• Monday - Friday 08:00-17:00
  • [email protected]
  • 18200 W Capitol Dr Suite 200, Brookfield, WI 53045
saakhealth
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Cardiovascular Associates
    • Wound Care Clinic
    • Women’s Center for
      Incontinence and Pelvic Health
    • Ambulatory Surgery Center
    • Family Medicine
  • Providers
    • Ramagopal Tumuluri, MD
    • Sumana Koduri, MD
    • Priya Asija, MD
  • Contact Us
  • Insights
    • Blog
    • Resources
    • videos
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Cardiovascular Associates
    • Wound Care Clinic
    • Women’s Center for
      Incontinence and Pelvic Health
    • Ambulatory Surgery Center
    • Family Medicine
  • Providers
    • Ramagopal Tumuluri, MD
    • Sumana Koduri, MD
    • Priya Asija, MD
  • Contact Us
  • Insights
    • Blog
    • Resources
    • videos
REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT

Types of Hyperbaric Chambers: Mono-place vs. Multi-place Explained

Types of Hyperbaric Chambers

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy or HBOT is the modern treatment of administering pure oxygen in a pressurized setting. It is effective in dealing with wound healing, controlling infections, treating decompression sickness, and attending to a number of other medical ailments. The hyperbaric chambers which are essential to this therapy where patients receive the treatments cover a wide range. Each chamber comes with its own set of features, functions and use cases. Hyperbaric chambers are typically categorized into two main types: mono-place and multi-place chambers. Their differences are important for healthcare providers as well as for patients looking to undergo HBOT.

What Is A Hyperbaric Chamber?

Patients are put into a sealed environment where they breathe 100% oxygen at pressures above atmospheric levels (between 1.5-3 times sea level pressure). This is done via hyperbaric chambers that actively enhance the body’s natural healing processes by augmenting blood and tissue oxygen saturation. The elevated supply greatly strengthens infection resolution, reduces inflammation, accelerates healing, and promotes regeneration of tissues.

There are primarily two medical-grade types of hyperbaric chambers used in clinical settings: “Mono-place” or single seat chambers, and multi- place chambers which can accommodate multiple people.

Mono Place Hyperbaric Chambers

Mono place chambers focus on one patient at a time unlike other models self-contained units which allow them to be operated individually unlike advanced models that accommodate multiple users per session. In most instances these accessories serve as transparent acrylic boxes meaning that users can interface with the world outside plus watch TV or converse using intercoms with medical personnel escorting them through therapiesMain Characteristics:

  • Single-Patient Capacity: A single individual is treated in each session.
  • Oxygen Environment: The chamber’s interior is composed of 100% oxygen.
  • Pressurization: Utilizes oxygen for pressurization.
  • Compact Size: Works well for clinics and other facilities that are space-limited.

Advantages:

    • Privacy and Comfort: The chamber’s noise isolation makes it easier to maintain a private atmosphere, increasing comfort during the treatment.
    • Reduced Infection Risk: Compared to shared hyperbaric chambers, there is decreased risk for shared infection exposure.
    • Ideal for Claustrophobic Patients: Walls made from transparent acrylic make patients feel less crowded.

Limitations:

    • No In-Chamber Medical Support: Since staff cannot enter the chamber, their ability to respond quickly medical emergencies is limited.
    •  Slower Patient Throughput: It might take longer to serve patients in popular clinics because treatment slots may be delayed in high demand centers.

Because of these preserved features, mono-place chambers are particularly designed for outpatient clinics wound care centers rehabilitation centers as well as facilities that have custom tailored protocols.

Multi-place Hyperbaric Chambers

Multi-place chambers have the appearance of large rooms that are designed to accommodate several patients at one time. Multi-place chambers are commonly built out of metal and pressurized with air. Patients receive oxygen through masks, hoods or even endotracheal tubes.

Key Features:

    • Multi-Patient Capacity : Can treat two up to over twenty patients simultaneously.
    • Oxygen Delivery via Mask or Hood: Patients are provided with oxygen externally while the chamber is filled with pressurized air.
    • Medical Personnel Inside: Health professionals can enter the chamber alongside patients for both monitoring and therapeutic intervention.
    • Spacious Design: Encompasses room for movement as well as interaction.

