Hyperbaric Chambers Explained: Pressure, Oxygen, and Time
Every hyperbaric chamber works on the same principle. Three variables make the difference in what a session does: how much pressure, what percentage of oxygen is delivered, and how long you're in the chamber.
Short answer: High-pressure systems, about 2.0 to 3.0 ATA, are commonly found in hospital settings, often as large multiplace rooms where several patients are treated at once. Our chamber is a single-person soft-shell chamber at 1.3 ATA, with concentrated oxygen delivered by mask. We use it off-label as a complement to your doctor's plan, and we refer out when a condition needs higher pressure.
The Three Variables
1. Pressure
ATA stands for atmospheres absolute. Sea level is 1.0 ATA, so 1.3 ATA is about 30% above sea-level pressure, roughly the pressure you would feel about 10 feet underwater. Hospital systems typically run at about 2.0 to 3.0 ATA, and mild chambers like ours run at about 1.3 ATA. Added pressure increases the amount of oxygen dissolved in your blood plasma, and the higher the pressure, the more oxygen dissolves.
2. Oxygen
The amount of oxygen you breathe depends on the source:
- Pure oxygen delivers 100% oxygen.
- With an oxygen concentrator, the percentage delivered depends on the flow rate, which affects how high the oxygen percentage will be.
- Air only delivers 21% oxygen.
3. Time
The oxygen load you're aiming for dictates the time in the chamber, so protocols call for different lengths. Our standard session is 70 minutes in total, including 60 minutes at treatment pressure.
The number of sessions depends on the condition and the physiological effect the doctor is trying to achieve. It also depends on whether the condition is in an acute or chronic phase. After surgery the recovery is in an acute stage, so 5 or 10 sessions is the most common course for us. Patients with other conditions may follow longer protocols. Consecutive daily sessions are typically recommended with any hyperbaric chamber.
Mild vs. Hospital HBOT at a Glance
Hard shell chambers are the type you see in hospital settings.
- Hard shell multiplace: about 2.0 to 3.0 ATA, a full room with several patients. The room is filled with compressed air, and each patient breathes oxygen through a mask or hood.
- Hard shell monoplace: about 2.0 to 3.0 ATA, one patient. The chamber itself is filled with oxygen.
- Soft shell (mild): 1.3 ATA, one patient. The chamber is filled with air, and you breathe oxygen through a non-rebreather mask.
Just because a chamber can reach higher pressures does not mean that is the pressure the patient will receive. Some facilities choose to treat at lower pressures because of certain risk factors or patient tolerances. If you choose a facility with a chamber that can go to higher pressures, ask them to confirm the pressure they will actually treat you at. We have seen patients who believed they were being treated above 2 ATA and were actually being treated in the range of 1.5 to 1.75 ATA.
How Our Chamber Works
We use a soft-shell chamber run at 1.3 ATA. Two compressors fill it with air, never oxygen. You breathe concentrated oxygen from a prescription-grade oxygen concentrator through a non-rebreather mask. Dr. Lovelace oversees sessions and is trained through the International Board of Undersea Medicine (IBUM) in hyperbaric safety and protocol development.
What the Research Shows
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been studied across a wide range of conditions. The most established evidence is for specific conditions treated at higher pressures, usually over 2 ATA, such as decompression sickness, carbon monoxide poisoning, certain non-healing wounds, delayed radiation injury, and compromised skin grafts.
- Research on mild-pressure chambers is growing, with new studies looking at how mild pressure affects a range of health conditions.
- Studies of HBOT after surgery have looked at swelling and bruising, and researchers continue to examine how pressure level and protocol affect outcomes.
- Research on scarring has reported improved scar appearance with hyperbaric oxygen, including its role in collagen production and tissue oxygenation.
Why We Chose Our Chamber
Our chamber has gone through FDA 510(k) clearance (K072757), and we chose it for its safety features. FDA clearance applies to the chamber itself. Before choosing a facility, ask about the safety certifications their chambers have, and do not assume that all chambers are made equally.
Why We Offer Mild HBOT
Mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy combines added pressure with concentrated oxygen. We apply that off-label as a complement to your doctor's plan. Post-surgical recovery is our most common use, but we also work with patients for other conditions. It never replaces your doctor's protocol. We coordinate with your surgeon's or physician's office by providing treatment notes, care summaries, and confirmed session dates, so you stay on the plan your doctor set.
The mild 1.3 ATA pressure is well tolerated for the consecutive daily sessions typically recommended with any chamber. This is an off-label use, and research on mild-pressure HBOT is still growing, so we walk you through what we do and why. You and your doctor can then decide whether it fits your recovery. Individual results vary.
When Higher Pressure Is the Right Choice
A mild 1.3 ATA chamber can't create the oxygen gradients that high pressure can. When a condition needs a high-pressure chamber, we're not the right place for that patient, and we refer out.
If your physician recommends hyperbaric oxygen therapy for a condition such as decompression sickness, air or gas embolism, carbon monoxide poisoning, necrotizing soft tissue infection, certain non-healing wounds like diabetic foot ulcers, delayed radiation tissue injury, or a compromised skin graft or flap, a hospital hyperbaric program is the standard setting. Ask your physician for a referral. For emergencies such as suspected carbon monoxide poisoning or a diving injury, go to emergency care first.
Is Mild HBOT Right for You?
Every patient goes through a screening process before their first session, and we coordinate with your doctor on timing. Certain conditions are contraindicated for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, including an untreated collapsed lung, current use of specific chemotherapy medications, and certain inner ear conditions. HBOT is not a replacement for care from your physician.
Before you book with any HBOT clinic, read what to ask them. What to ask any HBOT clinic before booking →