hyperbaric chamber (redirected from Recompression chamber)

hyperbaric chamber

 or decompression chamber or recompression chamber

Sealed chamber supplying a high-pressure atmosphere primarily for medical therapy. Breathing air or oxygen at typically 1.5–3 times normal pressure increases the oxygen level in tissues. This effect is used, for example, to treat carbon monoxide poisoning or to inhibit growth of anaerobic bacteria (as in gas gangrene). The compressive effect of the elevated pressure causes damaging gas bubbles in tissues (as in air embolism or decompression sickness) to shrink and gradually be absorbed.

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hyperbaric chamber [¦hī·pər¦bar·ik ′chām·bər]

(engineering)

A specially equipped pressure vessel used in medicine and physiological research to administer oxygen at elevated pressures.