Superior Float Tanks LLC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: J201-CSO1

Description

Superior Float Tanks has been providing FTs nationwide, including to Air Force customers at Cannon Air Force Base (AFB). We manufacture our own FTs because we were not satisfied with the quality of other FTs on the market. Filtration and cleanliness are huge factors in usability, something that we significantly improved upon with our own FTs. When we owned our own float center prior to manufacturing our own FTs, we used to receive complaints regarding mold, mildew and particles/hair being left behind. Any seam inside the interior of a pod allows for mold and mildew to grow. We created the first seamless interior to guarantee this issue never happens when regularly wiped off. We also maintain sanitized conditions in our FTs by using 6 Ozonators and a military grade ultra-violet (UV) bulb. We turn the water over just under 4 times in a filtration session through a filter that meets FDA drinking water standards. To get surface hair and particles through the skimmer we use a pump that moves the water efficiently. We have a separate filtration system which can be placed inside the room next to the tank, or it can be offset in a supply closet. These are the FTs that we will provide the USAF and are the exact same FTs that are being used by both commercial and DoD customers.   The salt concentration is extremely high, allowing the individual to float effortlessly. The sensation is as close as a person can get to weightlessness without going into space or an induced stage of weightlessness during flight. The Epsom salt is absorbed through the skin and removes toxins from the body. The pool of water is generally in a pod, so that the lid can be closed, leaving the individual in total darkness and silence. Sometimes soothing music or guided imagery is provided. Absent of light, outside noise distractions and with the diminished effect of gravity, a state of relaxation occurs that Buddhist monks spend years practicing meditation to attain. This has been demonstrated by measuring brain activity. In this state of relaxation, the brain creates a chemistry that eliminates mental stress, the immune system begins to function at an enhanced level and healing is accelerated. Sessions might be as short as 45 minutes, or as long as 90 minutes. The individual generally uses the FT twice a week for 12 visits, but even just a single visit can have measurable positive effects. It has also proven extremely useful in healing concussions, both blow and explosion related. One War Veteran, who suffered a severe concussion during detonation of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), had been on pain medication for three years due to severe headaches. Even after his first FT session, he found that his headaches disappeared immediately.