Design and Component Testing for a Portable Hyperbaric Chamber

Medical treatment for U.S. Air Force personnel suffering from high altitude sickness and edema currently entails aeromedical evacuation flights (AEF) to transport the stricken individual(s) to an Air Force Base which possesses a stationary hyperbaric chamber. Unfortunately, AEF's are not only expensive, they place an already non-combat ready solider at a much higher risk of condition deterioration due to both the time involved in transport and the decrease in cabin pressure during the flight. The objective of the proposed work is to develop level 3 drawings for a fabric portable hyperbaric chamber assembly capable of a minimum pressure of 2 ATA. this chamber will be easy to maintain, allow for the trnsportation of an ill individual while in the chamber and possess adquate attachments for the delivery of oxygen and essential monitoring equipment. Prior to completion of the drawings, extensive testing and computer modeling will be conducted to ensure the feasibility of the various components and component materials and chamber design. The completed drawings will lay the foundation for the anticipated manufacture of prototypes in Phase II of this work.