4 Advice to Choose a Hard Shell Hyperbaric Chamber

The number of medical facilities offering hyperbaric oxygen therapy jumped over the last 50 years. Back in the s, approximately 27 facilities offered HBOT nationwide. As researchers learned about the benefits of HBOT, more and more facilities began offering treatments with hyperbaric chambers. Recent reports state as many as 1,800 to 2,000 hospitals offer hyperbaric treatments in the United States. This is in addition to between 500 and 700 non-hospital-based clinics or medical practices. And this doesn’t even count the amount of soft-sided hyperbaric chambers people own in their own homes.

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New research continues to show the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a variety of FDA-approved and off-label medical conditions. This creates a great new medical treatment option for many patients. But it also creates an opening for large profits at the expense of patients. Soft-sided hyperbaric chambers offer patients the ability to purchase a chamber for use at home. Unfortunately, not all chambers are equal. Soft-sided chambers do not offer the same benefits and can, in some cases, make things worse.

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Hard Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers

In hospitals and clinics, physicians use hard-shell hyperbaric oxygen chambers. These chambers are medical-grade devices and FDA-approved for the treatment of 14 conditions. In addition, they show positive results in studies for many, many more conditions. Hard-shell chambers are steel-enclosed chambers that deliver 100 percent oxygen at atmospheric pressures above 2.0 ATA. Installation of these chambers in a medical facility requires meeting various building regulations, including NFPA-99 from the National Fire Protection Association.

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Soft-Sided Hyperbaric Chambers

Soft-sided chambers, known as mild HBOT or mHBOT, are portable chambers that seal with a zipper. They can reach pressure levels around 1.3 ATA and typically deliver 24 percent oxygen levels. Originally designed for divers and mountain climbers to use until they could transport to a hard-sided chamber, the intention was never to use soft-sided chambers for treatment.

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The Levels of Oxygen Do Not Compare

The big difference between hard and soft chambers comes when we talk about oxygen concentration into the body. To get a better understanding of this, as you read this, you are breathing in room air with a concentration of 21 percent oxygen. A soft-sided chamber utilizes 24 percent oxygen. In contrast, when you see people transported in an ambulance and hooked up to an oxygen mask, they are receiving 55 percent oxygen. Hard-shell hyperbaric chambers deliver 100 percent oxygen. These numbers don’t even consider the pressure level differences.

To go more in-depth, let’s look at arterial blood gas levels that show oxygen in the blood. In normal air conditions and at normal pressure, your blood oxygen is going to read 157 mmHg. However, in a soft-sided chamber at 1.3 ATA and 24 percent oxygen, your number rises to 230 mmHg. An oxygen mask, like those used in ambulance transport, delivers 55 percent oxygen at normal pressure and gives you 418 mmHg. Of course, the real difference occurs in a hard-shell chamber. With a hard-shell chamber at 2.4 ATA and 100 percent oxygen, your arterial oxygen levels reach 1,824 mmHg.

The idea behind hyperbaric oxygen therapy and its success as a treatment option depend on flooding the body with higher levels of oxygen. Unfortunately, you see that soft-sided chambers don’t really offer much more than the air you naturally breathe. In all honesty, you receive more benefit from a simple oxygen mask.

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Soft-Sided Chambers Fall Short

While hyperbaric oxygen therapy is FDA-approved for the treatment of 14 conditions currently, many conditions have been treated off-label with great success both in medical clinic environments as well as in numerous clinical studies, showing that flooding the body with high levels of oxygen can heal and, in many cases, return quality of life to many patients. However, in all these studies the administration of oxygen has been at 100 percent and at pressure levels of 2.0 ATA or higher.

To date, no real studies have looked at the benefit of mild hyperbaric, or low oxygen therapy. And given the numbers, the oxygen levels they provide aren’t much different than what you breathe in normally. Soft-sided chambers are not FDA-approved as a medical device for the use in hyperbaric oxygen therapy, except for the use by climbers and divers with altitude sickness during transport to a medical facility with a hyperbaric chamber.

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When Your Treatment Causes More Problems

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treats non-healing wounds as well as bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Scientific research shows that oxygen becomes bacteriostatic at 1.5 ATA. This means that at levels above 1.5 ATA, the oxygen prevents bacterial and fungal growth. With hard-shell hyperbaric oxygen therapy, pressure levels are typically over 2.0 ATA, making it successful in the suppression of bacterial growth. Unfortunately, with average levels of 1.3 ATA, soft-sided chambers cannot suppress bacterial growth. On the contrary, they enhance the growth of bacteria, mold, and fungus. Exposure to bacteria, mold, and fungus make conditions worse or lead to additional medical complications.

