Hyperbaric Technology

Background

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) serves as “primary” or “adjunctive” therapy in a wide range of pathologies. It is considered the mainstay of management for potentially life-threatening conditions such as carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression illness, and gas embolisms.

Moreover, HBOT has been utilized for decades as an adjunctive therapy in a variety of medical disciplines, including chronic wounds, which affect approximately 6.5 million Americans annually. In general, chronic wounds are characterized by hypoxia, impaired angiogenesis, and prolonged inflammation, all of which may theoretically be relieved by HBOT.

How Hyperbaric Oxygen Technology Works

  • Within the hyperbaric chamber, air pressure surrounding the body is slowly increased while the prson breathes 100 precent oxygen.
  • The combination of increased pressure and high oxygen levels icnreases the amount of oxygen in a person's blood.
  • High levels of oxygen in the blood promote new tissue and blood vessel growth, assisting in the healing process and helping to fight infections.

Pathlogy of Chronic Wounds

diagram of HBOT healing process

Henry's Law

Most therapeutic benefits of HBOT can be attributed to the relationships between gas concentration, volume, and pressure. We know from Henry’s law that the amount of an ideal gas dissolved in a solution is directly proportional to its partial pressure (Fig. 5). Therefore, increasing partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood during HBOT would improve the cellular delivery and supply of oxygen. This is the primary principle behind the effectiveness of HBOT in treating conditions in which oxygen delivery has been compromised, such as carbon monoxide poisoning and ischemia.

diagram of Henry's Law

Boyle's Law

Another major effect of HBOT can be explained by Boyle’s law, which indicates that the volume of a gas bubble is inversely related to the pressure exerted upon it (Fig. 6); this is the central concept underlying the beneficial properties of HBOT in management of conditions such as decompression illness and intravascular embolism.

diagram of Boyle's Law

Safe, Effective Technology

Compressed air and hyperbaric oxygen have been utilized in medicine for centuries. HBOT is now considered the mainstay of treatment for a number of life-threatening conditions such as carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression illness, and gas embolism

Moreover, HBOT has the distinctive ability to remedy tissue hypoxia, reduce inflammation, and alleviate ischemia-reperfusion (the absence of oxygen and nutrients from blood during the ischemic period creates a condition in which the restoration of circulation results in inflammation and oxidative damage) injury. The current evidence in the field of chronic wounds suggests that HBOT may have favorable effects on these types of wounds.