How A Decompression Chamber Service Benefits Users

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 known as hyperbaric chambers, these vessels were originally adapted from the steel boilers used to power ships. They were already being used in a a high-pressure capacity, and could easily be transformed into airtight rooms big enough to hold people. This solution worked well, and the basic structural concept has been modified over the years with additional safety features and construction techniques.

Although metal is still used in certain models, most current chambers today are made of acrylics, and generally resemble a modern treatment room. In order to reduce boredom during long sessions spent inside, many are equipped with electronic entertainment centers. All employ the most advanced methods of preventing accidental fire, and most are computer controlled. Patient comfort is emphasized.

Monoplace chambers are intended for use by a single individual, and can contain an atmosphere of pure pressurized oxygen. Most manufacturers feature this common design, which costs slightly more than metal varieties. They have a highly reliable safety record, and are particularly useful because they allow hospital staff to closely observe and monitor patients during decompression.

Multiplace chambers are intended for use by several people, and also contain advanced monitoring systems. There may be more than one airlock used to maintain room integrity, and individual oxygen is supplied by a mask or hood, or sometimes through an endotracheal tube. This makes it unnecessary to completely fill the room with pure oxygen, and reduces the possibility of fire. People with different degrees of distress can be treated simultaneously .

The same type of device is used by many hospitals to help patients with difficulty healing normally. Time spent in a hyperbaric chamber assists those suffering from open diabetic wounds, those with burns and subsequent skin grafts, and individuals who have an injury sustained from being crushed as well as those undergoing intensive chemotherapy. Measurable oxygen levels in the blood are significantly raised.

Because the rooms must always be ready for an emergency, unscheduled down-time is not an option. Service businesses currently exist that not only design and sell this type of facility, but also help maintain them afterward during real-time use. There is an emphasis on reliable, rapid deployment of technicians during a failure, and new computer diagnostic software discovers developing problems from a distance.

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.




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