DECOMPRESSION ILLNESS
According to the US Navy Diving Manual, known by professionals as the “Divine Manual”:
“..Any dive, no matter how routine can result in arterial gas embolism or decompression sickness..”
“..Immediate recompression therapy is indicated for treating decompression sickness, arterial gas embolism and several other disorders..”
“..When stricken divers are treated without delay, the success rate of standard recompression therapy is extremely good. Delays to treatment for DCS and AGE significantly increase the probability of severe or refractory disease..”
“..For decompression dives, circumstances may occur that force the diving supervisor to plan omitted decompression or force the divers themselves to omit decompression. For these reasons, the closest available recompression chamber must always be identified during dive planning phase..”
“..Matching the availability of the recompression chamber to the risk of the dive is critical to the diver’s safety. Greater the risk of the dive, closer the chamber should be to the dive site..”
“..Treatment tables can be initiated without consulting a Diving Medical Officer (DMO), however a DMO should always be contacted at the earliest possible opportunity. A DMO must be contacted prior to releasing the treated individual..”
Despite the development of a number of safe ways of decompression, decompression illness is still the most common illness / injury that affects professional and recreational divers. The main care for disorders of decompression, in the various forms and degrees of seriousness,
is to provide, in the shortest possible time,
to therapeutic recompression in a decompression chamber
Sizes
Besides the standard diameters of 24” (mono-place), 30” (mono-place), 36” (mono/bi-place), and 48 (bi-place) (640 mm, 780 mm, 920 mm and 1200 mm), diameters up 94” (multi-place) (2400 mm) can be custom build and certified for vessels, field-hospitals and submarine rescue.
RINA certified
FlexiDec is certified by RINA (Registro Italiano Navale) to an operating pressure of 5.1 bar, assuring the capability to perform an emergency decompression down to the maximum depth of 165 feet of seawater (fsw). This is the maximum depth contemplated by the US Navy Diving Manual therapeutic decompression tables for air diving.
Hull structure
Each FlexiDeC compartement is constructed using two, completely nonmagnetic, aluminum alloy ends, with the cylindrical portion of the chamber made of two layers of cloth. The inner layer is a gas-bag made of a new translucent composite polyester cloth, sealed to the circular doorframe in the head end of the chamber. The outer bag is a net of cargo straps, made of polyester material, that provides strength against the gas pressure in the inner bag. The concept is similar to an inner tube in a tire, where the seal is provided by the inner tube (or gas-bag) and the shape is provided by the tire (or cargo net bag).
FlexiDeC by GSE trieste
FlexiDeC have been designed and patented by Naval Architect & Marine Engineer Mr. G. Santi and is manufactured, since 1995 by GSE trieste, the Italian company specialized in the design and construction of mini submarines. These Flexible Portable Hyperbaric Chambers, allows the execution of a full US Navy Diving Manual Table 6A Treatment Protocol with Oxygen. The Portable Decompression Chamber has two compartments (a main chamber and a entry lock chamber), each compartment can be collapsed up to twenty inches (500 mm) in length for transport and storage, and opened to approximately seven feet (2100 mm) when in use. FlexiDeC is equipped with a food/medical lock for transfer under pressure of food, hot drinks and medication.
Sizes
RINA
certified
Hull
structure
FlexiDeC
by GSE
SPECIFICATION
Double Lock
Recreational/Professional Diving
Professional Deep Diving
Emergency Evacuation
Hospitals and Navy vessels
Control Module
Training
Optional and Maintenance
Easy Storage and Transport
Double Lock
The Double Lock Flexible Foldable Decompression Chamber consists in a main chamber and a entry lock chamber.
FlexiDec double lock is the only flexible system, which allows hands-on access to the patient under pressure (Medical Doctors, Paramedics and/or Tenders can enter through the entry-lock during a treatment, in only a matter of minutes).
According to the US Navy Diving Manual:
“..Double-lock chambers are used because they permit personnel and supplies to enter and leave the chamber during treatment. During extensive treatments, medical personnel may prefer to lock-in to examine the patient and then lock-out, rather than remain inside throughout the treatment. Inside tenders may tire and need relief..”
Recreational/Professional Diving
When diving is conducted in locations that do not have hyperbaric centers nearby, FlexiDeC Double Lock, could be a very useful safety equipment.
In most professional diving operations, it is mandatory to have a hyperbaric chamber on the dive site, but do not always support ships are equipped with it. FlexiDeC Double Lock can easily be shipped by air in almost all over the world.
According to the US Navy Diving Manual:
“..Any dive, no matter how routine can result in arterial gas embolism or decompression sickness..”
“..Matching the availability of the recompression chamber to the risk of the dive is critical to the diver’s safety. Greater the risk of the dive, closer the chamber should be to the dive site..”
Professional Deep Diving
In some cases, special equipment are necessary.
For example, FlexiDec Custom Deep Diving System is a relatively light module that allows to maximize bottom time at depth with subsequent rapid ascent in the Diving Bell (complete with handling system with lifting cable) and transfer into a Transfer Under Pressure (TUP) compartment connected to twin FlexiDeC Flexible Decompression Chambers where to carry out decompression under dry, supervised condition with the possibility of enter and egress of tenders should the need for assistance arise.
Emergency Evacuation
When you dive in a remote site without the availability of a hyperbaric chamber or when a vessel is severely damaged and should be abandoned the evacuation of divers in saturation represents a particular problem as they cannot be readily decompressed in order to be evacuated. In these cases the Flexi- EEHS model (for emergency evacuation), can transport a casualty under pressure to a treatment center and allow transfer of casualties directly into hospital hyperbaric chambers (Flexi- EEHS it does not provide hands-on access to the patient and therefore does not qualify as a recompression chamber).
According to the US Navy Diving Manual:
“..Select U.S. Navy units have a unique treatment option called the Emergency Evacuation Hyperbaric Stretcher (EEHS). The EEHS has a single lock and allows a patient to be administered oxygen at 60 feet while in transport to a recompression chamber. However, it does not provide hands-on access to the patient and therefore does not qualify as a recompression chamber..”
Hospital and Navy vessels
The Custom FlexiDec Double Lock, multi-place Chamber System, may be folded back (shortening), during periods of non-use, allowing a more efficient use of available space. Much lighter than those made entirely of metal and also more easily transportable thanks to the relative ease of disassembly. This Decompression Chamber, thanks to its modularity, is particularly suitable for use on board Navy vessels and, thanks to its lightness, can be positioned also in the upper floors of health care facilities.
Control Module
All gas and electrical penetrations are machined through the metallic part of the FlexiDeC, and all the basic controls for its operation are located on the FlexiDeC itself, with the option to have a separate control module to operate the decom-pression chamber from a distance.
Training
Upon delivery, a authorized GSE trieste instructor, will train the owner and his key people in the operation and maintenance of his FlexiDec in accordance with the US Navy Diving Manual.
Optional and Maintanance
Fire-fighting system and a number of optional features are available at additional cost and we offer to our customers our services for maintenance and for the renewal of RINA certification.
Easy Storage and Transport
Completely nonmagnetic and lightweight, it can be folded and stored on deck in its weather-proof hard container or below decks in soft bag to save space and weight. Can easily be shipped by air in almost all over the world.
MODELS & SERVICES
Model & Service
CONTACT US FOR ANY INFORMATION ABOUT FLEXIDEC
FOLDABLE HYPERBARIC CHAMBERS by GSE trieste
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