History of HBO

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History of Hyperbaric Oxygen

Timetable

1620 Cornelius Drebbel developed a one-atmosphere diving bell (forerunner of modern submarines)
1662 Henshaw used compressed air for the treatment of pulmonary disease
1670 Boyle gave the first description of decompression phenomenon
1837 Pravaz of France constructed largest hyperbaric chamber of that time to treat a variety of aliments
1921 Orville J. Cunningham built a hyperbaric chamber in Lawrence, Kansas used to treat a variety of aliments
1928 Cunningham builds the largest chamber in the world in Cleveland.
1935 Behnke showed that nitrogen is the cause of narcosis in humans subjected to compressed air above 4 ATA
1943 Cousteau constructed aqua lung
1967 Undersea Medical Society founded in the USA. Now known as the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society.
1974 Sechrist Industries, Inc. developed the first monoplace hyperbaric chamber of widespread use

Instrumental in the modern practice of hyperbaric oxygen therapy are Drs. Boerema, Churchill-Davidson, and Bernhard for the treatment of gas gangrene, radiation therapy, and congenital heart defects, respectively.