Varying Permeability Model Explained

The Varying Permeability Model, Variable Permeability Model or VPM is an algorithm that is used to calculate the decompression stops needed for ambient pressure dive profiles using specified breathing gases. It was developed by D.E. Yount and others for use in professional diving and recreational diving. It was developed to model laboratory observations of bubble formation and growth in both inanimate and in vivo systems exposed to pressure. In 1986, this model was applied by researchers at the University of Hawaii to calculate diving decompression tables.

Theoretical basis

The VPM presumes that microscopic bubble nuclei always exist in water and tissues that contain water. Any nuclei larger than a specific "critical" size, which is related to the maximum dive depth (exposure pressure), will grow upon decompression when the diver ascends. The VPM aims to minimize the total volume of these growing bubbles by keeping the external pressure large, and the inspired inert gas partial pressures low during decompression. The model depends on the assumptions that different sizes of bubbles exist within the body; that the larger bubbles require less reduction in pressure to begin to grow than smaller ones; and that fewer large bubbles exist than smaller ones. These are used to construct an algorithm that provides decompression schedules designed to allow the larger, growing bubbles to be eliminated before they can cause problems.

Bibliography

This bibliography list was compiled by E.B. Maiken and E.C. Baker as reference material for the V-Planner web site in 2002.

Primary Modeling Sources

Yount . D.E. . Hoffman . D.C. . 1984 . Decompression theory: A dynamic critical-volume hypothesis . Arthur J. . Bachrach . Arthur J. Bachrach . Matzen . M.M. . Underwater physiology VIII: Proceedings of the eighth symposium on underwater physiology . . Bethesda . 131–146 .
Yount . D.E. . Hoffman, D.C. . On the use of a bubble formation model to calculate diving tables. . Aviat Space Environ Med . 57 . 2 . 149–156 . 1986 . 0095-6562 . 3954703 .
Book: Yount . D.E. . Hoffman . D.C. . 1989 . On the use of a bubble formation model to calculate nitrogen and helium diving tables . Paganelli . C.V. . Farhi . L.E. . Physiological functions in special environments . Springer-Verlag . New York . 95–108 .
Yount . D.E. . Maiken . E.B. . Baker . E.C. . 2000 . Implications of the Varying Permeability Model for Reverse Dive Profiles . Lang . M.A. . Lehner . C.E. . Proceedings of the Reverse Dive Profiles Workshop . Smithsonian Institution . Washington, D.C. . 29–61 .

