Volume 68 (2019): Edition 3 (September 2019)

This article is a continuation of the article published in issue No. 3 (64) 2018 of Polish Hyperbaric Research, which demonstrated the scope of changes which a typical car lift should be subjected to in order to extend its functionality to that of a hoist, that lifts the lid of the decompression chamber, in a breathing simulator used at the Department of Underwater Works Technology of the Naval Academy in Gdynia.

This article is related thematically to two of our earlier publications, which demonstrated full equivalence of statistical and phenomenological methods in the description of physical gas adsorption on the surface of a solid body, and the fundamental possibility of analytical solution of adsorbate-adsorbate association problems in the entire multi-layer adsorption phase. The quasi-chemical scheme of secondary interactions leading to the formation of horizontal multimolecular adsorption complexes has been elaborated. A new adsorption equation was formulated taking into account the dimerisation of adsorbed molecules in the whole adsorption phase, as well as the influence of topography of the binding sites of adsorbent surfaces on the form of this solution.

In the article the author presents the specificity of deep diving decompression in relation to the revolution in diving which was triggered by the introduction of a personal computer in recreational diving. Continuous development of these computers, especially in the last decades of our century, concerned deep-sea technical and recreational dives. Deep-sea dives are difficult and risky in terms of underwater physiology and decompression. In characterizing the decompression of a diver, realized with the use of a computer for deep-sea dives, the author compares the realization of decompression in professional deep-sea dives. He also points out the formal and technical obstacles to the implementation of personal dive computers. In summary, the article evaluates the possibility of using the diving computer in the implementation of underwater works.

The material proposes a generalised model for the development of underwater technology, understood as a technical means of penetrating and exploring the depths of the oceans. The model was developed on the basis of the previously proposed bifurcation model. The basis and starting point for the development of the model was the analysis of literature. The proposed model indicates that regardless of which technical solution for underwater penetration was developed in the past, it will belong to one of the three defined developmental ‘streams’ of this technique. Since the proposed model has the characteristic of a flowing stream and is more general than the bifurcation model, its name has been proposed as a generalised amnistic developmental model of the underwater technique.

In the event of an epidemic of Legionnaires’ disease, prompt and unambiguous identification of the source of infection and immediate undertaking of repair actions is a necessary condition to limit and minimise the effects of the developing epidemic. In the classical method for determining the level of Legionella bacteria in water samples, the effectiveness of the reparative action (increase of the water temperature in the water supply system to 600C, additional chlorination) can only be confirmed after 14 days!!! Only by using the IMMS&FCM method can Legionella’s determination time be reduced to 2-4 hours, which is the most important factor in limiting the development of an epidemic.

There were evaluated responses of the respiratory system to changes in the variables of the external environment under increased pressure. To the model of professional underwater human activity underwater served the conditions of full saturation in compressed air or nitrogen-oxygen gas mixtures. Technical devices were presented by a number of underwater laboratories, mounted at the bottom (Ikhtiander-66, 67 and 68), hyperbaric chambers, submersible drilling rigs (Bur-1 and 2), and an autonomous diving Ikhtiander-2 for a long stay in the water.

Studies of respiratory gases mass transport conditions in man showed than within the pressure range of 0.25-1.1 MPa at density of moderate hyperoxic and nitrogen-helio-oxygen environment up to 14 kg/m³ oxygen and carbon dioxide regimes of the organism come to a new functional level which provides the adaptation to the extremal conditions. It is determined that an increase of physiological dead breathing space, a decrease of the rate of the O₂ diffusion through the alveole-capillary barrier, intensification of unevenness of ventilator-perfusional relations in lungs and an increase of blood shunting in lungs are the main respiratory mechanisms which regulate mass transfer of O₂ and CO₂ in man under hyperbaria. The leading hemodynamic mechanism is the retention of volume blood circulation and cardiac output. It is studied how the compression rate, high partial pressures of oxygen and nitrogen, microclimate parameters in inhabited hypebaric chambers influence changes of functional breathing system. Absence of hypoxic state is proved in man (full saturation of man with nitrogen) under normoxia in nitrogen-oxygen environment with the density 6.34 kg/m³. These are also the data about accelerated rehabilitation of divers using the method of active adaptation o high altitudes. Basic directions in physiological studies of functional breathing system under increased pressure of gas and water environment are described.

The aim of this work is to determine the dynamics of nitrogen saturation in small laboratory animals. Nitrogen was chosen as a model gas in this study because of its availability and characteristics, as it is not metabolised and is subject to passive diffusion. By subjecting different species of animals to hyperbaric exposures of increasing time and pressure, the study aimed to identify how rapid a decompression was possible to achieve an outcome that saw 50% of the animals surviving the ensuing acute decompression sickness.

The basic parameters of hyperbaric exposure - pressure and time - made it possible to describe the saturation phenomena on the basis of partial saturation periods and to show whether a small animal organism can be considered as a single compartment model.