FE News - Fink Engineering

FINK ENGINEERING SHIPS IT'S LARGEST RECTANGULAR HYPERBARIC CHAMBER TO THE MAYO

Chamber’s shape, size and features offer numerous benefits (From a Mayo Press Release)

The chamber itself is self-contained, and was developed by FINK Engineering, an Australian company that is solely devoted to building rectangular hyperbaric chambers—a shape that is superior to cylindrical design in that it provides maximum internal useable floor space for minimal external volume and therefore are more space-efficient than an equivalent cylindrical design.

In contrast to the traditional, small cylindrical-shaped hyperbaric chambers often associated with hyperbaric treatments, the new 12.5’ x 52.5’ chamber is both large and rectangular, and appears for all practical appearances like any other medical treatment room: the finish is the same as elsewhere in a hospital, round hatches are replaced by standard-sized doors and the room accommodates all the medical devices required for hyperbaric treatments.

Also, according to Dr. Claus, the look and feel of the chamber, or “treatment room,” which is a term that will also be used to describe the space, is much more acceptable to patients.

“We’ve been able to go from something that brings to mind a WWII submarine, to something that looks like a waiting room. The ports are now large windows that allow for natural lighting. Patients can socialize with other patients. And, like in an aircraft, there is a full entertainment system—we can tap into our hospital on-demand services and can do patient education during that time. The patients all have individual headsets and they can bring in reading materials if they’d like.”

Besides the generous size and welcoming appearance of the chamber, there are many other features as well that benefit both patients and staff. “Since the vessel is much larger, it is easier to control the temperature, humidity and noise,” says Dr. Claus. “Also, with the older chambers, infection control is an issue. For instance, in small cylinders there is little space for the necessary plumbing. In them, to avoid standing on a curved surface, you stand on false floor. Under this floor, and the area called the bilge, it is difficult to thoroughly clean. But in a rectangular chamber there is no bilge and they can be sanitized more easily and more regularly.”

The Mayo chamber is due to arrive in Long Beach in July and will transship by road to Rochester, Minnesota for load in later that month The Mayo has customized a new hyperbaric area for receipt of their new chamber and expect to be operational later this year.

Fink Engineering have built four more of their single lock three horse (SLEQ3) chambers this year and will ship them shortly to the Middle East and the UK. This now makes a total of 11 Fink Equine chambers world wide with more to come in this next year. Patent applications for our unique design have been successfully registered world wide. Fink’s very user friendly touch screen control system has enabled the chamber operators to very quickly learn how to use the system.

The rectangular design combined with a clever folding stall system has made the treatment HBOT treatment of three horses simultaneously quite routine. The SLEQ is pressurised with air with oxygen being administered to the horses by means of custom built BIBS masks.

July 2006 NEWSLETTER

New Address

FINK ENGINEERING Pty Ltd
30 PREMIER CIRCUIT
WARANA
QLD 4575
AUSTRALIA

Phone : 07 5438 4900
Fax : 07 5438 4901

June 2006 NEWSLETTER

Our North American Debut

Fink Engineering's first North American DL8 installed at Toronto General Hospital

Fink Engineering installed the first of its North American eight person double lock (DL8) chambers late last year into the Toronto General Hospital's new hyperbaric area designed specifically to accept the latest in our Rectangular Hyperbaric Systems technology. The hyperbaric area is located on the ground floor of the Eaton Wing of the hospital and has been fully fitted out to accommodate not only the patients for the new DL8 but also for the TGH's two active mono place chambers.

Fink Engineering's installation team worked closely with Toronto's hyperbaric staff and their building contractors to provide a very user friendly environment for patient care. The new installation includes the 6 ATA rated DL8 with BIBS and hood supplies in both locks, a hyperbaric toilet and sink in the Entrance Lock and Fink Engineering's touch screen control system.

Fink Engineering's new DL8 for the Intermountain Medical Center

Dr. Lindell Weaver's new DL8 is in the final fabrication stage in preparation for hydrotesting in Australia later this month. The new 4 ATA rated DL8 also has a 30,000 ft hypobaric capability making it very versatile for future research. Complete with large 4 foot wide doors, the DL8 will be able to accommodate ICU patients as well as routine elective patients. Both locks are fitted with sinks and the Entrance Lock with a toilet as well. The DL8 will be installed in a IMC's new hospital being constructed just south of Salt Lake City's center. Fink Engineering have worked closely with IMC's architects and building contractors in order to share services for the hyperbaric area. The facility and the hospital are scheduled for completion in 2007.

The Mayo

Fink Engineering was awarded the prestigious contract late last year to design and build a new 24 person triple lock (TL24) Rectangular Hyperbaric Facility for the Mayo Clinic located in Rochester, Minnesota. The new triple lock chamber will have two large 3 ATA rated Main Locks located on opposite sides of a smaller 6 ATA Entrance Lock. One Main Lock and the Entrance Lock will also have a hypobaric (altitude) capability for research purposes. Fink Engineering will supply the chamber, its life support equipment including the control console, an electrical cabinet, fire deluge system, sinks in all locks, a toilet in the Entrance Lock and the compressed air and vacuum system to operate the chamber. The TL24 will be built in Australia, outfitted in Fink Engineering's new premises in Queensland and shipped to Rochester early in the New Year.

Aurora Health

After having completed the engineering design and interfacing specifications for a new 24 person triple lock (TL24) Rectangular Hyperbaric Facility for Aurora Health quite a while ago, Fink Engineering was very pleased to sign the contract for the supply of this prestigious facility earlier this year. The new TL24 will be installed at St. Luke's Hospital in Milwaukee in late 2007 and includes the chamber, life support, deluge and compressed air system.

A new hyperbaric area is to be created below the flower bed shown in the photo to the right which will make installation of the 75 tonne chamber relatively easy. The new TL24 will take over from the Bonnie and Clyde (chambers) that have been the mainstay of St. Luke's hyperbaric expertise for many years.

And there's more..Equines

Fink Engineering shipped two more of their single lock three horse (SLEQ3) chambers to the UK in October last year which are now operating very successfully. The next two are scheduled for air transport to the UK early next month and will be installed relatively close by to the first two.

Fink's very user friendly touch screen control system has enabled the chamber operators to very quickly learn how to use the system. The rectangular design combined with a clever folding stall system has made the treatment HBOT treatment of three horses simultaneously quite routine. The SLEQ is pressurised with air with oxygen being administered to the horses by means of custom built BIBS masks.

Brooks

Last but certainly not the least is our Brooks chamber project that has been temporarily suspended pending building construction financing. The chamber has been hydrotested, painted and partially outfitted and is currently located in our new factory on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.