mHBOT chamber safety & use guide

Read this section before your first session, not during one. If you ever need it, the steps below should already be familiar.

You want to come out

1. 1This is normal and expected. The chamber is designed for you to end the session whenever you want.
2. 2Take the oxygen mask off.
3. 3Open the pressure release valve slowly. Aim for around 90 seconds to get back to zero pressure, regulating your ears the whole way (Section 6).
4. 4Wait for the gauge to read zero, then open the zips and climb out.

Medical emergency: you can still operate the valve

You feel unwell but you are conscious and able to reach the valve.

1. 1Take the oxygen mask off.
2. 2Open the pressure release valve faster than usual, but not fully open in one motion. Aim for 30 to 60 seconds to vent.
3. 3Regulate your ears as best you can. If pain is severe, slow down. Coming out alive with sore ears is fine; injuring your ears badly is not.
4. 4Call out to your buddy. They should come to the chamber and help you out as soon as the gauge reads zero.
5. 5Call 115 for emergency services if symptoms warrant it.

Medical emergency: serious symptoms, get help

Chest pain, severe shortness of breath, suspected seizure, fainting, or anything where you need someone else to act fast.

1. 1If you can, ring the alarm bell or shout for your buddy before doing anything else.
2. 2If you are still able to operate the valve, open it as in the previous section.
3. 3If you cannot operate the valve, your buddy enters the room and opens it from the outside. They should switch the oxygen concentrator OFF first, then open the valve fully in one motion.
4. 4The instant the gauge reads zero, open the zips and help the person out.
5. 5Call 115 for emergency services. Then notify Sorted Therapies.
6. 6Do not attempt medical treatment inside the chamber.

Fire, smoke, or burning smell in the room

1. 1If you are inside the chamber: take the oxygen mask off and open the pressure release valve quickly. Aim for 30 to 60 seconds to vent. Shout for your buddy.
2. 2The buddy switches the oxygen concentrator OFF immediately. The room is oxygen-enriched, which makes any fire spread fast.
3. 3The instant the gauge reads zero, open the zips and get out of the chamber and out of the room.
4. 4Do not attempt to fight a fire that has spread. Leave the building and call emergency services.

Power cut during a session

• The chamber will hold pressure briefly but cannot maintain it without the compressor.
• Open the pressure release valve slowly, as you would at the end of a normal session. There is no rush. The chamber simply stops adding fresh air.
• Once the gauge reads zero, climb out and end the session.
• Do not restart the equipment until power is fully restored and stable.

Loud bang, hissing, or alarm from the equipment

• Hissing from a fitting or hose: a pressure leak. Begin depressurisation as in Section 6.
• Concentrator alarm: end the session calmly. Do not use the chamber again until you have contacted Sorted Therapies.
• Loud bang or pop: depressurise immediately, climb out, and contact Sorted Therapies. Do not use the chamber again until it has been inspected.

Who should not use the chamber

If any of the conditions below apply on the day, do not use the chamber until you have written clearance from a qualified doctor.

Day-of checks

• Have you had a cold, sinus issue, or ear pain since your last session? If yes, postpone.
• Have you been drinking alcohol in the last few hours? If yes, postpone.
• Use the bathroom before getting in. Sessions typically run 60 to 90 minutes.
• Wear cotton clothing only. Synthetic fabrics build static electricity, which is a fire risk in an oxygen-enriched space.

Take these things out before you get in

• Phones, smart watches, headphones, earphones, e-cigarettes, and anything else with a battery. No electronics inside the chamber, full stop.
• Lighters, matches, anything that can spark.
• Oils, perfumes, lotions, alcohol-based hand gels.
• Synthetic blankets, polyester pillows, anything not supplied with the chamber.

You can take a bottle of water and a book or paper magazine inside.

The chamber works best in a clean, cool, well-ventilated room. The setup below should stay the same for every session.

• Use the chamber in a dry room with stable temperature. Aim for 16°C to 22°C.
• Run an air conditioner where possible. Keep windows closed during the session so the room temperature stays stable.
• Keep the area around the chamber clear of clutter, sharp objects, and anything that could puncture or scrape the chamber walls.
• Position the oxygen concentrator at least 30 cm away from walls and curtains so its airflow is not blocked.
• Make sure the second person at the location knows you are using the chamber and roughly when you expect to finish.

A simple, repeatable routine keeps the chamber clean and the equipment in good condition. The same routine applies whether you use the chamber daily or every few days.

Before each session

1. 1Turn on the AC in the chamber room. Set it to between 16°C and 22°C.
2. 2Plug in the oxygen concentrator, air cooler, and chamber compressor. Do not switch them on yet.
3. 3Confirm the cooling fan is plugged in and charged.
4. 4Vacuum inside the chamber using the small handheld vacuum supplied. Do this even if it looks clean. Small particles can cause static.
5. 5Visually inspect the chamber walls, zips, hoses, and gauges. If you see damage, fraying, leaks, or anything unusual, do not use the chamber. Contact Sorted Therapies first.

End of session

1. 1Vacuum inside the chamber.
2. 2Dampen a clean cloth at the sink. Apply one spray of the supplied cleaning solution to the cloth. Do not spray inside the chamber directly.
3. 3Wipe down the inside of the chamber.
4. 4Wipe down the outside of the chamber, the cooling fan, the oxygen concentrator surface, and the air cooler with a separate clean cloth.
5. 5Leave the zips open and the mattress airing inside the chamber.
6. 6Switch each device OFF using its own power button. Wait until each device is fully off before unplugging.
7. 7Vacuum the floor around the chamber.
8. 8Turn off the AC.

