Hyperbaric Glossary

Definitions of key terms used in mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

ATA (Atmospheres Absolute)

ATA is a unit of pressure used to describe the total pressure inside a hyperbaric chamber, where 1.0 ATA equals normal sea-level atmospheric pressure.

Ambient Pressure

Ambient pressure is the pressure of the environment surrounding a person or object at a given moment.

Barometric Pressure

Barometric pressure is the pressure exerted by the weight of the atmosphere, also called atmospheric pressure.

Hyperbaric Oxygen

Hyperbaric oxygen refers to breathing oxygen-enriched air inside an environment pressurized above normal atmospheric pressure.

Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (mHBOT)

Mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a wellness practice using chamber pressures generally between 1.3 and 2.0 ATA with oxygen enrichment.

Oxygen Concentrator

An oxygen concentrator is a device that filters nitrogen from ambient air to deliver a high-concentration oxygen stream.

Oxygen Purity

Oxygen purity is the percentage of oxygen in a gas stream compared to other gases such as nitrogen.

BIBS (Built-In Breathing System)

A built-in breathing system is a mask-and-hose assembly that delivers oxygen directly to a chamber occupant.

Pressure Vessel

A pressure vessel is a sealed container engineered to hold gases or fluids at a pressure different from the surrounding environment.

ASME

ASME is the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, which publishes widely referenced standards for pressure vessels.

PVHO

PVHO stands for Pressure Vessels for Human Occupancy, a category of standards for chambers designed to hold people under pressure.

Relief Valve

A relief valve is a safety device that automatically vents pressure if a vessel exceeds its rated limit.

Pressurization

Pressurization is the controlled process of raising the internal pressure of a hyperbaric chamber above ambient levels.

Depressurization

Depressurization is the controlled process of lowering chamber pressure back to normal atmospheric levels at the end of a session.

Air Break

An air break is a scheduled interval during a session when the user breathes chamber air instead of concentrated oxygen.

Hyperoxia

Hyperoxia is a state in which body tissues are exposed to higher-than-normal oxygen levels.

Hypoxia

Hypoxia is a state in which body tissues receive less oxygen than they need for normal function.

Oxygen Flow Rate

Oxygen flow rate is the volume of oxygen delivered per minute, commonly measured in liters per minute (L/min).

PSI (Pounds per Square Inch)

PSI is a unit of pressure equal to one pound of force applied over one square inch of area.

Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is a strong, transparent thermoplastic often used for viewing windows in hard-shell hyperbaric chambers.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is a corrosion-resistant metal alloy used in the structural construction of hard-shell hyperbaric chambers.

Hard-Shell Chamber

A hard-shell chamber is a rigid hyperbaric chamber built from solid materials such as stainless steel rather than flexible fabric.

Multiplace Chamber

A multiplace chamber is a hyperbaric chamber designed to hold two or more occupants at the same time.

Monoplace Chamber

A monoplace chamber is a hyperbaric chamber designed to hold a single occupant at a time.