Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is an avant-garde method of treating various medical conditions like carbon monoxide poisoning, gangrene, radiation injuries, etc. The FDA has approved the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for 14 conditions as of now.
In hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the patient is placed in a sealed chamber where they are supplied with 100% pure oxygen at high atmospheric pressures. This chamber is known as the hyperbaric chamber.
Various kinds of hyperbaric chambers are available. However, there are some universal rules that you need to know about them:
- The air pressure must be kept between 1.4 ATA to 3 ATA to be effective. Otherwise, just supplying the patient with 100% pure oxygen (without the heightened pressure) is not considered hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
- No fire hazards of any kind can be allowed inside the hyperbaric chamber. Concentrated oxygen is extremely flammable. This is why no electrical objects – or even clothes that can create static – are allowed inside the hyperbaric chamber.
Different Types of Hyperbaric Chambers and Their Uses
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Monoplace Chambers
These are cylindrical chambers made of glass and metal. They look very similar to MRI machines. These hyperbaric chambers essentially look like glass tubes in which only one person can lie down at once. A comfortable bed is provided inside.
Since the entirety of the chamber is sealed, the oxygen which is supplied at high pressure does not need to be provided through masks or hoods. The patient can inhale the oxygen normally. This allows for a more relaxing therapy. The patient and the hyperbaric oxygen therapist can see each other but they cannot interact with each other directly. Usually, a phone or a speaker is provided for this purpose.
Monoplace chambers have advantages over both multiplace chambers and soft chambers. Unlike multiplace chambers which have to be installed on-site, these monoplace chambers are easily transportable. They also fit inside regular doctor’s offices easily. Also, unlike soft chambers, they can provide a pressure up to 3 ATA, which is the highest pressure limit of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
The patient can comfortably recline or lie down in these chambers. Each monoplace hyperbaric chamber comes equipped with a mattress, a small first aid kit, and a sealed glass window through which the HBOT session can be supervised by an outside observer.
2. Multiplace Chambers
While the monoplace chambers are comfortable in general, they aren’t fit for those who are plagued by claustrophobia. Multiplace Chambers is the best fit for them.
Multiplace Chambers are large chambers in which multiple people can be seated together. Not just this, the therapist can also be present to assist the patients inside this chamber at all moments. The oxygen is delivered through a hood or a mask.
Multiplace chambers are typically found in large hospitals and hyperbaric clinics. They can be used to provide hyperbaric therapy to multiple people at the same time. However, they are more expensive and less portable than the other two varieties of hyperbaric chambers.
One of the major disadvantages of a multiplace chamber is that you have to keep the air pressure constant for all the occupants. This means that you cannot individually treat specific cases that require special treatment. However, these multiplace chambers are often the only way to treat children who require hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
3. Soft Chambers
As these soft chambers are essentially elongated plastic/cloth bags with zippers, a large pressure cannot be generated here. Most soft chambers are capped at an air pressure of around 1.4 ATA or lower.
Also, soft chambers do not supply 100% pure oxygen. They concentrate oxygen out of regular air, which has only 21% oxygen. However, soft chambers are the easiest to shift around. Hence, they are ideal for those, who travel a lot, but do not want to completely miss their hyperbaric sessions while away from home.
Which Kind Of Hyperbaric Chamber Should You Buy?
OxyHealth currently has over 15,000 world-class hyperbaric chambers in use, purchased and owned by various actors, athletes, and prestigious sports teams like NFL, MMA, etc. Among their many models, Solace 210 is the most affordable one. But it has a rigid frame so don’t mistake it for a soft bag.
However, it is Vitaeris 320 which can reach up to 3 ATA of pressure. The same is also true for Forticus 420 which has the most versatile design. Even though it has a hard-shell exterior, it is completely portable.
If you are looking for a multiplace chamber that has the perks of a monoplace chamber – go for Quamvis 320. Though it is still shaped like a cylindrical tube, it can easily fit two adults inside it. There are various other models from Oxyhealth that you can explore in-depth on their site.
In Conclusion
Hyperbaric therapy sessions last for 1.5 to 2 hours. So, it is necessary to make the patient feel comfortable during this time. When you choose a hyperbaric chamber for your facility, don’t just limit yourself to the logistics of installing the machine and the cost factor. You also have to consider the target demographics who will be visiting your clinic.
If you have patients who need assistance, it is always better to go for a multiplace chamber. However, monoplace chambers allow the patients to retain their privacy. But always remember, no matter which hyperbaric chamber you choose – there must always be a trained hyperbaric therapist at hand to ensure that each session is safe and effective.
