The Story of Mae

Inogen, Inc., manufacturer of the Inogen One Portable Oxygen Concentrator, was founded in 2001 to increase freedom and mobility for oxygen therapy users. 

Mae was the inspiration behind Inogen: she provided the mission and purpose for our endeavors. A beloved grandmother unwilling to accept the status quo of oxygen therapy alternatives, Mae’s candid observations and longing for improved quality of life provided the impetus for Inogen to create a better solution for her and the millions of oxygen patients like her worldwide. Without Mae, Inogen would not exist.

Mae was prescribed oxygen therapy in the summer of 2000. She would complain about the difficulty of switching tanks, replacing the conserver, and having to carry an endless extra supply of bottles. During Christmas of 2000, Mae had to make a 9-hour car trip to celebrate the holiday at the home of relatives. It was there that the entire family witnessed the hardships of oxygen therapy. Every trip out of the house had to be calculated so she wouldn’t run out of oxygen. She would constantly ask, “Why isn’t there a better solution?”

After serving as unofficial consultant during its development, Mae was presented the first Inogen One in October 2004. And we knew immediately that we’d done something right. Her reaction? “Better than anything I could have ever hoped for.”

Today we are Inogen - a cohesive team of experienced entrepreneurs, skilled technologists, internationally known clinicians, and home healthcare veterans dedicated to producing innovative solutions to respiratory home healthcare challenges.  To learn more about Inogen, the manufacturer of the Inogen One, please visit our corporate website at: www.inogen.net. 

Mae still inspires everything that Inogen does as a company. Even more so, Mae is an inspiration for each of us as individuals. Not afraid to ask questions, or to continually seek a better life, Mae refused to settle for the mediocre. Always looking towards the future and asking “why not?” Mae challenged Inogen to be inquisitive and innovative and to commit to the delivery of better therapy for oxygen users—both for today, and for tomorrow.