In the clinical studies of hyperbaric medicine, experimental research is one of very important projects. So far, for animal experiments small hyperbaric chambers have been produced, however, those chambers are without respiratory and transfusion systems. In our studies, we have deviced a small hyperbaric chamber with both respiratory and transfusion systems which are able to be operated from the outside of the chamber. Our hyperbaric chamber is designed with Acryl cylinders, a longer cylinder in horizone, 20 cm in diameter, 45 cm in length and 15.2 l of its capacity. The oxygen pressure in the chamber can be raised up to 3.5 ATA in maximum. For the purpose of having easy operation in experiments, the chamber has two parts, and each part of the chamber is connected by docking hatch. During an experiment, the condition of animals can be observed from the outside of the chamber for transparent Acryl cylinders. The result of the leak test of the chamber was no trouble, even if the holes for respiratory and transfusion systems have been made through the metal wall of the chamber. For examining ventilator function, we performed the blood gas analysis of the samples taken out through the transfusion system in the chamber under various conditions of the ventilator. As the results, we have found a positive correlation between the values of blood gas analysis and the changes of ventilator condition. From the view-points above mentioned, we think that our hyperbaric chamber is useful for small animal experiments under high pressure circumstance.
