Hyperbaric refers to gas pressures exceeding 1 atmosphere. It also describes solutions denser than the medium they are added to. The word "hyperbaric" comes from Greek: "hyper-" meaning high, beyond, excessive, above normal, and "baros" meaning weight. Hyperbaric conditions involve elevated oxygen levels in organs and tissues due to oxygen being administered in a chamber at pressures above 1 atmosphere. This method is utilized to treat gas-related issues, certain soft tissue infections, and other conditions where high oxygen levels are advantageous. In spinal applications, hyperbaric solutions are those that are denser than spinal fluid. An atmosphere is a pressure unit equivalent to the Earth's atmospheric pressure at sea level, defined as the pressure of a 760 mm high mercury column, or 101.325 kilopascals (1.01325 × 10^5 newtons per square meter), which is roughly 14.7 pounds per square inch.