Once a week: rotate the air filter

The oxygen concentrator has an air filter at the back of the machine. It traps dust before air enters the system. A clogged filter makes the machine work harder, runs hotter, and shortens its life. Rotating the filter weekly keeps the machine running cleanly.

1. 1Pick a fixed day of the week (Sunday works well) and do this every week without fail.
2. 2Switch the oxygen concentrator off and unplug it.
3. 3Remove the filter from the back of the machine. It usually slides or clips out.
4. 4Fit the spare clean filter in its place. Push it in fully so it sits flush.
5. 5Rinse the dirty filter under clean running water until the water runs clear. Do not use soap, detergent, or hot water.
6. 6Squeeze the filter gently to remove excess water. Do not wring or twist it.
7. 7Lay the filter flat on a clean towel in a well-ventilated spot, out of direct sunlight, until it is fully dry. This usually takes 12 to 24 hours.
8. 8Once dry, store it ready for next week's rotation.

Setting up and getting in needs two pairs of hands. Your buddy zips you in, watches the descent, and confirms you are settled at pressure. Once you are at full pressure and comfortable, your buddy can step away. They must stay at the location.

1. 1Disconnect the air and oxygen lines from the chamber while you set up.
2. 2Switch on the oxygen concentrator. Set the timer to your session length, typically 90 minutes.
3. 3Switch on the air cooler. Have a cloth ready, as there is usually an initial water spurt.
4. 4Confirm airflow and that the air feed temperature is between 12°C and 26°C.
5. 5Reconnect the oxygen and air lines to the chamber. Pause the oxygen concentrator until you are fully inside.
6. 6Check every fitting along both lines. Each connection should be snug tight, not loose, but never over-tightened. See the box below for what this means.
7. 7Place a cloth under the air cooler. Empty or replace it roughly every five minutes during the session to catch condensation.
8. 8Connect the oxygen mask. Leave it hanging just inside the chamber for now.
9. 9Get into the chamber. Your buddy closes both zips fully end to end.
10. 10Close the pressure release valve. Turn it clockwise until firm. Do not over-tighten.
11. 11Your buddy sits beside the chamber with the on/off remote in hand, where they can see inside clearly. They watch for hand signals.
12. 12Give the initial OK hand signal once you are settled.
13. 13Your buddy stays with you for the entire descent. Equalise your ears continuously: swallow, yawn, or pinch your nose and gently blow as the pressure builds. Do not wait for discomfort.
14. 14When the chamber reaches target pressure (typically 1.3 ATA), fit the oxygen mask.
15. 15Note the start time. Make sure a clock or timer is visible through the chamber window for the rest of the session. From this point your buddy can step away, as long as they stay at the location.

During the session

• Your buddy must stay at the location, awake, and able to hear you for the full session.
• Glance at the pressure gauge every 5 to 10 minutes. It should hold steady at the target ATA.
• Track session time using a clock or timer visible through the chamber window, not a stopwatch you have to look down at.
• If pressure drops suddenly, the chamber is leaking. Begin depressurisation as in Section 6.
• If you start to feel unwell or want out for any reason, end the session. Do not push through.

When you are ready to come out, you have two ways to end the session. Pick whichever suits the moment. Either way, the person inside operates the valve, and the descent must be slow.

Option A: machines off, then depressurise

Best when your buddy is right beside the chamber, or when you want the quietest, simplest end to the session.

1. 1Ask your buddy to switch the oxygen concentrator off, then the air cooler off.
2. 2Take the oxygen mask off.
3. 3Open the pressure release valve from inside the chamber. Open it slowly, a small amount at a time.
4. 4Continue with the shared depressurisation steps below.

Option B: depressurise with the machines still running

Best when your buddy has stepped away to another room, or when you simply want to come out without waiting. The valve releases air faster than the compressor adds it, so this works fine.

1. 1Take the oxygen mask off.
2. 2Open the pressure release valve from inside the chamber. Open it slowly, a small amount at a time.
3. 3Continue with the shared depressurisation steps below.
4. 4Once you are out, switch off the oxygen concentrator and the air cooler at their own power buttons.

Shared steps for both options

Whichever option you chose, the actual descent is the same.

1. 1You should hear a gentle, steady hiss from the valve, not a rush. If it sounds too fast, close it part-way.
2. 2As the pressure drops, regulate your ears continuously. Swallow, yawn, or pinch your nose and gently blow. Keep ahead of the pressure change rather than waiting for discomfort.
3. 3If you feel any ear or sinus pressure building, close the valve part-way to slow the descent. Do not push through. Pause, equalise, then continue.
4. 4Open the valve in stages so the full descent takes around 90 seconds, not 20. Slower is always better.
5. 5The chamber will go quiet and stop pulling against the zips when pressure is equalised.
6. 6Confirm the pressure gauge reads zero before opening the zips.
7. 7Open the zips and climb out. Sit in a chair for a few minutes. Light-headedness is normal for a short period.

If you feel ear or sinus pain coming up

1. 1Stop immediately. Close the release valve part-way and pause.
2. 2Swallow, yawn, or pinch your nose and gently blow.
3. 3Once the pain passes, continue opening the valve more slowly than before.
4. 4If the pain does not pass, hold position, do not open the chamber, and call your buddy. Contact Sorted Therapies if it persists.

Pressure and temperature targets

Hand signals

Cleaning: what to use, what to avoid

• Keep the chamber, hoses, mattress, and accessories in the condition they were delivered in. Reasonable wear is expected. Damage is the renter's responsibility.
• Do not move the chamber to a different address without telling Sorted Therapies first.
• Do not attempt repairs. If something is not working, contact Sorted Therapies.
• Do not modify the equipment, swap parts, or use accessories that did not come with the rental.
• Keep the original packaging if you have space for it. It is needed for safe return at the end of the rental.