Advanced Technologies for Reducing Decompression Obligation and Risk

Despite over 100 years of research, decompression sickness (DCS) remains the mission-limiting factor in the design and execution of combat diving operations.Divers may spend over an hour decompressing after spending as little as ten minutes at the target depth.While decompressing, divers are limited in vertical mobility, making then susceptible to detection and threatening their survivability.This research program seeks to develop and advance technologies that reduce (or fully mitigate) decompression obligation and risk.The focus of the current effort involves a gas switching strategy where divers breathing a light gas (Helium) switch to a heavy gas with low solubility prior to decompression.The main focus of the work is to advanced use of exotic heavy breathing gasses in humans.A secondary objective is to further advance development of an Integrated Diver Physiology Platform (IDPP) that provides divers with real-time feedback on their DCS status and risk.Ultimately, we expect the IDPP to be integrated with a dive computer and to individually tailor decompression schedules based on real physiological data.