SOFT CHAMBER ANATOMY/DISSECTION: WHAT MAKES UP A CHAMBER?
Although it may appear complicated at first glance, a soft hyperbaric chamber is a relatively simple yet efficient piece of equipment, designed to contain and maintain room air pressurized to a maximum of 4.2 PSI (pounds per square inch), which is the maximum allowable pressure for home chambers as per FDA regulations.
PARTS: (PHOTOS TO COME…)
Bladder: Vinyl “bag”/body of chamber with nylon cover
Double Zipper: With rubber gasket in between; both designed to be operable from inside or outside of chamber
Manual Valve: Controls inflation/deflation rate from inside or outside chamber
Automatic Valves: Two valves located at foot of chamber; activated automatically when chamber reaches 4.2 PSI to maintain maximum steady pressure
Pressure Gauge: Measures internal chamber pressure. Readable from the outside only, however, adapters are available to allow viewing from the inside.
Medical Pass Through Port: Allows tubing to pass through from outside to inside of chamber from an Oxygen Concentrator .
Compressor Port: Allows connection of tubing from air compressor
Internal Frame: Maintains basic shape of vinyl bladder, allowing for reduced inflation time. Requires initial assembly.
Mattress: Foam covered in vinyl; designed to fit interior floor of chamber
Bolsters: Foam covered in nylon; designed to keep chamber from rolling when inflated
Compressor: Small motor which continually pumps room air into chamber
Oxygen Concentrator: Device which removes nitrogen from room air producing up to 93% concentration of oxygen. Oxygen is fed from the concentrator through a tube which enters the chamber through the “medical pass through port”, and is breathed through an attached mask while inside the chamber.
Only specific concentrators are compatible with hyperbaric chambers; preferably 20 PSI/Pounds per Square Inch, 10 LPM/Liters Per Minute, as they must be able to compensate for the backpressure of the chamber. (Contact me for preferred model/vendor information. Note that oxygen concentrators are not sold along with a new or used chamber from the manufacturer and must be purchased separately, as per FDA regulations, but may be available as a package when purchasing a chamber from a private party.)