Advantages

    • Improved Resource Efficiency: Resources can be optimized by treating several patients during a single, scheduled session.
    • Medical Care Within The Chamber: Staff remain present within the chamber throughout treatment to provide care as needed.
    • Capability For Emergency Treatment: She interfered With the intent to facilitate treatment of emergencies such as carbon monoxide poisoning or decompression sickness.
    • Reduced Risk of Claustrophobia: Patients experience comfort due to having social space beyond just the clinical setting.

Limitations:

    • Increased Footprint: The system requires more physical space along with supporting infrastructure.
    • Increased Operational Expense For Equipment And Staffing Demands: This includes complex operational systems alongside staffing requirements.

Multi-place chambers are frequently located in hospitals and specialized medical centers where critical and high volumes of patients are managed concurrently.

Mono-place vs. Multi-place: Key Differences

FeatureMono-place ChamberMulti-place Chamber
CapacityOne patientMultiple patients
Oxygen DeliveryEntire chamber filled with oxygenOxygen via mask or hood
Medical AccessExternal monitoring onlyInternal access for medical staff
Size & PortabilityCompact and portableLarge, room-sized structure
Use CaseOutpatient careHospitals, emergency response
Infection ControlLower riskRequires strict protocols
Claustrophobia FactorCan feel confinedTypically less confining

How to Choose the Right Chamber

The distinction between mono-place and multi-place chambers is influenced by several considerations:

    1. Medical Condition: Critical care cases usually necessitate the use of multi-place chambers, but stable chronic conditions can be managed in mono-place units.
    2. Facility Infrastructure: Space constrained clinics may opt for mono-place units first.
    3. Budget and Throughput: Multi-place chambers are useful in high volume centers that need to treat multiple patients simultaneously and improve throughput.
    4. Patient Needs: Patients who are claustrophobic or require constant medical attention during their session are better served in multi-place chambers.

 

Both Chambers Safety Considerations

Using either type of chamber, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) remains safe with proper supervision, although some risks include:

    • Barotrauma (ear and/or sinus injuries from pressure changes)
    • Oxygen toxicity (rarely occurs during long sessions)
    • Temporary loss of vision acuity
    • Fainting due to shock or intense stress (often triggered in smaller mono place chambers)

Evaluations done prior to treatment aim to lower these risks. Patients are tested for contraindications such as untreated pneumothorax, recent surgery on the ear, or some drugs that dampen responsiveness to oxygen which could create an issue.

Final Reflections

The efficiency of HBOT rest on both Mono-place and multi-place hyperbaric chambers. Each type has specific benefits related to clinical requirements, available infrastructure, and the patient’s specifics. Understanding the nuances can be helpful for patients exploring treatment options or for healthcare providers assessing investment opportunities.

At Saak Health, we focus on the safety of our patients, proven approaches, and tailored therapies. Our specialists are ready to assist those considering hyperbaric oxygen therapy—book an evaluative consultation so together we can devise a suitable plan.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Picture of Priya Asija

Priya Asija

MD, Family Practice

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter Youtube

Schedule An Appointment

Recent Post

Wound Care
cardiovascular health
chronic wounds, wound care, ulcer treatment, wound healing, pressure ulcers
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Types of Hyperbaric Chambers
Chronic Wounds
PrevPreviousHow Professional Wound Specialists Customize Treatment Plans for Faster Recovery
NextWhy HBOT is Effective in Treating Non-Healing Surgical Wounds and GraftsNext
saakhealth

18200 W Capitol Dr Suite 200,
Brookfield, WI 53045

  • [email protected]
  • 262.444.5148
  • 866.493.3523

For ASC

  • 262.444.5149
Our Services
  • Family Medicine
  • Wound Care Clinic
  • Ambulatory Surgery
  • Women's Center for Incontinence and Pelvic Health
  • Cardiology and Vascular Care
Quick Links
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Career

Subscribe Now

Don’t miss our future updates! Get Subscribed Today!

saakhealth

18200 W Capitol Dr Suite 200,
Brookfield, WI 53045

  • [email protected]
  • 262.444.5148
  • 866.493.3523

For ASC

  • 262.444.5149
Our Services
  • Family Medicine
  • Wound Care Clinic
  • Ambulatory Surgery
  • Women's Center for Incontinence and Pelvic Health
  • Cardiology and Vascular Care
Quick Links
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Career

Subscribe Now

Don’t miss our future updates! Get Subscribed Today!

Follow Us

© 2024 SAAK Health, LLC & SAAK ASC, LLC.

Website Powered by Panacea Smart Solutions LLC.