title: Venturi vacuum systems for hypobaric chamber operations.
abstract: Physiological studies of the effects of high altitude on man often require the use of a hypobaric chamber to simulate the reduced ambient pressures. Typical "altitude" chambers in use today require complex mechanical vacuum systems to evacuate the chamber air, either directly or via reservoir system. Use of these pumps adds to the cost of both chamber procurement and maintenance, and service of these pumps requires trained support personnel and regular upkeep. In this report we describe use of venturi vacuum pumps to perform the function of mechanical vacuum pumps for human and experimental altitude chamber operations. Advantages of the venturi pumps include their relatively low procurement cost, small size and light weight, ease of installation and plumbing, lack of moving parts, and independence from electrical power sources, fossil fuels and lubricants. Conversion of three hyperbaric chambers to combined hyper/hypobaric use is described.
authors.affiliation: Hermann Center for Environmental, Aerospace and Industrial Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Swaby
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fife
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Butler
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000209:etiology; D003664:Decompression / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors; D014618:Vacuum