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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, 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.

Those designed for one person at a time are called monoplace chambers, and can be pressurized and the air inside replaced with pure oxygen. These models are featured by most manufacturers, and cost slightly more than those made of metal. The safety records associated with this design show a high level of reliability, and allow patients to be closely observed and medically monitored.

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 .

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 of these systems are integral during emergencies, unexpected down-time is unacceptable. Specific services exist today that specialize not only in the installation of these facilities, but also help maintain them in peak operating condition. The emphasis today is on rapid employee deployment whenever mechanical repair issues arise, and remote computer diagnostics allows developing problems to be discovered quickly.

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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