ACCELERATED GAS REMOVAL FROM DIVERS' TISSUES UTILIZING GAS METABOLIZING BACTERIA

摘要

Decompression from dives using nitrogen or hydrogen as a dilutent gas are accelerated by introducing into the large intestine an enzyme or, preferably non-toxic bacteria from the group that metabolizes hydrogen or from the group that metabolizes nitrogen. The bacteria are encouraged to multiply and feed on the hydrogen or nitrogen (dependent on the gas mixture used in the dive) by metabolizing the diluent gas released into the large intestine and the new product is vented from the large intestine. The metabolism of the hydrogen or nitrogen causes a reduction of the partial pressure of the metabolized gas in the large intestine thereby increasing the diffusion of the metabolized gas from the blood and surrounding tissues into the intestine. The delivery of the bacteria is accomplished by any one of several means with packaging of the enzyme or bacteria in enteric coatings for oral ingestion as a preferred means.