Hello edylchtims:
Silent Bubbles
"Silent" is a termed used in clinical medicine to denote disease without symptoms. These include diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, ischemic heart disease, and chronic kidney disease. In the mid 1940s, Dr Albert Behnke, thin in the US Navy, suggested that decompression gas bubbles might be present in humans following decompression that did not result in DCS.
With the advent of Doppler ultrasonic detectors, gas bubbles were indeed detected. Since the US Navy tables had been applied for decades, it was not though that these sounds could really be bubbles. In the early 1970s, these were called by many "Doppler events" in deference to the ambiguity.
My studies with visual and ultrasound monitoring in animals were the first to demonstrate that these "events" were actual bubbles.
References below.
Slow ascents, deep stops and safety stops will work to reduce the impact of "Silent bubbles."
Dr Deco :doctor:
The next class in Decompression Physiology for 2009 is April 4 and 5. This class is on Catalina Island at the USC Marine Laboratory. Contact Karl Huggins at the web site: Advanced Decompression Physiology Seminar Information
References
Powell, M. R. 1971. Decompression from pressure: monitoring by ultrasound. Union Carbide Corporation Technical Memo, Tarrytown, New York
Powell, M. R. 1972. Leg pain and gas bubbles in the rat following decompression from pressure: monitoring by ultrasound. Aerospace Med.,43, 168.
MR Powell. Gas phase separation following decompression in asymptomatic rats: visual and ultrasound monitoring: Aerospace Med., 43, 1240-1244, 1972.