Albert A. Bühlmann

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Albert A Bühlmann
Born(1923-05-16)16 May 1923
Died4 March 1994(1994-03-04) (aged 70)
NationalitySwiss
Alma mater
University of Zürich

Albert Alois Bühlmann (16 May 1923 – 16 March 1994) was a Swiss physician who was principally responsible for a number of important contributions to decompression science at the Laboratory of Hyperbaric Physiology at the University Hospital in Zürich, Switzerland.[1][2][3] His impact on diving ranged from complex commercial and military diving to the occasional recreational diver.[2] He is held in high regard for his professional ethics and attention to his research subjects.[4][5]

Background

After completing his education at the

high altitudes and high pressure environments.[2]

Bühlmann decompression algorithm

Further information: Bühlmann decompression algorithm

The Bühlmann decompression algorithm is used to create

decompression tables.[6][7]

In 1959,

breathing gases.[3][8] Keller successfully tested his idea in the Lake Zurich where he reached a depth of 400 feet and then Lake Maggiore where he reached a depth of 728 feet.[2][9]

Building on the previous work of

Shell Oil Company,[2] Bühlmann designed studies to establish the longest half-times of nitrogen and helium.[6] These studies were confirmed by the Capshell experiments in the Mediterranean Sea in 1966.[2][12]

The naming convention he used to describe his algorithms, for example, ZH-L16, comes from Zürich (ZH), limits (L) and the number of tissue compartments or M-value sets used (16).

In 1962, Keller set a new world record when he reached a depth of 1000 feet off the coast of California utilizing Bühlmann's algorithm in a study funded by the United States Navy.[2][9]

Two out of eight Swiss military divers suffered decompression sickness following dives 1800 meters above sea level in

method which calculated maximum nitrogen loading in the tissues at a particular ambient pressure.[6][16] The tables developed were adopted by the Swiss military in 1972.[2] An expedition to Lake Titicaca at 3800 meters above sea level in 1987 revealed no decompression issues while utilizing Bühlmann's ZH-L16 algorithm.[2] In addition to altitude diving, his calculations also include considerations for repetitive dive profiles.[17]

The results of Bühlmann's research that began in 1959, was published in a 1983 German book entitled Dekompression-Dekompressionskrankheit (Decompression-Decompression Sickness).[6] An English version of this book became available in 1984.[1] The book was regarded as the most complete public reference on decompression calculations and was used soon after in coding dive computer algorithms.[18] Two follow-up books were published in 1992 and 1995.[19][20]

Versions of Bühlmann's ZHL-16 model have been used to generate the standard diving tables for a number of sports diving associations.

without decompression stops.[18] The tables are still used in the 2020s and remain popular, while many dive computers
use variations of the ZHL-8, ZH-L12, or ZHL-16 algorithm.

Death

Bühlmann died unexpectedly of heart failure on 16 March 1994.[2]

Awards

The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society gave Bühlmann the Oceaneering award in 1977.[2]

In 1993, the Divers Alert Network presented Bühlmann with an award for his life's work in the service of decompression science.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-3-662-02409-6
    .
  2. ^
    ISSN 0889-0242
    .
  3. ^
    OCLC 16986801. Archived from the original on 2012-02-03. Retrieved 2009-06-12.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link
    )
  4. ISSN 0889-0242
    .
  5. PMID 11661279
    .
  6. ^
    ISBN 0-387-13308-9
    .
  7. ISBN 1-905492-07-3
    .
  8. ^ hanneskeller.com. "Hannes Keller Biography". hanneskeller.com. Archived from the original on 2011-08-17. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  9. ^ a b Swann, C (2007). "Hannes Keller and His Secret Mixtures" (PDF). The History of Oil Field Diving. Chapter 8. Oceanaut Press: 105–113. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  10. PMID 20474365. Archived from the original on 2011-03-24. Retrieved 2009-06-12.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link
    )
  11. ^ Workman, Robert D. (1957). "Calculation of air saturation decompression tables". Navy Experimental Diving Unit Technical Report. NEDU-RR-11-57. Archived from the original on 2011-09-18. Retrieved 2009-06-12.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. PMID 6053671
    . Retrieved 2009-06-13.
  13. PMID 2799365
    .
  14. PMID 6087447
    .
  15. PMID 4144210
    .
  16. PMID 969023. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved 2009-06-12.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link
    )
  17. PMID 3810993. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved 2009-06-12.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link
    )
  18. ^ a b Powell, Mark. "Decompression Theory: Robert Workman and Prof A Bühlmann". Dive-Tech. Archived from the original on 10 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  19. ISBN 3-540-55581-1
    .
  20. ISBN 3-540-55581-1
    .

External links
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