222 



DISSOLVED GASES IN BODY FLUIDS 



The uptake studies were to be run on the subjects as they entered 

 Sealab, and were to be followed for 24 hours or until helium saturation 

 was reached. Samples of blood and urine were also to be taken in Sea- 

 lab daily on arising. Three subjects would each given one urine and one 

 blood sample. These samples would be analyzed for helium and nitrogen 

 to establish a base line of helium saturation and also to serve as a 

 starting point for the decompression studies. The elimination studies 

 were to be run during the decompression, which would take place on the 

 staging vessel in a deck decompression chamber. In Table 16 are 

 listed the various studies run on all teams and the number of samples 

 obtained in each. 



Table 16 

 SEALAB II ELIMINATION STUDIES 



Fig. V4. Special 

 plastic syringe de- 

 veloped for taking 

 urine samples un- 

 der high pressure 

 during Sealab II 



OUTLINE OF HELIUM UPTAKE STUDIES 



No uptake studies on Team 1 were planned, since their time, during 

 the first 24 hours was spent in setting up and checking out various pieces 

 of equipment. This activity included the sample-pot transfer system, 

 which was not in operation until the second day. 



Three men from Team 2 were to enter Sealab about five hours before Team 1 was to enter 

 the personnel transfer capsule (PTC) for their transfer to the DDC. The PTC was a pressur- 

 ized underwater "elevator" which was used to transfer the Sealab divers from the habitat to the 

 DDC. These men would participate in various physiological tests, one being the helium uptake 

 studies. Samples of urine were to be taken every two hours for about 24 hours and blood every 

 three to four hours. A similar schedule was planned for Team 3. 



BASE-LINE RESULTS 



The results of the base-line studies are listed in Table 17 and are averages of all the sub- 

 jects who gave samples over the 15-day period in Sealab. 



HELIUM AND NITROGEN ELIMINATION STUDIES 



These studies were performed on Teams 1,2, and 3 during their respective decompres- 

 sions, which required about 30 hours each. Four subjects were to provide urine and blood 

 samples. Two subjects would give two urine samples each and alternate with the remaining 

 two. Both helium and nitrogen gas would be followed each hour during the decompression. One 

 blood sample, to be taken every three hours would be used for helium studies. 



