Diver Health Monitoring System Navy STTR FY2008 Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2008 Topic No.: N08-T025 Topic Title: Diver Health Monitoring System Proposal No.: N08A-025-0156 Firm: Creare Inc. P.O. Box 71 Hanover, New Hampshire 03755-0071 Contact: David Kynor Phone: (603) 643-3800 Web Site: www.creare.com Abstract: Divers operate in a hostile environment that is physically stressful and mentally demanding. They must also function autonomously as communications are very limited during the dive. Each diver must be responsible for his/her own safety, as well as accomplishment of mission objectives. For some time, dive computers have been used to monitor dive profiles (depth and dive duration) and equipment (tank pressure and gas mixture). However, divers have no tools for monitoring the most critical determinant of their safety and effectiveness-their body. The goal of this project is development of a Diver Health Monitoring System (DHMS). The DHMS will provide the Navy with a powerful capability for real-time monitoring of both physiological and cognitive function during diving. The system will evolve the concept of the current dive computer into a physiological monitor capable of measuring the diver's critical "vital signs" and predicting impending problems (e.g., hyperbaric oxygen toxicity, hypothermia, and excessive fatigue). Benefits: The technology developed on this project will enhance diver safety and provide the Navy with a powerful new tool for conducting physiologic research during diving. The technology will also be beneficial to technical divers using mixed breathing gases. Return