Experiments in Lancaster

[samdive]

Is anyone interested in taking part in this? If so I'll send details

Sam

I am writing to you in the hope that you and / or your colleagues may
be
able to help some academic research.

I am a postgraduate research student in the department of physics at
Lancaster University. The section I am in is undertaking research into
the
dynamics of the cardiovascular system. In particular we are looking at
the
coupling between heart rate, respiration and other oscillatory vascular
processes.

Clearly the expansion and contraction of the chest cavity has a
mechanical
effect on blood pressure and flow. However establishing a robust,
usable,
mathematical model to describe the nature of the interactions is
proving
difficult.

To help with the development of the model I have suggested that we
investigate cardiovascular dynamics in the absence of respiration. To
support this we have been developing an experimental protocol with the
help of an experienced free diver, Anne-Marie Kitchen-Wheeler. The
experimental regime complies with Lancaster University's ethical code
and
has been approved by the University's Ethics Committee.

The experiments do NOT involve administration of any drugs and do NOT
involve any invasive measurements. The experiments would be conducted
with
participants lying on a bed. The instrumentation we use includes ECG,
EEG
and various blood flow / oxygenation sensors.

Currently the experiments consists of two series of measurements

1) 30 minutes with the participant lying down and breathing naturally
2) A
sequence of 10 consecutive 4 minute cycles. Each cycle consists of a 90
second breath up followed by a 150 second breath hold.

The regime presented no difficulties for Anne-Marie when she visited
Lancaster. However, we anticipate that the 90 second breath up period
could be extended to accommodate divers who require a slightly longer
breath uptime. Anne-Marie has suggested that some free divers who could
achieve 150 second breath hold may start to experience involuntary
contractions of their abdomen towards the end of the breath hold. We
hope
to avoid this, so we are suggesting that only divers who can
successfully
breath held for 200 seconds should participate.

For statistical meaningful results the tests we have set a target of at
least 15 participants.
To assess whether we are likely to achieve this I am writing to
somepotential candidates now. We are still refining the instrumentation
and it is likely to be several months before we start large scale
measurements. Prior to participants visiting the Physics department
participants would be sent a description of the experiments and a
consent
form would be sent to potential participants. The experiments would be
complete within a day.

The University pays travel expenses for participants.

Would you or your colleagues be interested in participating?

Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you


Norman Turner

[blue fins]

Yeah why not. How do we contact them?

[samdive]

Ive mailed you the details

[timm]

That sounds cool, getting played with by medical students, can I have the info.

Ta

Tim

[naiad]

I am interested too.

Lucia

[Lammy]

sam,

I'll give it a go - always wanted to be a guinea pig

as long as I can keep the trace for being 'dead'......anyone remember the movie 'flatliners' ?

Lammy

[apneaboy]

Can you send me the details please Sam.

Its jus up ter rord frum me int north tha norws.

And a quarry nearby for diving after maybe

Steve

[timm]

Millard, and a quarry nearby for diving, its 3 hours from lancaster!!!!

Bring in on, if it all works would love to go for some diving.

See you at the weekend

Tim

[apneaboy]

Hi Timm

There is a 21m quarry (Capernwray) nearby with loads of cool stuff to do. Wrecks, fish, tunnels and the opportunity to scare a few scubies (well i personally wouldnt play any part in that ;-) )

If you wanted depth wastwater is 70m plus and is an hour to an hour and a half away and we are about to dive it again incase Dorry gets closed. Hodge close is an hour away that has a cool cavern (only 6m deep) and the quarry is about 32m and crystal, yes CRYSTAL clear when its not got algae, i normally go once a year we have been for a christmas dip a couple of times brrrrrr. Its like the land time forgot with its own unique 80m tunnel through a small stream to get in, then a 4m ladder to navigate but its worth it.

Plenty to do. I dont have details for this experiment yet anyway but i could show you some good dive sites up here.

Anyway i'll speak to you weekend, i'll send you a couple of Hodge pics by PM

[apneaboy]

Oh and the river lune is very good fun, ive done my 300m dynamic in there when it was in flood.

Joking of course ;-)

Anyway what was this thread about, i best leave it now.

[timm]

this thread is about the land that time forgot, tangents are the way forward.

Pics are awesome, lets do it.

Tim