TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Human Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-202, Aircrew Systems

OBJECTIVE: Develop a hypoxia monitoring system that can detect physiologic changes, predict the onset of symptoms, and alert the user.

DESCRIPTION: There is a risk of developing hypoxia when exposed to high altitude flight, acceleration stress, and mountain operations. Hypoxic hypoxia results from reduced oxygen tension in the lungs caused by low concentrations of oxygen in inspired gas at altitude. The degree of hypoxia is a function of altitude and composition of breathing gas. The onset of hypoxia is often unrecognized. Hypoxia can cause breathing difficulty, mental confusion, poor judgment, loss of muscle coordination, unconsciousness, dizziness, fatigue, visual impairment, nausea, tingling, and numbness. In some cases, failure of on-board oxygen systems can go unnoticed until it is too late. Hyperventilation often accompanies these responses. Hypoxia can result in loss of situational awareness, may impact mission success, and has led to aircraft mishaps. A complicating factor is that there are wide individual differences in tolerance to acute and chronic exposures to reduced oxygen environments. Due to the insidious nature of hypoxia, the use of on-board oxygen generating systems (OBOGS) instead of gaseous supplies, and the potential for oxygen mask leakage or improper mask use, there is a need for a personal hypoxia monitoring system that can detect physiologic changes, predict the onset of symptoms, and alert the user.

PHASE I: Determine the feasibility of developing a personal hypoxia monitoring system. Develop a miniaturized non-invasive sensor to collect physiologic measurements to detect hypoxic state. Develop a model that uses inputs from the sensor to predict and issue warning of a hypoxic state to the user. Sensor(s) should be compact, portable, vehicle independent, and preferably wireless with ability to integrate with current systems.

PHASE II: Demonstrate the ability of the concept developed in Phase I to predict, detect, and alert the user of hypoxic state in real time. Optimize and ruggedize the system to meet integration and maintenance requirements.

PHASE III: Perform system validation/verification testing culminating in a demonstration in dynamic environment using human volunteers.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The commercial and private aviation sector would benefit from the development of a physiologic hypoxia sensor/warning system. In addition, terrestrial operations at higher altitudes need to address hypoxia issues. The sensor system could be used for safety monitoring during training; e.g., hypobaric chamber and Navy/Marine Corps hypoxia training using a reduced oxygen breathing

REFERENCES:
1. Cable GG. In-flight hypoxia incidents in military aircraft: causes and implications for training. Aviat Space Environ Med 2003; 74: 169�72.

2. Ernsting J. Hypoxia in the aviation environment. Proc R Soc Med 1973; 66(6): 523-7.

3. Files DS, Webb JT, Pilmanis AA. Depressurization in military aircraft: rates, rapidity, and health effects for 1055 incidents. Aviat Space Environ Med 2005; 76:523�9.

4. Harding RM, Gradwell DP. Hypoxia and hyperventilation. In: Ernsting J, Nicholson AN, Rainford DJ, eds. Aviation Medicine, 3rd ed. NY: Oxford University Press, 2003; 43-58.

5. Smith A. Hypoxia symptoms reported during helicopter operations below 10,000 ft: a retrospective survey. Aviat Space Environ Med 2005; 76:794�8.

KEYWORDS: Altitude; Hypoxia; OBOGS; Oxygen; Physiologic Monitoring; Situational Awareness

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