SCBA Oximetry for Fire Fighter Physiologic Monitoring

描述(由申请人提供)：该第二阶段项目的重点是通过基于自给式呼吸器(SCBA)的血氧仪系统、无线电遥测和处理软件对穿戴个人防护装备(PPE)的人员进行远程生理状态监测，以开发辅助安全装置，解决消防员在扑灭结构性火灾时普遍存在的意志疲劳问题。一个基于SCBA的综合监测系统能够不受阻碍地评估消防员在劳累工作条件下的生理状态，将极大地减少因心脏病发作和其他生理应激表现而导致的消防员在职死亡，并为研究穿戴个人防护装备的工人的劳累相关热应激提供一个有价值的研究工具。在这项工作的第一阶段，建立了一个初步的原型，并验证了直流或血氧仪波形的非脉动性分量的急剧变化对应于工作消防员的生理性疲劳。拟议的第二阶段项目进一步开发基于SCBA的监测系统，并专注于提炼和构建下一代原型，定义通过血氧仪波形测量的对运动的生理反应，以建立监测参数和警报阈值，并开发和评估基于与直流血氧仪变化的生理相关性的算法。一旦这些单元被制造出来，它们将在实际的现场条件下进行评估，以证明其硬度、功能性和系统可靠性。到目前为止的研究和测试表明，该系统将有效地提供可靠的、非侵入性的意志疲劳开始识别，便于消防员及时自救。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This Phase II project focuses on remote physiologic status monitoring of personnel wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) through self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)-based oximetry systems, radio-telemetry and processing software for the development of an adjunct safety device addressing the prevalent problem of volitional fatigue experienced by fire fighters combating structural fires. An integrated SCBA-based monitoring system capable of unencumbered assessment of the physiological status of fire fighters under exertive working conditions would greatly serve to reduce fire fighter line-of-duty deaths attributed to heart attacks and other manifestations of physiologic stress and offers a valuable research tool for studying exertion-related heat stress in workers wearing PPE. During Phase I of this effort, an initial prototype was built and validated that acute changes in the DC, or non-pulsatile component of the oximetry waveform, correspond to physiologic fatigue in working fire fighters. The proposed Phase II project further develops the SCBA-based monitoring system, and focuses on refining and building the next generation prototype, defining the physiologic reactions to exertion as measured by the oximetry waveforms to establish monitoring parameters and alarm thresholds, and developing and evaluating algorithms based on physiologic correlations against changes in DC oximetry. Once the units are fabricated, they will be evaluated under realistic field conditions to demonstrate hardness, functionality, and system reliability. Research and testing to date suggests that this system will effectively provide reliable and non-invasive identification of the onset of volitional fatigue and facilitate timely fire fighter self-rescue.