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What We Use for Our Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treatments

Here, Dr. Spiegel and his team treat patients with the top-quality hard-shell chambers. Sechrist Industries is an industry leader in hyperbaric chambers, making them for over 35 years. Our chambers, Sechrist , is a pneumatically controlled system offering a 32-inch inside diameter, making it spacious and comfortable for our patients. This chamber allows for full patient monitoring during oxygen treatments and features a patient entertainment system. In addition, our system offers a two-way intercom system, making communication easy during the procedure.

If you would like more information on our chambers, what they offer, and how hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help treat your medical condition, please give us a call today to set up an initial consultation with Dr. Spiegel and his team or click HERE to fill out our online information request form.

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HBOT involves the administration of 100% oxygen at a greater-than-normal atmospheric pressure delivered in a hyperbaric chamber. Hyperbaric chambers are pressurized capsules that provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) medical treatment.

There are various types of hyperbaric chambers. Some chambers, for example, are designed to offer treatments in the field for acute altitude sickness or decompression sickness. Other chambers are permanently installed in clinics to offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy to athletes or to treat various illnesses.

The most common types are hard and soft HBOT chambers and multiplace and monoplace HBOT chambers.

Ultimately, each type of hyperbaric oxygen chamber offers benefits, including the number of patients they can accommodate, the cost, and the pressure level they provide. This guide explores common types of HBOT capsules and their uses.

What Is a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Chamber?

Hyperbaric chambers are specialized medical devices that administer pressurized hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

This treatment involves inhaling pure oxygen within a pressurized environment. Several types of hyperbaric chambers are available, including horizontal and vertical chambers. Each of these chambers has its advantages and disadvantages.

What Are the Types of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Chambers?

There are six main types of hyperbaric chambers. Here’s a short overview of the differences:

1. Soft Hyperbaric Chambers

Soft hyperbaric chambers, also called mild hyperbaric chambers, are portable, flexible, and soft devices sealed with a zipper. They are made from durable materials, and these chambers were initially designed to transport and give on-the-go treatment to divers and mountaineers.

Unlike hard hyperbaric chambers, these deliver only 24 percent oxygen and are primiarly used for their portability.

Pros:

• Portable and easy to set up
• Affordable
• Useful for emergency purposes
• Extremely helpful in difficult-to-reach areas such as mountaineering or deep sea diving

Cons:

• Delivers limited oxygen (i.e., 24%), while the body requires 100% for efficient healing
• No recommended for long-term medical care or treating severe conditions
• Prone to wear-and-tear

2. Hard Hyperbaric Chamber

Hard HBOT chambers are made from solid metal-like materials. Hard-sided HBOT chambers provide a higher oxygen concentration than soft-shell chambers. They can deliver up to 100% oxygen, for example.

For more information, please visit Hard Shell Hyperbaric Chamber.

The FDA approves hard chambers to treat various medical conditions, including wound healing after surgery and carbon monoxide poisoning to infection.

Furthermore, recent research has shown hard chambers can help facilitate wound healing after cosmetic procedures, and support treatment for cancer, anti-aging therapy, and traumatic brain injuries.

Pros:

• Provides up to 100% oxygen
• Durable, sleeker, and more comfortable than soft HBOT capsules
• Requires a controlled environment and dedicated healthcare physicians
• Recommended for severe medical conditions, such as carbon oxide poisoning

Cons:

• Hard hyperbaric chambers are costlier than soft HBO chambers
• Not portable and require a dedicated space for their usage
• Requires staff to operate and manage

3. Horizontal Hyperbaric Chamber

Horizontal hyperbaric chambers accommodate patients in a lying-down position. When the patient enters the chamber, they lie down, and the treatment commences. In most cases, it is recommended to close the eyes during therapy.

These horizontal chambers can be soft or hard chambers and are best suited for individuals who prefer to lie down or who may have difficulty sitting upright for extended periods.

Pros:

• Highly comfortable for patients who have mobility problems or are unable to sit straight
• A more relaxing posture for treatment
• As the patient must lie down, this allows for better and even distribution of oxygen throughout the body
• Horizontal chambers are extremely common, and most clinics prefer them

Cons:

• Requires more space due to horizontal orientation

4. Vertical Hyperbaric Chamber

Vertical hyperbaric chambers are available in both soft and hard versions. They are designed for patients to sit or stand upright during treatment and are commonly used in clinical settings.

Pros:

• Require less space compared to horizontal hyperbaric chambers
• More accessible for patients

Cons:

• Can be tiring for patients, because they must stand or sit for long periods

5. Monoplace Hyperbaric Chamber

A monoplace chamber is a pressurized chamber that accommodates one person at a time. Patients lay down inside these chambers and are subjected to 100% oxygen at higher atmospheric pressure levels. The pressure level can ultimately be set to meet specific medical needs.

