Decompression chamber

Decompression chamber

A decompression chamber is a pressure vessel used in surface supplied diving to allow the divers to complete their decompression stops at the end of a dive on the surface rather than underwater. This eliminates many of the risks of long decompressions underwater, in cold or dangerous conditions.

Often the terms "decompression chamber", "recompression chamber" and "hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber" are used interchangeably. The names reflect the different purposes that the chambers are designed for, rather than their capability. Each is capable of operating in the others' role:
* a recompression chamber is used to treat divers suffering from certain diving disorders such as decompression sickness
* a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber is used in a hospital or sporting context to treat patients whose condition might benefit from hyperbaric oxygen treatment, including divers.

Popular Culture

A decompression chamber is used in various films. Most notable was the movie Licence to Kill as Krest was decompressed and expanded to messy effect. Decompression chambers are also used in the game Unreal Tournament where players or bots would enter and enemies would push a button which decompressed them to a pulp.

ee also

*Diving chamber


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • decompression chamber — n 1) a chamber in which excessive pressure can be reduced gradually to atmospheric pressure 2) a chamber in which an individual can be gradually subjected to decreased atmospheric pressure (as in simulating conditions at high altitudes) …   Medical dictionary

  • decompression chamber — hipobarokamera statusas T sritis Gynyba apibrėžtis Kamera, naudojama slėgiui sumažinti iki tokio, kuris pasiekiamas kylant aukštyn. Šios kameros yra naudojamos mokymui ir tyrinėjimams. atitikmenys: angl. altitude chamber; decompression chamber;… …   NATO terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • decompression chamber — A chamber used to induce a decrease in ambient pressure as would occur in ascending to altitude. This type of chamber is primarily used for training and experimental purposes. Also called altitude chamber, environmental chamber, and hypobaric… …   Aviation dictionary

  • decompression chamber — /dikəmˈprɛʃən tʃeɪmbə/ (say deekuhm preshuhn chaymbuh) noun a chamber in which the pressure can be varied, in which persons who have been subjected to abnormal pressure remain while returning gradually to atmospheric pressure; hyperbaric chamber …  

  • decompression chamber — noun 1. : a chamber in which excessive pressure can be reduced gradually to atmospheric pressure 2. : a chamber in which an individual can be gradually subjected to decreased atmospheric pressure (as in simulating conditions at high altitudes) *… …   Useful english dictionary

  • decompression chamber — See hyperbaric chamber …   Military dictionary

  • decompression chamber. — See hyperbaric chamber. [1930 35] * * * …   Universalium

  • decompression chamber — decom pression .chamber n a special room where people go after they have been deep under the sea, so that their bodies can slowly return to normal air pressure …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • decompression chamber — decompres′sion cham ber n. med hyperbaric chamber • Etymology: 1930–35 …   From formal English to slang

  • decompression chamber. — See hyperbaric chamber. [1930 35] …   Useful english dictionary

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