Cocoon is made from Teflon film. It includes full-length, pressure zipper on top side and bottom part is rigid pad constructed of burn-resistant material. Cocoon includes oxygen supply port with exhaust port at opposite end

Maas, J. W.

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21 
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•	 May 1975 	 B75-10079 
•	 NSA TECH BRIEF 
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center 	
£ 
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g
y derived, from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
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Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual-copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Oxygen Cocoon for Patients Under Intensive Care 
The problem: 
A few medical centers in this country treat burn 
patients in a high oxygen environment at an increased 
atmospheric pressure. Special chambers are required 
for this purpose, along with special attendants. At the 
present time the attendants are exposed to the 100-
percent oxygen environment and increased pressure 
as well as the patient. This environment is very 
hazardous from the standpoint of flammability and 
mildly toxic to the operator, if he is expected to care 
for several patients in a single day. 
The solution: 
A relatively inexpensive cocoon is under develop-
ment which would provide a more comfortable
environment for the patient, and a safer environment 
for the operator as well as the patient. 
How It's done: 
The cocoon (see figure) is made from Teflon film. It 
is 8 feet (2.4 m) long and 2.5 feet (0.8 m) in diameter. 
It include; a full-length, pressure-sealing zipper on 
the top side. The bottom part is a 7-foot by 2-foot 
(2.1-rn by 0.6-rn) rigid pad constructed of burn-
resistant material, to support the lying patient. On 
one end, the cocoon includes an oxygen supply port 
which is connected to an oxygen feeding apparatus. 
An exhaust port is on the other end. In addition, there 
are gloved access ports provided for attendants and 
the patient. 
Access	 Side View 
Ports
^0 
05 Oxygen Supply	 Pad	 Top View Vent Tube 
Exhaust 
.
Oxygen Cocoon
(continued overleaf) 
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https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19750000079 2020-03-19T20:04:14+00:00Z
The patient is placed on the cocoon pad with his 
head toward the oxygen supply port. The cocoon then 
is placed in a hyperbaric chamber which normally 
accepts several cocoons. When the chamber pressure 
reaches 2 atmospheres, the cocoon supply port is 
opened to admit oxygen. Oxygen flows from the head 
toward the patient's feet and out through the exhaust 
port. A number of patients in cocoons can be treated 
in this way simultaneously. 
The cocoon has other uses as well. It can be 
supplied by filtered air to protect a patient who is 
highly susceptible to infection. It also can be used to 
isolate a patient with a serious contagious disease by 
filtering the air exhausted from the cocoon. Children 
and adults who cannot tolerate oxygen masks can also 
be placed in cocoons for more comfort. Oxygen can 
then be vented outside, greatly reducing the fire 
hazard in the room.
Note: 
Requests for further information may be directed 
to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Johnson Space Center 
Code AT3 
Houston, Texas 77058 
Reference: TSP75-10079 
Patent status: 
NASA has decided not to apply for a patent. 
Source: J. W. Maas (U.S.A.F.)

Johnson Space Center 
(MSC-12663)
. 
Categories: 05 (Life Sciences) 
B75-10079
	 07 (Machinery)


Oxygen cocoon for patients under intensive care

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