Science of HBOT

In the past, the traditional type of hyperbaric chamber used for HBOT was a hard shelled pressure vessel. Such chambers can be run at absolute pressures up to 6 bars (87 psi). Navies, diving organizations and hospitals typically operate these. They range in size from semi-portable, one-patient units to large, fixed units that can treat eight or more patients.

Recent advances in materials technology have resulted in the manufacture of portable, "soft" chambers that can operate at between 0.3 and 0.5 bar (4.4 and 7.3 psi) above atmospheric pressure. Hard chambers and soft chambers should not be considered equivalent in regards to efficacy and safety as they are different in many aspects.

Orlando Hyperbarics utilizes the latest monoplace chamber technology from Perry Baromedical. Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers are United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Class II devices and are controlled by federal law. The chambers used at Orlando Hyperbarics are designed, manufactured, tested and installed in accordance with the current regulations of the FDA, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME/PVHO-2) Codes, and the requirements of the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA).

• Mechanical effect of increased pressure
• Mass Action of gases
• Vasoconstriction
• Anti-bacterial effect
• Anti-ischemic effect

Mechanical effect of increased pressure

Any free gas trapped in the body will decrease in volume as pressure exerted on it increases (Boyle's Law). Reduction in bubble size may allow it to pass through the circulation, or at least travel into a smaller vessel which will reduce the size of any resulting infarction. This effect is useful in the management of gas embolism and decompression sickness

Mass Action of gases

Flooding the body with oxygen forces the rapid elimination of other gases, thus reducing damage caused by toxic gases such as carbon monoxide. The elevated pressures used during hyperbaric oxygen therapy further accelerates the elimination process.

Vasoconstriction

Hyperbaric oxygen acts as an alpha-adrenergic drug. Vasoconstriction can result in reduction of edema following burns or crush injuries. Even with a reduction in blood flow, enough extra oxygen is carried by the blood so a net increase in tissue oxygen delivery occurs with hyperbaric oxygen.

Anti-bacterial effect

Anaerobic bacteria don't contain the natural defenses to protect them from the superoxides, peroxides and other compounds formed in the presence of high oxygen tensions. More important, many of the body's bacterial defense mechanisms are oxygen dependent. When tissue pO2 drops too low, effective ingestion and killing by phagocytic leukocytes is retarded. Reoxygenation of those tissues allows phagocytosis and other host defense mechanisms to come back into play.

Anti-ischemic effect

Hyperbaric oxygen physically dissolves extra oxygen into the plasma (Henry's Law). The quantity of oxygen carried and transferred to ischemic tissue by the blood is increased. Relieving the ischemia with this increased oxygenation promotes osteoclastic and osteoblastic activity, collagen matrix formation and the breakdown of many toxins. The extra oxygen also helps the ischemic tissue meet the increased metabolic need required by healing processes.