VPM Research and Development Sources

D'Arrigo . J.S. . Improved method for studying the surface chemistry of bubble formation. . Aviat Space Environ Med . 49 . 2 . 358–361 . 1978 . 0095-6562 . 637789 .
Kunkle, T.D. 1979. Bubble nucleation in supersaturated fluids. Univ. of Hawaii Sea Grant Technical Report UNIHI-SEAGRANT-TR-80-01. Pp. 108.
Paganelli . C.V. . Strauss, R.H. . Yount, D.E. . Bubble formation within decompressed hen's eggs . Aviat Space Environ Med . 48 . 1 . 48–49 . 1978 . 0095-6562 . 831713 .
Strauss . R.H. . Bubble formation in gelatin: Implications for prevention of decompression sickness . Undersea Biomed. Res. . 1 . 2 . 169–174 . 1974 . 0093-5387 . 2068005 . 4469188 . https://archive.today/20130415175304/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2676 . usurped . April 15, 2013 . 2008-04-16 .
Strauss . R.H. . Kunkle, T.D. . Isobaric bubble growth: A consequence of altering atmospheric gas . Science . 186 . 443–444 . 1974 . 0193-4511 . 5206521 . 4413996 . 10.1126/science.186.4162.443 . 4162 . 1974Sci...186..443S . 32874911 .
Yount . D.E. . Kunkle, T.D. . Gas nucleation in the vicinity of solid hydrophobic spheres . Journal of Applied Physics . 46 . 4484–4486 . 1975 . 0021-8979 . https://archive.today/20130224054036/http://link.aip.org/link/?JAPIAU/46/4484/1 . dead . 2013-02-24 . 2008-04-16 . 10.1063/1.321381 . 10 . 1975JAP....46.4484Y .
Yount . D.E. . Strauss, R.H. . Bubble formation in gelatin: A model for decompression sickness . Journal of Applied Physics . 47 . 5081–5089 . 1976 . 0021-8979 . https://archive.today/20130223121730/http://link.aip.org/link/?JAPIAU/47/5081/1 . dead . 2013-02-23 . 2008-04-16 . 10.1063/1.322469 . 11 . 1976JAP....47.5081Y .
Yount . D.E. . Kunkle, T.D. . D'Arrigo, J.S. . Ingle, F.W. . Yeung, C.M. . Beckman, E.L. . Stabilization of gas cavitation nuclei by surface-active compounds . Aviat Space Environ Med . 48 . 3 . 185–191 . 1977 . 0095-6562 . 856151 .
Yount . D.E. . Skins of varying permeability: a stabilization mechanism for gas cavitation nuclei . J. Acoust. Soc. Am. . 65 . 1429–1439 . 1979 . 1520-8524 . 10.1121/1.382930 . 6 . 1979ASAJ...65.1429Y . 53315872 .
Yount . D.E. . Yeung, C.M. . Ingle, F.W. . Determination of the radii of gas cavitation nuclei by filtering gelatin . J. Acoust. Soc. Am. . 65 . 1440–1450 . 1979 . 1520-8524 . 10.1121/1.382905 . 6 . 1979ASAJ...65.1440Y . free .
Yount . D.E. . Application of a bubble formation model to decompression sickness in rats and humans . Aviat Space Environ Med . 50 . 1 . 44–50 . 1979 . 0095-6562 . 217330 .
Yount, D.E. 1979. Multiple inert-gas bubble disease: a review of the theory. In: Lambertsen, C.J. and Bornmann, R.C. eds. . Undersea Medical Society, Bethesda, 90-125.
Yount . D.E. . Lally, D.A. . On the use of oxygen to facilitate decompression . Aviat Space Environ Med . 51 . 6 . 544–550 . 1980 . 0095-6562 . 6774706 .
Yount . D.E. . Application of a bubble formation model to decompression sickness in fingerling salmon . Undersea Biomed. Res. . 8 . 4 . 199–208 . 1981 . 0093-5387 . 2068005 . 7324253 . 2008-04-16 . 2018-05-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180504230055/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/xmlui/handle/123456789/2918 . usurped .
Yount . D.E. . Yeung, C.M. . Bubble formation in supersaturated gelatin: a further investigation of gas cavitation nuclei . J. Acoust. Soc. Am. . 69 . 702–708 . 1981 . 1520-8524 . 10.1121/1.385567 . 3 . 1981ASAJ...69..702Y . 54050598 .
Yount . D.E. . On the evolution, generation, and regeneration of gas cavitation nuclei . J. Acoust. Soc. Am. . 71 . 1473–1481 . 1982 . 1520-8524 . 10.1121/1.387845 . 6 . 1982ASAJ...71.1473Y . 53411356 . free .
Yount . D.E.. D.C.. Hoffman. 1983. On the use of a cavitation model to calculate diving tables. 65–68. 232584820. Hoyt. J.W.. Cavitation and Multiphase Flow Forum 1983. New York. .
Yount . D.E. . A model for microbubble fission in surfactant solutions . Journal of Colloid and Interface Science . 91 . 349–360 . 1983 . 0021-9797 . 10.1016/0021-9797(83)90347-8 . 2 . 1983JCIS...91..349Y .
Yount . D.E. . Gillary, E.W. . Hoffman, D.C. . A microscopic investigation of bubble formation nuclei . J. Acoust. Soc. Am. . 76 . 1511–1521 . 1984 . 1520-8524 . 10.1121/1.391434 . 5 . 1984ASAJ...76.1511Y . 46764818 .
Yount . D.E. . On the elastic properties of the interfaces that stabilize gas cavitation nuclei . Journal of Colloid and Interface Science . 193 . 1 . 50–59 . 1997 . 0021-9797 . 9299088 . 10.1006/jcis.1997.5048 . 1997JCIS..193...50Y .

VPM Dive Planning Software

V-Planner: VPM-B & VPM-B/E, VPM-B/FBO.
MultiDeco: VPM-B & VPM-B/E, VPM-B/FBO, ZHL-B, ZHL-C, GF, and GFS.
Ultimate Planner: VPM-B, VPM-B/U, VPM-B (Dec-12), VPM-B/U (Dec-12), ZHL-B, ZHL-C, ZHL-D, GF and GF/U.
DecoPlanner: VPM-B.
HLPlanner: VPM-B.
JDeco: VPM-B.
PalmVPM: VPM.
DivePlan: VPM.
Baltic Deco Planner: VPM-B.
Subsurface: VPM-B.

VPM Dive computers

V-Planner Live: VPM-B & VPM-B/E.
MultiDeco-X1: VPM-B & VPM-B/E, VPM-B/FBO, ZHL-C, GF, and GFS.
MultiDeco-DR5: VPM-B & VPM-B/E, VPM-B/FBO, ZHL-C, GF, and GFS.
Shearwater Research Predator, Petrel, Perdix and NERD models: GF, VPM-B plus GFS.
RATIO Computers: iX3M series and iDive (Tech and Reb) series VPM-B and ZHL16-B.
TDC-3 with MultiDeco-TDC: VPM-B & VPM-B/E, VPM-B/FBO, ZHL-C, GF, and GFS.
HeinrichsWeikamp OSTC4: VPM-B