Not All Hyperbaric Chambers Are the Same
Here's how a medical-grade, hard-sided chamber differs from the soft-sided chambers sold for home and wellness use.
Why the Chamber Matters
Search for "hyperbaric chamber" and you'll find two very different kinds of equipment. Both are called hyperbaric. They do not deliver the same treatment.
The difference comes down to three things: how much pressure the chamber reaches, what you breathe inside it, and what it is cleared to treat.
Medical-Grade, Hard-Sided Chambers
Can be pressurized up to 3 atmospheres absolute (ATA)
Deliver 100% oxygen while you are under pressure
Reach the pressures used for recognized HBOT indications, which call for at least 2.0 ATA
Built and maintained to pressure-vessel safety standards, with a trained technician monitoring every session
Soft-Sided ("Mild") Chambers
Typically operate below 1.4 ATA
Are compressed with air; the FDA does not allow supplemental oxygen in them
Are FDA-cleared only for acute mountain sickness
Are not considered hyperbaric oxygen therapy by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS)
Straight Talk
A soft-sided chamber is not a lower-cost version of medical HBOT. It is a different device for a different purpose.
If you are considering HBOT for a medical condition, the first step is an evaluation to see whether treatment is appropriate for you. Is HBOT right for you?
Our Chamber
Hyperbaric NC uses FDA-cleared, single-person Sechrist 3600H chambers. They are medical-grade, hard-sided chambers that meet North Carolina's requirements for pressure vessels for human occupancy.
The chamber is clear, so you can see out and talk with your technician throughout the session. Most patients watch a show, listen to music or rest.
Questions About the Chamber?
We're glad to walk you through it before your first session.