Posted by Kendall Raine on May 29, 2002 at 09:43:41:
In Reply to: Re: I dont have a choice right now ... but thanks ... posted by tecdiver on May 29, 2002 at 09:23:16:
Rebreathers are efficient because gas use is so low. The constant set point you refer to may not be the best way to minimize deco. Constant set points remove the benefit of toggling from high PO2's to low and back. The lungs don't get a break from high PO2's. Remember that hyperbaric oxygen acts like an alpha-andrenergic drug. It is a vasoconstrictor. On top of the lung damage it causes over time, this factor may impede the utility of the oxygen window. That's the problem with all this diving by the numbers. It doesn't take physiology into account. The longer the run time the more severe this becomes.