COMPONENT 3: Decompression Procedures Developments
NOTE: This Component includes Decompression Procedures Developments only,
and not Experiment Data, Records & Associated Reports (see Expt. 11.00).

DECOMPRESSION PROCEDURES

Background

Return from practical work in Ocean Diving, and preparation for practical work in EVA (Space Diving) each entails procedures designed for inert gas elimination to allow decompression with low risk of "decompression sickness." The human physiologic systems involved are common to both situations, although the ranges and degrees of basic biophysical stresses are very different.

The extensions of practical diving decompression procedures has derived from large baselines of empirical trials and adjustment over the past century, and over the past half century for useful aerospace decompression procedure. Both aspects of human endeavor continue their searches for increased efficiency and decreased risk.

These endeavors have been aided early and recently by biophysical studies and concepts of gas phase nucleation, and by development of predictive models of gas phase evolution, growth and resolution.

Stress Data Center Component 3, "Decompression Procedures Developments," provides access to much of the past 50 years of diving decompression methods and concepts generated internationally by Naval, Industrial and University aegis, initially without benefit of the modern computer. These widely used procedures are now open to examination in relation to evolving concepts or classical trial/retrial methods.

The Stress Data Center has provided past assistance in decompression developments, and continuing assistance in analytic prediction of risk in additional procedures.

Correlation of activity with evolving improvements in Aerospace decompression risk reduction is also continuing, with emphasis on relevance of the significance of Venous Gas Embolism generation and resolution in both undersea and aerospace decompression research and development.

Major Studies performed in associated other laboratories are retained as reports.

07 February 2000 12:46:03 PM