My mother has just returned from the nursing home after breaking her hip. She says she needs this oxygen machine machine my sister rented for her. I looked at it and it was simply a air compressor hooked up to a plastic line attched to her nose. Tell me what purpose does this machine serve. If it ligit I have no problem paying for its use. However I can't see any value in what its doing. Can someone enlighten me? Thank you

If your sister rented it from a medical place I am sure there must be something more to the thing than a regular air compressor. If your mother needs oxygen then there is value to it --- as long as she didn't rent it from a tool rental place.

People with chonric obstructive pulmonary disease use an oxygen machine in their home. It is hooked up to an oxygen tank and like you say, attached to their nose. For outdoor use they use a portable unit.

Does she have lung problems ?

Tickle, That's the problem there is no oxygen attached to the unit. It is merely pumping air into the hose. I'm very familiar with manufacturing oxygen from a tour in the Navy. I made oxygen for air support in a sub. We are paying $95.00 a month for a machine that does nothing in my opinion. What if anything does room air being pumped into that hose have to do with helping her... I feel this is another medical rip off

It sounds like it is a rip off. Can you use another medical supply co.
Or even go to one and ask them to show you theirs and how it works.
Then tell them how the system you have is set up.

Now I understand your confusion, escheun, I see no beneficial purpose, it isn't even clean air. Maybe they (the med co) can dupe the ordinary person, but you as you say have experience. I would bring them to task and find out just what they are trying to accomplish. So, there is no oxygen tank attached to the unit for the source of purified air ?