So you are buying a hyperbaric chamber...

 

Here are ten things to consider when purchasing:

1. How long will you be using the chamber?

If you or a family member has a brain injury, a neurological disorder, or another chronic or degenerative health condition, it is likely that you will be using your chamber for a period of years. You should invest in a chamber that will be comfortable for yourself and/or your family over a long period of time.

 

2. How many people will be in the chamber at a time?

The size of the chamber you require will be determined by how many people can comfortably fit inside the chamber.

26” Diameter Chamber:

1-2 Children (children sitting up or lying down)

1 Adult (adult lying down)

1 Child sleeping

33” Diameter Chamber:

1-2 Children (children sitting up)

1 Adult (adult lying down/partially sitting up)

1 Adult & 1 Child (adult lying down, child sitting up)

1 Adult or Child sleeping

42” Diameter Chamber:

1-3 Children (children sitting/standing up)

1 Adult & 2 Children (adult sitting up or lying down, children sitting/standing up)

2 Adults & 1 Child (adults sitting up or lying down, child sitting/standing up)

1 Adult sleeping or exercising

46” Diameter Chamber:

1-3 Children (children sitting/standing up)

1 Adult & 2 Children (adult sitting up or lying down, children sitting/standing up)

2 Adults & 1 Child (adults sitting up or lying down, child sitting/standing up)

1 Adult sleeping, exercising, or wheeled in and lying down on optional stretcher

40” Diameter Vertical Chamber:

1 Child (child sitting/standing up)

1 Adult (sitting down)

1 Adult sitting in chair/working at desk

60” Diameter Vertical Chamber:

1-2 Children (children sitting/standing up)

2 Adults (sitting on chairs or beanbag chairs)

1 Adult & 1 Child (adult and child sitting in chairs or beanbag chairs)

1 Adult & 1 Child (standing up or sitting down)

1 Adult exercising or sitting in a recliner, desk & chair, or beanbag.

60” Diameter Vertical Chamber WA:

1 Child wheeled into the chamber and sitting in a wheelchair

1 Adult wheeled into the chamber and sitting in a wheelchair

3. Will you be using the chamber by yourself, or will you have outside assistance?

If you are using the chamber by yourself, you want to make sure that you purchase a chamber that is easy to use.  You should avoid a chamber with heavy duty straps, as well as a multitude of zippers that are difficult to operate. The ideal chamber will have no more than two zippers, and one of those zippers should be airtight.

4. Where will you be keeping the chamber?

The room where you keep your chamber should have good air conditioning. If the chamber will be in a room without air conditioning, you should consider using an air conditioner or a cooler with the chamber. If you are using the chamber with an oxygen concentrator, you need a room with good air circulation. The interior temperature of the chamber will be warmer than the exterior temperature of the room where the chamber is located.

5. Will you be travelling with the chamber?

Some chambers are lightweight and easy to travel with. Other chambers are heavy and not very portable. Avoid chambers with large or heavy compressors. If you will be travelling frequently with your chamber, a 26-27” or 33-34” chamber with small, lightweight compressors is your best bet.

6. Will other people be in the area where the chamber will be operated?

If you are going to use the chamber in an area near other people, you should buy a chamber with quiet compressors. That way, the operation of the chamber will not disturb the people around you. It will also be much more peaceful and quiet inside the chamber.

7. How frequently will you be using the chamber?

If you plan on using the chamber on a regular basis, make sure that your chamber has energy efficient compressors. The smaller, quieter, lighter weight compressors are typically more energy efficient than the larger, noisier, heavier compressors. You will save a great deal in energy costs over the years if your chamber has energy efficient compressors.

8. What activities will you and your family be doing inside the chamber?

If you plan on reading, watching movies on a laptop computer or a tablet, or playing video games on your phone, a chamber with a bright interior is preferred. This is especially true if you are claustrophobic. If you buy a chamber with a dark interior, you will have to use battery operated lighting in the chamber for these activities. Make sure to purchase a chamber with quiet compressors if you plan on resting, relaxing, or sleeping in the chamber.

9. Will children be using the chamber?

If young children will be using the chamber, you should consider a chamber that is easy for them to get into and out of. A chamber with a side entry is preferable to a chamber with a top entry for children and for people with limited mobility. For young children, the horizontal chambers are similar to being inside of a submarine, and the vertical chambers are similar to being inside of a tent or a spaceship.

10. Are the people who will be using the chamber sensitive to pressure changes?

If the people who will be using the chamber are sensitive to pressure changes, you are better off with a chamber that has an automatic compression and decompression, as this is gentler on the ears. Make sure that the chamber has controls that allow you to easily change the rate of pressurization and depressurization from both inside and outside of the chamber. The company you purchase your chamber from should also carry products that help your ears adjust to pressure changes.