is changing all that. A new
system now available is improving the health, longevity and quality of life for
people on home oxygen therapy.

Most people on home oxygen suffer from emphysema, bronchitis or other chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the
United States. More than 16 million Americans, mostly older people, have been
diagnosed with COPD, according to the American Lung Association, and more than one
million are on home oxygen therapy. Recent emphasis on health care cost containment
has promoted faster hospital discharges, which has increased the need for home
oxygen therapy.

The accepted treatment for advanced COPD is continuous oxygen, and it has been
proven effective. "The biggest issue is compliance," says William Corrao, M.D.,
with University Pulmonary Associates in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. "The older

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Breakthrough Technology Brings New Independence, Improved Health To Home Oxygen
Patients -

technology is cumbersome and not user friendly. It doesn't allow people to easily
get up and out of the house, and it attracts a lot of attention. People are
embarrassed to be seen with the equipment; they get short of breath moving it
around, so they don't use it."

The new technology now available addresses those issues. It enables patients to
refill their own compact cylinders at home easily and safely, rather than depending
on having oxygen delivered to their homes on a regular basis. One 4.5 lb. cylinder
provides more than 5 hours of ambulatory time and can be reused over and over. The
patient carries the cylinder in an unobtrusive pack worn over the shoulder or around
the waist.

The benefits of the new technology go beyond convenience. Oxygen patients who are
able to remain active are healthier and they live longer. In the key medical study,
highly ambulatory patients on continuous oxygen therapy had a 50% higher survival
rate than low ambulatory, nighttime only patients. "Portable oxygen is an
important part of rehabilitation because it enhances a patient's ability to
exercise," says James K. Stoller, M.D., M.S., Head, Section of Respiratory Therapy
and Vice Chairman of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. "Exercise makes
them stronger and helps them use oxygen more efficiently."

In addition to the direct health benefits, the home-refillable system helps people
remain independent and active, which is so important to quality of life. Patients
no longer worry about running out of oxygen before the next delivery, and
spontaneous trips and out-of-town travel become much easier.

"Until now, when you were on 24-hour home oxygen therapy, you were limited to the
47-foot breathing line from your stationary concentrator or you had to pull around a
heavy handcart," says Shawn Ross Vice President of Marketing for Orbit Medical. "It
can be a depressing thing to be tied down like that. We see such an improvement
with this new system. Instead of deteriorating emotionally, people keep up their
activity level."

The most advanced refillable home oxygen system on the market is the HomeFill. The
HomeFill is distributed by Orbit Medical, a leader in the Durable Medical Equipment
industry. The system consists of a concentrator, a compressor, refillable cylinders,
and a convenience pack with a built-in conserving device that extends the oxygen
supply. The 4.5 lb. cylinder can be refilled in about 80 minutes.





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Breakthrough Technology Brings New Independence, Improved Health To Home Oxygen
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"The equipment menu for oxygen patients was pretty limited until the HomeFill came
along," says Ross. "It is a lot easier for respiratory patients to carry a 4.5-lb.
pack on their shoulder than to wheel around a 12-lb.cylinder or deal with liquid
oxygen."

The other big benefit of the HomeFill system is that it virtually eliminates the
cost of delivery. "Insurance companies and Medicare are paying for us to make
deliveries like a milkman, once a week or every other week," says Ross. "Patients
have to sit around waiting for the delivery truck, because we are not allowed to
leave oxygen cylinders unattended. Once we've set up a patient with the HomeFill,
we only need to make one service call per year to check the equipment."

Demand for the new technology is increasing as more homecare providers offer the
HomeFill system and more physicians and patients become aware of it. The HomeFill
system is available through Orbit Medical.

Along with the HomeFill system Orbit Medical also provides wheel chairs for those
with mobility needs and CPAP machines for those suffering from sleep apnea. Orbit
Medical utilizes trained insurance specialists in order to help its customers
receive medically necessary products through their insurance benefits. For more
information visit www.orbitmedical.com or call toll free 1-800-403-9610.


Web Site: http://www.orbitmedical.com

Contact Details: 716 E 4500 S
801-713-4167
casmith@orbitmedical.com