Trials
The physiological performance of the system has been proven by a series of tests which were conducted in hypobaric chambers (upto 34,000ft). This was fundamental in proving blood oxygenation at extreme high altitude with unacclimatised subjects.
In the pre-monsoon season of 2003 the system was
field tested by the RNRM Everest Expedition. It proved extremely
popular with the Sherpas and expedition members alike being
utilised on numerous load carries up and down the mountain, including
the successful summit bid.
During
the summit day the system delivered supplementary oxygen
at a flow rate ranging from 2-litres/minute to 6-litres/minute
for a duration of 23 hours from a single 3-litre cylinder.
This allowed the climbers to go from the top camp
to the summit and back on a single 3-litre cylinder. This would
normally require 3 – 5
cylinders of the same capacity, depending on the content
of the cylinders and the flow rate used by the climber.
