On the use of a bubble formation model to calculate diving tables.

Previous decompression tables for humans were based upon unsupported assumptions because the underlying processes by which dissolved gas is liberated from blood and tissue were poorly understood. Some of those assumptions are now known to be wrong, and the recent formulation of a detailed mathematical model describing bubble nucleation has made it possible to calculate diving tables from established physical principles. To evaluate this approach, a comprehensive set of air diving tables has been developed and compared with those of the U.S. and British Navies. Conventional decompressions, altitude bends, no-stop thresholds, and saturation dives are all successfully described by one setting of four global nucleation parameters, which replace the U.S. Navy's matrices of M-values. Present air diving tables show great irregularity, even within sets created by the same authors. In contrast, this new approach is remarkably self-consistent, permitting accurate interpolation and extrapolation.

[1]  Hugh Davson,et al.  A Textbook of General Physiology , 1952, The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine.

[2]  R. S. Weaver,et al.  COMPARATIVE APPROACHES TO PROPHYLACTIC DECOMPRESSION , 1971 .

[3]  E. M. Smith,et al.  Tektite II: medical supervision of the scientists in the sea. 3. Tektite I. , 1972, Texas reports on biology and medicine.

[4]  R. Strauss.  Bubble formation in gelatin: implications for prevention of decompression sickness. , 1974, Undersea biomedical research.

[5]  R. Strauss,et al.  Isobaric Bubble Growth: A Consequence of Altering Atmospheric Gas , 1974, Science.

[6]  R. Strauss,et al.  Bubble formation in gelatin: A model for decompression sickness , 1976 .

[7]  H V Hempleman,et al.  An examination of the critical released gas volume concept in decompression sickness , 1977, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B. Biological Sciences.

[8]  R. Strauss,et al.  Bubble formation within decompressed hen's eggs. , 1977, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[9]  J. D'Arrigo.  Improved method for studying the surface chemistry of bubble formation. , 1978, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[10]  D. Yount,et al.  Determination of the radii of gas cavitation nuclei by filtering gelatin , 1979 .

[11]  D. Yount.  Skins of varying permeability: A stabilization mechanism for gas cavitation nuclei , 1979 .

[12]  D. Yount.  Application of a bubble formation model to decompression sickness in rats and humans. , 1979, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[13]  B D Butler,et al.  The lung as a filter for microbubbles. , 1979, Journal of applied physiology: respiratory, environmental and exercise physiology.

[14]  Y. De,et al.  On the use of oxygen to facilitate decompression. , 1980 .

[15]  D. Yount.  [abstract] APPLICATION OF A BUBBLE NUCLEATION MODEL TO DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS IN FINGERLING SALMON , 1981 .

[16]  David E. Yount,et al.  Bubble formation in supersaturated gelatin: A further investigation of gas cavitation nuclei , 1981 .

[17]  David E. Yount,et al.  On the evolution, generation, and regeneration of gas cavitation nuclei , 1982 .

[18]  D R Leitch,et al.  Observations on no-stop and repetitive air and oxynitrogen diving. , 1982, Undersea biomedical research.

[19]  E. Gillary,et al.  A microscopic investigation of bubble formation nuclei , 1984 .