For a light-hearted look into the "Story of my Life" of Robert Lyne-Sands, ("you may call me 'Robert L' and if I like you, you can call me 'Sandsie'") founder of Healing Chambers International
Robert (Bob) Lyne-Sands – Biomedical Designer.
In 1990, Robert Lyne-Sands ("Sands") was described as one of the world’s
"foremost diving and hyperbaric engineering designers . . . with considerable
interpersonal skills, enthusiasm and vision"* He is a founding member of the
International Hyperbaric Medical Association and continues to be a top pioneer
in his field today.
Sands has established a number of out-patient HBOT
(hyperbaric oxygen treatment) centers across the U.S., Mexico and Southeast
Asia, with continuing growth in those regions. Currently, 20 Sands designed
chambers are operating in 12 different locations in the United States, South
America and Southeast Asia. Sands' San Diego facility currently utilizes
cutting-edge technology for the treatment of malignancies (cancer) and head injuries.
With research grants from the Australian Department of
Science and Technology, Sands' first patent (1982) evolved into a unique
transportable chamber (TRCS) that could be flown in helicopters as small as the
Bell U-H series. The Sands Design was granted a full U.S. patent in 1989 and was
chosen above all other U.S. and foreign designs by the United States Department
of Defense. The Sands TRCS is now in fleet-wide use by the U.S. Navy, Coast
Guard, and Marine Forces, and other Western Alliance Navies, and it's design is
now copied widely in other countries. When Sands migrated from Australia and
settled in California, there were less than 300 hyperbaric oxygen therapy ("HBOT")
hospital-based chambers in North America. These facilities treated only 14 life
and limb saving illnesses and traumas. It is for this reason that that this
preeminent biomedical designer turned his attention to the many other chronic
maladies that would benefit from HBOT.
In 1997, Robert Sands designed another original chamber, the
Series III Clinical Monoplace; Simple to use and patient-friendly. From young
children to the elderly to special considerations for the massively obese, all
could be safely and comfortably treated. Part of Sands’ design criteria was that
the new chamber could be fabricated at reasonable cost and in small quantities.
Thus, the units could eventually become affordable and possibly built in
third-world countries. Robert Sands retired from the manufacturing side of the
industry in 2004 -- however, one of his sons has taken chamber-building and
design to the next level. Sands is now concentrating on hospital-standard care
HBOT centers and clinics throughout the world.
Robert Sands has a special passion for the children and elderly who suffer from
brain damage (i.e, stroke, cerebral palsy, autism, near-drowning, etc.). Since
U.S. hospitals with hyperbaric chambers would not treat these patients, he
became the first non-physician to open an independent, out-patient HBOT Center
in 1993, utilizing the medical knowledge of an eminent Science Advisory Board,
consisting of specialist physicians. Many have followed Sands' example
since that time, and the treatment is becoming more accessible to patients who
desperately need it. Emily, the first child with cerebral palsy to receive HBOT
in North America, was successfully treated at one of Sands' centers.
In the last two decades, Sands has been a guest lecturer at
numerous universities and hospitals across the U.S., South America, and South
East Asia, as well as making television appearances including a feature in the
Discovery Channel’s "The Healing Chamber" program. Sands describes
himself as a "Citizen of the Planet, with a U.S. Passport" and holds a great
determination to make HBOT accessible to all people at affordable prices.
Apart from his dedication to the science of hyperbaric oxygen therapy Sands love-affair with the underwater world and diving medicine continues. A SCUBA Instructor teaching five specialties including Cave Diving, Sands is also a Level 2 Coach in the Australian National Coaching Accreditation Scheme, an Instructor and Examiner for the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia, and a member of the world Federation of Underwater Instructors. Sands continues to dive at every opportunity.
Summary
Sands professional history has included hands-on work in the "investigational"
areas of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. He has extensive experience in patient
treatments for the conditions "approved" by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical
Society, including the trauma and sickness associated with diving and aviation.
Sands now travels internationally, lecturing at University and Hospitals about
the advances in this unique form of medicine.
*Des Gorman, MD, PhD, - 1/1/1990 -Officer in Charge of Diving Medicine Unit, Royal New Zealand Navy, Consultant in Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine, - Royal Adelaide Hospital, South Australia; Royal Australian Navy, The Sultan of Oman's Navy. Professor Gorman currently (2009) is the Head of University of Auckland's School of Medicine.
