The Value Of A Decompression Chamber Service

By Janine Hughes


During the mid-20th century free-divers reached depths previously out of reach, and in doing so encountered a related safety hazard. A too-rapid ascent caused dissolved gases in the blood to expand quickly as pressure was reduced. The bubbles that resulted could cause extreme pain, paralysis, and even death. The solution still in use is a slow equalization of internal pressure inside a special room. A decompression chamber service is designed to keep those facilities runs smoothly.

Also called hyperbaric chambers, they were adapted originally from steel boilers in ship power plants. Because they were already meant for high-pressure uses, boilers could be easily redesigned as sealed rooms with a capacity for more than one person. This solution proved successful, and that original concept is still being used, although greatly modified for increased safety.

Metal cylinders are still used for pressure equalization, but most modern units are acrylic plastic, and in some locations resemble a standard hospital treatment room. To make the time spent inside pass more pleasantly, many facilities are equipped with sound and entertainment systems, have advanced methods of fire suppression, and are controlled by computers. The emphasis is on patient comfort.

Those intended for use by a single individual are monoplace chambers, and the air mixture inside is replaced by pure oxygen when pressurized. They are the most common type, and are slightly more expensive than those made with metal frames. They have an excellent safety record and a reputation for reliability, and allow users to be closely monitored and observed medically.

Multiplace chambers have greater capacity, and advanced monitoring. Most have one or more airlocks that fully seal the chamber, and pure oxygen is supplied via a hood or mask, or through an endotracheal tube. This method does not require the room to be completely filled with pure oxygen, reducing the possibility of accidental fire. They are ideal for treating several patients in varying degrees of distress.

The same type of pressurized chamber is widely used by many hospitals today to help those having problems healing normally. Hyperbaric chambers are used to aid those suffering from diabetic open wounds, people with severe burns requiring skin grafts or who have been accidentally crushed, or patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy. Breathing oxygen under pressure increases levels more efficiently.

Because these installations may be needed at any hour, any unscheduled down-time is not acceptable. Specialized services exist that present and install these chambers, as well as monitoring and maintaining them once in place. There is a strong emphasis on deploying repair technicians as quickly as possible when problems do emerge, and remote maintenance software that recognizes and corrects problems from a distance has become essential.

These specialized businesses not only keep their products operational, but may also provide targeted training for hospital operators and administrators in centers that replicate the latest procedures and equipment. Their goal is to significantly reduce the time necessary for routine service and upgrades, and to enable all locations using decompression to provide a high level of readiness.




About the Author: