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, the original designs used large steel boilers common in the power plants of ships. They were already operated under high pressure, and could be transformed into airtight vessels holding several people at a time. This solution was successful, and the basic idea has been improved and modified since then by adding safety features and using different building materials.
While there are still some metal cylinders being used, most modern units are made of acrylics, and often closely resemble a treatment room at a hospital. In order to fend off patient boredom, many new facilities contain entertainment systems to pass the time. They are also built to the most stringent fire suppression standards, and are generally computer controlled. In all cases, 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.
A multiplace chamber can hold more people, and has advanced monitoring capabilities. Many have more than one airlock that allows the room to be completely sealed. Pure oxygen is not piped in generally, but is given to patients individually using a mask or hood, or sometimes through an endotracheal tube. Not filling the entire space with pure oxygen reduces accidental fires. Several people with differing levels of trouble can be treated at one time.
Hospitals today use the same kind of pressurized oxygen to treat patients with problems healing normally. Spending time in a hyperbaric chamber can assist those with open diabetic sores, people who have been badly burned and require skin grafting, and those who have sustained crushing injuries in an accident or are recovering from chemotherapy. The pressure measurably increases the amount of oxygen in the blood.
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.
Not only do they maintain and service those products, but some also provide ongoing training for the people who operate them, using replicated environments that can demonstrate new innovations and techniques. The primary goal of these services is the reduction of time spent upgrading and maintaining a chamber, and to allow decompression centers to be ready to provide high-quality treatment when required.
Also called hyperbaric chambers, the original designs used large steel boilers common in the power plants of ships. They were already operated under high pressure, and could be transformed into airtight vessels holding several people at a time. This solution was successful, and the basic idea has been improved and modified since then by adding safety features and using different building materials.
While there are still some metal cylinders being used, most modern units are made of acrylics, and often closely resemble a treatment room at a hospital. In order to fend off patient boredom, many new facilities contain entertainment systems to pass the time. They are also built to the most stringent fire suppression standards, and are generally computer controlled. In all cases, 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.
A multiplace chamber can hold more people, and has advanced monitoring capabilities. Many have more than one airlock that allows the room to be completely sealed. Pure oxygen is not piped in generally, but is given to patients individually using a mask or hood, or sometimes through an endotracheal tube. Not filling the entire space with pure oxygen reduces accidental fires. Several people with differing levels of trouble can be treated at one time.
Hospitals today use the same kind of pressurized oxygen to treat patients with problems healing normally. Spending time in a hyperbaric chamber can assist those with open diabetic sores, people who have been badly burned and require skin grafting, and those who have sustained crushing injuries in an accident or are recovering from chemotherapy. The pressure measurably increases the amount of oxygen in the blood.
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.
Not only do they maintain and service those products, but some also provide ongoing training for the people who operate them, using replicated environments that can demonstrate new innovations and techniques. The primary goal of these services is the reduction of time spent upgrading and maintaining a chamber, and to allow decompression centers to be ready to provide high-quality treatment when required.
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