Curriculum Vitae of Robert L. Sands --
Bio-Medical Designer
Education: Newington College, Sydney Australia
1982 -- 1989
Sands is the designer and patent holder of the Transportable Recompression Chamber System ("TRCS"), now used by the U.S. Navy. The five-year research and development phase of the unique two-piece TRCS commenced in 1982. During this period Sands worked with many worlds’ foremost hyperbaric research facilities and also with the U.S. Navy on a collaboration basis.
1990 -- Present
In 1990 Sands relocated from Australia to the U.S. During this period Sands was closely involved in the treatment of many "investigational" illnesses using hyperbaric oxygen therapy. These ailments included vascular headaches; HIV/AIDS fatigue; chronic fatigue syndrome; postoperative closed-head trauma, cerebral palsy and autism.
Hands-on experience with sub acute care patients led to the design and development of the Sands "Series 111" Clinical chamber, one of the few U.S. monoplace chambers "cleared" by the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA").
Considered by many experts to be the most patient friendly clinical chamber in the world, the Series III is now in use across the U.S. Southeast Asia and South America.
The success of the Series III clinical chamber has significantly reduced the cost of patient treatments throughout the U.S.
Civilian
¤ F.G. Hall Environmental Laboratory - Duke University N.C.
¤ Department of Physiology - University of Hawaii and Manoa.
¤ Catalina Marine Science Center - University of Southern California.
¤ STRAUB Hospital and Clinics, Honolulu.
¤ Hyperbaric Medicine Unit - Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, S.A.
¤ National Safety Council of Australia - Sale, Victoria
¤ Hyperbaric Medicine Unit - Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria
¤ Hyperbaric Medicine Unit - Royal Prince Henry Hospital, Sydney, N.S.W.
¤ University of Malaya Medical Center
¤ Bomba Bersama Masyrakat – Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysian Training Academy
¤ Mexico City University Center – Conference on Autism
¤ Purto Vallarta – Conference on Autism
Military
¤ Navy Experimental Diving Unit - Panama City F.L.
¤ Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory - Port Hueneme, C.A.
¤ Naval Construction Regiment Arctic simulation camp - Idaho
¤ Canadian Experimental Diving Division - Toronto
¤ Somdej Pra Prinkloa Naval Hospital - Bangkok
¤ Special Weapons Battalion - Lopburi
Universty of Malaya Medical Center
¤ Royal Oman Police Coast Guard - Muttrah
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is routinely used internationally as an ADJUNCTIVE TREATMENT or COMPLIMENTARY ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL (CAM) medical response to the following ailments and trauma:. Lymes Disease, Complimentary alternative medicine, Chronic illness, stroke, autism, pain, chronic pain, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy may help cure , control or stabilize problems associated with . . . Stroke, Crush Injury, Macular Degeneration Vascular Dementia, Autism, Thermal Burns, Laser Skin Resurfacing, Chronic Fatigue, Surgical Trauma, Swelling, Inflammation, Edema, Vascular Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Fast Plastic Surgery Healing, Silicon Poisoning, Severe Anemia, Bone Disease, Healing Bones, Osteoporosis, Migraines, Epilepsy, Pediatric Seizure Disorders, Gulf War Syndrome, Lyme Disease, Diabetic Wounds, Diabetic Maintenance, Infectious Disease, Complimentary Alternative Medicine, Rapid Sports Healing, Toxic Mold Infections, Head Injuries, Spinal Injuries, Breast Surgery, Tummy Tuck Surgery, Chronic Ill Health, Chemical Sensitivity, Smoke Inhalation, Delayed Smoke Poisoning, Chronic Back Pain, Chronic joint inflammation, Off-Label Use of Hyperbaric Oxygen by Physicians, Renauds, Disease, Near Drowning, Asphyxia, Heavy Metal Poisoning, Industrial Poisoning, Cerebral Edema, non-specific lung problems, Obstructive Jaundice, Liver Disease, Heart Problems, Facial Actinomycosis, General Surgey Infections, Problem Wounds, Malignant Neoplasms, Sking Grafta Spinal Cord Neuropathy, Management of Problems of Aging, Bells Palsy, Post-Operative Brain Tumor, Myelitis, Post-Operative Cosmetic Surgery, Acoustic Deafness, Optic Atrophy Periodontal Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Chron’s Disease, Shingles, Hepatic Problems. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Cerebral Palsy, Shingles, Peptic Ulcer.
This page was last updated on 08/17/11.