Building on the previous work of John Scott Haldane6 (The Haldane model, Royal Navy, 1908) and Robert Workman7 (M-Values, US-Navy, 1965) and working off funding from Shell Oil Company,8 Bühlmann designed studies to establish the longest half-times of nitrogen and helium in human tissues.9 These studies were confirmed by the Capshell experiments in the Mediterranean Sea in 1966.1011
The Bühlmann model uses a simplified version of the alveolar gas equation to calculate alveolar inert gas pressure
P a l v = [ P a m b − P H 2 0 + 1 − R Q R Q P C O 2 ] ⋅ Q {\displaystyle P_{alv}=[P_{amb}-P_{H_{2}0}+{\frac {1-RQ}{RQ}}P_{CO_{2}}]\cdot Q}
Where P H 2 0 {\displaystyle P_{H_{2}0}} is the water vapour pressure at 37°C (conventionally defined as 0.0627 bar), P C O 2 {\displaystyle P_{CO_{2}}} the carbon dioxide pressure (conventionally defined as 0.0534 bar), Q {\displaystyle Q} the inspired inert gas fraction, and R Q {\displaystyle RQ} the respiratory coefficient: the ratio of carbon dioxide production to oxygen consumption. The Buhlmann model sets R Q {\displaystyle RQ} to 1, simplifying the equation to
P a l v = [ P a m b − P H 2 0 ] ⋅ Q {\displaystyle P_{alv}=[P_{amb}-P_{H_{2}0}]\cdot Q}
Inert gas exchange in haldanian models is assumed to be perfusion limited and is governed by the ordinary differential equation
d P t d t = k ( P a l v − P t ) {\displaystyle {\dfrac {\mathrm {d} P_{t}}{\mathrm {d} t}}=k(P_{alv}-P_{t})}
This equation can be solved for constant P a l v {\displaystyle P_{alv}} to give the Haldane equation:
P t ( t ) = P a l v + ( P t ( 0 ) − P a l v ) ⋅ e − k t {\displaystyle P_{t}(t)=P_{alv}+(P_{t}(0)-P_{alv})\cdot e^{-kt}}
and for constant rate of change of alveolar gas pressure R {\displaystyle R} to give the Schreiner equation:
P t ( t ) = P a l v ( 0 ) + R ( t − 1 k ) − ( P a l v ( 0 ) − P t ( 0 ) − R k ) e − k t {\displaystyle P_{t}(t)=P_{alv}(0)+R(t-{\dfrac {1}{k}})-(P_{alv}(0)-P_{t}(0)-{\dfrac {R}{k}})e^{-kt}}
Similarly to Workman, the Bühlmann model specifies an affine relationship between ambient pressure and inert gas saturation limits. However, the Buhlmann model expresses this relationship in terms of absolute pressure
P i g t o l = a + P a m b b {\displaystyle P_{igtol}=a+{\frac {P_{amb}}{b}}}
Where P i g t o l {\displaystyle P_{igtol}} is the inert gas saturation limit for a given tissue and a {\displaystyle a} and b {\displaystyle b} constants for that tissue and inert gas.
The constants a {\displaystyle a} and b {\displaystyle b} , were originally derived from the saturation half-time using the following expressions:
a = 2 bar t 1 / 2 3 {\displaystyle a={\frac {2\,{\text{bar}}}{\sqrt[{3}]{t_{1/2}}}}} b = 1.005 − 1 t 1 / 2 2 {\displaystyle b=1.005-{\frac {1}{\sqrt[{2}]{t_{1/2}}}}}
The b {\displaystyle b} values calculated do not precisely correspond to those used by Bühlmann for tissue compartments 4 (0.7825 instead of 0.7725) and 5 (0.8126 instead of 0.8125).12
Versions B and C have manually modified13 the coefficient a {\displaystyle a} .
In addition to this formulation, the Bühlmann model also specifies how the constants for multiple inert gas saturation combine when both Nitrogen and Helium are present in a given tissue.
a = a N 2 ( 1 − R ) + a H e R {\displaystyle a=a_{N_{2}}(1-R)+a_{He}R}
b = b N 2 ( 1 − R ) + b H e R {\displaystyle b=b_{N_{2}}(1-R)+b_{He}R}
where a N 2 {\displaystyle a_{N_{2}}} and a H e {\displaystyle a_{He}} are the tissue's a {\displaystyle a} Nitrogen and Helium coefficients and R {\displaystyle R} the ratio of dissolved Helium to total dissolved inert gas.
Ascent rate is intrinsically a variable, and may be selected by the programmer or user for table generation or simulations, and measured as real-time input in dive computer applications.
The rate of ascent to the first stop is limited to 3 bar per minute for compartments 1 to 5, 2 bar per minute for compartments 6 and 7, and 1 bar per minute for compartments 8 to 16. Chamber decompression may be continuous, or if stops are preferred they may be done at intervals of 1 or 3 m.14
The Buhlmann model has been used within dive computers and to create tables.
