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| Warfighter Physiological Status Monitoring |
Army Science and Technology Objective: IV.ME.1997.01
Problem
Commanders and combat medics lack tools to obtain real-time, basic information about the physiological status and readiness of their soldiers. Commanders need this information to support operational decisions and to determine the most appropriate course of action for mission planning and rehearsal. Combat medics need this information to rapidly identify, locate, triage, and treat casualties on the battlefield.
Medical Research Solution
Use advanced sensor technologies and physiological modeling strategies to develop physiological data management algorithms that distill real-time data on key physiologic variables, such as heart rate and core body temperature, into meaningful information about a soldier’s physiological status.
Products
Specifications for physiological sensors and data management algorithms for a transparent monitoring system embedded in Land Warrior and Objective Force Warrior suits to produce real-time information on the physiological status of soldiers for commanders and combat medics. Initial monitoring capabilities include: wound alert with no more than a 1% false positive or false negative rate; manual remote triage using available physiological data; alive/dead status based on heart rate, ventilation, and sensor system integrity; hemorrhagic shock; respiratory distress/function; thermal stress risk based on core temperature and heart rate (risk index estimates likelihood of becoming a thermal stress casualty within 2-hr period); sleep status (measures hours of sleep and triggers an amber or red alert); and daily energy balance based on activity and ration schedules (triggers amber or red for increased risk of significant impairment of physical performance).
Last Update: April 2, 2003