The Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber (HBOC) was developed for military personnel and emergency disaster rescue teams. It is used to provide oxygen to perform life-saving operations. The Hyperbaric Oxygen System (HBOS) was originally designed for astronauts but has been adapted for use in most fields of medicine. This article will focus on evaluating the safety and feasibility of using Nitrogen 50 as primary oxygenating gas in an oxygen-barrier environment inside a hyperbaric chamber.. The purpose of this article is not to discuss the medical applications of the Hyperbaric Chamber (HBOC), but rather to demonstrate the usefulness and effectiveness of the Hyperbaric Oxygen System in critical care situations.
Prior to testing, the Hyperbaric Oxygen System was evaluated on a number of conditions, including: pressurization, ambient pressure, temperature, and relative humidity. The primary evaluation was conducted on a normality curve, where data from multiple trials were analyzed to establish the normal physiological state for each patient. It was found that the human body could tolerate high pressure and temperature for up to six hours without negative consequences.
Normal subjects presented with moderate thermal stress at sea level experienced no changes from normal temperature or pressure, while those with a hyperbaric chamber had a transient rise in temperature and partial pressure. Temperature rise was minimal for those patients in the hyperbaric chamber, while those in the normaliature condition experienced a marked rise in temperature. Relative humidity increased in both conditions; however, the hyperbaric chamber subjects showed no increase in perspiration. While it is impossible to determine if the temperature change was due to water evaporation or condensation, the lack of direct sensory feedback from the skin leads to inaccurate experimental calibration and certain experimental parameters may be unstable.
The pressure and temperature changes experienced by the subjects in the hyperbaric chamber had many similarities with the symptoms experienced by astronauts. Specifically, they reported an increase in numbness, pain, tingling, and a decreased feeling of security. The symptoms were consistent between the hyperbaric chamber and the outside world. They included the feelings associated with extreme temperatures and the threat of dehydration.
Hyperbaric oxygen chambers have recently shown to be effective for several disorders. The ata (oxygen) and hypoxia (low oxygen levels) can cause serious neurological and psychological problems. The hyperbaric chamber provides a controlled environment where physiological changes do not occur due to low or zero pressure or low oxygen levels. This allows patients to remain comfortable and heal more quickly. An unpressurized environment can also facilitate the healing process by stimulating the blood and lymphatic circulation.
Some of the physical conditions treated with hyperbaric chambers include a reduction in asthma symptoms, coronary heart disease, COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder), stroke, seizures, and many other conditions. Patients with these or other chronic illnesses often have difficulty obtaining needed hospital care and have difficulty maintaining a standard level of health due to stress and the effects of low pressure or low oxygen levels. The addition of the hyperbaric oxygen therapy to standard treatments allows patients to be released from hospital or medical settings more quickly, allowing for more rapid symptom relief. In some cases, additional cost is required to house a patient in a hospital setting while receiving treatment, which can take days, weeks, or even months. Hyperbaric chambers provide an alternative to the additional cost and time associated with hospitalization.
The hyperbaric chamber has also been used for rehabilitation of athletes and patients with spinal injuries. Because the chambers can maintain normal pressure to deliver hyperbaric oxygen, it is an ideal solution for patients recovering from severe spinal injuries that affect the nervous system. There are multiple therapeutic uses for hyperbaric chambers, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy continues to grow in popularity due to its proven health benefits.
The oxygen saturation and relative humidity of hyperbaric chambers can be increased by simply adding a second or third accessory tank to the system. The availability of multiple tanks will allow patients to alternate between different pressures and humidity levels. Additional accessories such as a humidistat or humidity monitor can further enhance the therapy and allow for optimal temperature and humidity control.
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