Since precomputed tables cannot take into account the actual diving conditions, Buhlmann specifies a number of initial values and recommendations.
In addition, Buhlmann recommended that the calculations be based on a slightly deeper bottom depth.
Buhlmann assumes no initial values and makes no other recommendations for the application of the model within dive computers, hence all pressures and depths and gas fractions are either read from the computer sensors or specified by the diver and grouped dives do not require any special treatment.
Several versions and extensions of the Bühlmann model have been developed, both by Bühlmann and by later workers. The naming convention used to identify the set of parameters is a code starting ZH-L, from Zürich (ZH), Linear (L) followed by the number of different (a,b) couples (ZH-L 12 and ZH-L 16)15) or the number of tissue compartments (ZH-L 6, ZH-L 8), and other unique identifiers.
ZH-L 12 (1983)
ZH-L 16 (1986)17
ZH-L 6 (1988)
ZH-L 8 ADT (1992)
Many articles on the Bühlmann tables are available on the web.
Bühlmann, Albert A. (1984). Decompression-Decompression Sickness. Berlin New York: Springer-Verlag. ISBN 0-387-13308-9. 0-387-13308-9 ↩
Boycott, A.E.; Damant, G.C.C.; Haldane, John Scott (1908). "Prevention of compressed air illness". Journal of Hygiene. 8 (3). Cambridge University Press: 342–443. doi:10.1017/S0022172400003399. PMC 2167126. PMID 20474365. Archived from the original on 2011-03-24. Retrieved 2009-06-12. /wiki/John_Scott_Haldane ↩
Bühlmann, Albert A. (1982). "[Experimental principles of risk-free decompression following hyperbaric exposure. 20 years of applied decompression research in Zurich]". Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift (in German). 112 (2): 48–59. PMID 7071573. /wiki/PMID_(identifier) ↩
Wendling, J; Nussberger, P; Schenk, B (1999). "Milestones of the deep diving research laboratory Zurich". South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society Journal. 29 (2). ISSN 0813-1988. OCLC 16986801. Archived from the original on 2012-02-03. Retrieved 2009-04-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20120203155311/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/xmlui/handle/123456789/6003 ↩
Workman, Robert D. (1965). "Calculation of decompression schedules for nitrogen-oxygen and helium-oxygen dives". Navy Experimental Diving Unit Panama City Fl. Research rept. Retrieved 2023-07-29. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD0620879 ↩
Völlm, T.G. (1994). "Leading diving researcher dies unexpectedly: Albert A Bühlmann, 1923 - 1994". Pressure, Newsletter of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. 23 (3): 1–3. ISSN 0889-0242. /wiki/ISSN_(identifier) ↩
Bühlmann, Albert A.; Frei, P.; Keller, Hannes (October 1967). "Saturation and desaturation with N2 and He at 4 atm". Journal of Applied Physiology. 23 (4): 458–62. doi:10.1152/jappl.1967.23.4.458. PMID 6053671. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩
Bühlmann, A.A.; Völlm, E.B.; Nussberger, P. (2002). Tauchmedizin (in German). Springer-Verlag, p. 158. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-55939-6. ISBN 978-3-642-55939-6. 978-3-642-55939-6 ↩
Bühlmann, A.A. (1984). Decompression - Decompression Sickness. Springer -Verlag. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-02409-6. ISBN 978-3-662-02409-6. 978-3-662-02409-6 ↩
Bühlmann, A.A. (1984). Decompression - Decompression Sickness. Springer -Verlag. p. 26. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-02409-6. ISBN 978-3-662-02409-6. 978-3-662-02409-6 ↩
Mueller, Beat. "Bühlmann Memorial Symposium 29.03.2019" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2023. https://www.divetable.info/BS_ZH/altitude_diving.pdf ↩
Technical diving software for Galilio: User manual (PDF). Scubapro. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 18 September 2019. https://www.scubapro.com/sites/scubapro_site/files/trimix_user_manual-eng.pdf ↩
Völlm, Ernst. "Bühlmann algorithm for dive computers" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2023. https://www.divetable.info/BS_ZH/Buehlmann_Algorithms.pdf ↩
Staff. "Smart microbubble management" (PDF). In Depth. Uwatec. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2005. Retrieved 12 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20050921115411/http://users.skynet.be/sky68333/Theorie/Tabellen/Ver_bijl.pdf ↩
Staff. "Diving with PDIS (Profile-Dependent Intermediate Stop)" (PDF). Dykkercentret website. Frederiksberg: Dykkercentret ApS. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161017170523/http://www.dykcen.dk/PDF/Instruktor%20info/PDIS_Algorithm.pdf ↩
Scubapro. "Predictive Multi Gas for Galileo Luna" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023. https://scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.com/sites/default/files/2022-08/galileo_luna_pmg_multilanguage_3.pdf ↩