Such control of the environment allows doctors to provide the greatest possible therapeutic outcome over time. This helps patients with various conditions, such as chronic wounds, decompression sickness, and stroke-induced paralysis.

Pros:

• Monoplace chambers offer advanced functionalities
• More spacious for individuals (compared to multiplace chambers)
• Allows for more comfort and relaxation during HBOT sessions
• Recommended by specialists (over multiplace chambers)

Cons:

• Monoplace HBOT chambers tend to cost more

6. Multiplace Chambers

Multiplace chambers can simultaneously accommodate two or more people for treatment with compressed air or pure oxygen. Patients must wear a special mask to breathe the oxygen.

An organized team of technicians is required to operate the chamber and monitor its function while patients receive their treatments.

Pros:

• Accommodates more than one person in the chamber room.
• This type of therapy is often more cost-effective and convenient for patients and caregivers

Cons:

• Patients must sit in the same position for long periods
• Doesn’t offer privacy to patients and they may feel claustrophobic

What Can a Hyperbaric Chamber Be Used For?

Hyperbaric oxygen chambers treat a variety of medical ailments. In fact, the FDA has cleared hyperbaric oxygen therapy for conditions like decompression sickness, wounds, infections, and many other conditions.

Some uses for hyperbaric oxygen chambers include:

1. Wounds and Related Injuries

HBOT is effective in promoting wound healing for various conditions, from diabetic foot ulcers to radiation injuries. It delivers increased oxygen levels to the bloodstream, allowing your body to repair and more effectively by regenerating tissue. Thus, HBOT promotes faster healing.

2. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

HBOT is a crucial treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning. It quickly removes carbon monoxide from the bloodstream, preventing tissue damage and neurological issues associated with exposure to this toxic gas.

3. Radiation Therapy Side Effects

Hyperbaric chambers are commonly used to manage the side effects of radiation therapy. These side effects include radiation-induced tissue damage, delayed wound healing, radiation necrosis, etc. HBOT helps to promote the oxygenation of damaged tissues, mitigates inflammation, and stimulates tissue repair mechanisms.

4. Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury

According to a variety of research, HBOT may encourage neurological recovery in individuals suffering from conditions like stroke or traumatic brain injury. It enhances oxygen supply to the brain, helps minimize inflammation and tissue damage, and promotes neuronal regeneration.

What Are the Considerations for Choosing a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Chamber?

The most common type of hyperbaric chamber is the monoplace, used in medical facilities, clinics, athletic training facilities, and spas worldwide. These chambers are more accessible to operate and tend to cost comparatively less than multiplace chambers.

Regarding which type to choose, most consumers, spas, and wellness facilities must decide between hard-sided and soft-sided chambers. For at-home use, soft chambers have been traditionally preferred due to their cost and portability.

Soft chambers help improve athletic performance or treat acute altitude sickness; however, their efficacy for wound healing, neurogenerative disease may be limited due to the lower oxygen levels.

Hard HBOT chambers like Hue Light hyperbaric oxygen capsules have been shown to provide a range of benefits, including:

• Accelerates wound healing
• Expedites nitrogen gas excretion from within the body
• Helps to improve cognitive function
• Improves stagnant hypoxic state of the cells
• Increases the effects of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments for treating malignant tumors
• It helps leukocytes (white blood cells) fight off infections, including gas gangrene, necrotizing fasciitis, osteomyelitis, and many more
• HBOT helps treat acute sports-related brain injuries (like concussions)

Guidance from Healthcare Professionals

Healthcare providers are essential in recommending the correct type of hyperbaric chamber and collaborating with professionals to ensure the best choice for patients. Here’s how they can help the process:

1. Providing clinical expertise

2. Evaluating patient’s condition and treatment course

3. Assessing the depth of the ailment and necessary treatment plan

4. Adding expert guidance from related healthcare advisors (e.g., trauma doctors)

5. Offering continuous support, monitoring, and treatment evaluation

6. Ensuring patient-centric care and treatment plan

Why Choose Hue Light USA for Your Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

At Hue Light USA, our monoplace hard-sided hyperbaric oxygen therapy capsule offers state-of-the-art therapy.

HBOT is the third phase of BAHI Therapy, Hue Light’s exclusive wellness plan that includes vibration therapy, photobiomodulation light therapy, and molecular hydrogen inhalation therapy.

Our innovative approach allows high-quality treatments to take place in a comfortable environment for patients to enjoy the benefits of this revolutionary therapy. We understand the importance of staying informed, so we’re here to answer any of your questions. Our knowledgeable staff will guide you, so don’t hesitate to reach out!

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Hard Shell Hyperbaric Chamber For Sale.