Traditionally, hyperbaric chambers have been used to treat mountain climbers with acute mountain sickness and divers with the bends, both of which are caused by changes in air pressure without giving the body time to adapt. And both conditions are easily treated with pressurized delivery of oxygen in a hyperbaric chamber.

Today, the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) have extended beyond the world of adventure sports to more everyday conditions including slow-healing wounds such as those common in diabetics; burns from heat or radiation and crush injuries;  carbon monoxide poisoning; dental issues; post-stroke rehabilitation; surgical wounds; sports injuries; mitochondrial issues; and developmental delays including autism spectrum disorders and cerebral palsy. Pressurized oxygen delivery increases the amount of hemoglobin delivered to affected areas, enhancing and supporting the body’s natural ability to heal. Depending on the chamber model, HBOT can even be administered at home. Here are two exceptional examples of the innovative models from OxyHealth carried by Rehabmart.

The OxyHealth Solace 210 Hyperbaric Chamber is soft-sided and inflates in three to five minutes to deliver four PSI of oxygen therapy in clinical settings, private homes, or rehab centers. The user climbs in, closes the reinforced zipper, and the unit is turned on. When inflated, it measures 90 inches long by 22 inches in diameter by 70 inches in circumference to comfortably accommodate a wide range of users, yet is small enough to be used in a residential setting. A 1/4 horsepower oil-less double head compressor with dual air exchange-regulator air intake valves, an analog pressure gauge, and a 10-foot long hose keep the chamber inflated while supplying therapeutic levels of air pressure. Three windows allowing direct audible communication as well as visual observation and room light to brighten up the chamber are integrated into the dark blue urethane shell. A set of bolsters are included to prevent the chamber from rolling around on the floor. When not in use or for transport, the chamber may be deflated and tucked into its included carrying case.  All of its components are medical grade. Accessories include special linens, blankets, a mattress, and a frame for use inside the chamber. The Solace 210 comes with a one year limited warranty with optional extended warranties available. 

For hospitals, doctors’ offices, and other health care facilities where space may be at a premium, the portable OxyHealth Fortius 420 Hyperbaric Chamber takes up only 88.5 inches in length and 58 inches in height. The low pressure pump can deliver up to 30 PSI and has mirror controls that allow either the patient or the practitioner to adjust the air flow from static to flow-through with the simple turn of a knob. The Fortius is made from steel with two eight-inch polycarbonate windows to allow for observation with a 26-inch door for easy entrance and exits. To add a soothing note, it’s finished in blue powder-coating inside and out, as is its included mattress.  It has received certification from ASME, PVHO, FDA, 510G and GMP.  Sheets for the mattress are sold separately. The price includes shipping, set up, and training for office staff by OxyHealth’s own technicians on the day of, or day after installation.

HBOT has been shown to provide safe and effective therapy in clinical studies in treating a wide variety of breathing problems, developmental delays due to mitochondrial issues, and soft tissue injuries. There are no known side effects, and a reviewer of the Solace 210 enthusiastically recommended it after using one post-stroke as part of his rehab program. Thanks to the new generation of smaller and more portable pressure chambers,  more people can reap the benefits of HBOT in private residences or in facilities closer to home.  

Fran Jablway,
Senior Medical Consumer Writer
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO