Multi-Occupant Flexible Recompression Chamber (MOFRC) Development
Over a 10-year period, and under multiple contracts from the Navy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, PCCI and our principal subcontractor, SOS Group, developed a lightweight, folding, double lock, multi-occupant hyperbaric chamber system for remote use where pressure-related and other hyperbaric oxygen applications are essential and conventional steel vessels are too cumbersome to transport and deploy in the field. This new portable chamber allows the transfer of medics in and out, at any time to perform full hands-on medical care, and treatment at a depth up to 6 ATA (73.5 psig). The system and its ancillaries are designed to conduct Navy Table 6A dives in the field.
Meeting the Requirements of ASME PVHO-1 & US Navy General Specification for Hyperbaric Equipment
The MOFRC complies with the design, testing, and fabrication of the ASME PVHO-1, Case 18, the Standard for Pressure Vessels for Human Occupancy, and the stringent US Navy Hyperbaric System Certification requirements. The system underwent rigorous PVHO-1, Case 18 qualification testing allowing PCCI to hone the design. The MOFRC system incorporates US Navy accepted materials for piping, welding methods, MIL-STD-1330D cleaning, air drop & sample testing, and fabrication requirements for manned hyperbaric chambers.
PVHO-1, Case 18 Compliant
Light Weight and Easy to Transport
6 ATA rated
US Navy GenSpec Compliant
Portability Was a Key Technical Objective
An expandable base and self-supporting beam structure allows the unit to be self-supporting and stable while in operation. Considerable effort was expended to keep the entire unit light weight for ease of transportation and field deployment. All doors are equipped with large diameter windows for maximum viewability. Preliminary design was followed by detailed design and development of packaging concepts to allow the various chamber components to be light enough for easy lifting and set-up by a trained field crew.
Prototype MOFRC Assembly and Demonstration
The Prototype MOFRC was assembled and demonstrated at the PCCI Hyperbaric Systems warehouse facility before handing over to the US Navy for further evaluation and the development of recommended improvements prior to production. The system boasts a 42-inch inside diameter and capacity to treat two patients with a single inside tender, while offering a 1,000-lb advantage over the Navy’s other transportable recompression chambers. Commercial versions of the MOFRC are available for purchase, and the military version will be available once fully certified by the US Navy.
