Earplug-Integrated Miniature Wireless Sensors for Warfighter Monitoring and Earplug Evaluations

The objective of the proposed program is to develop a highly miniaturized wireless pressure sensor for integration with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) earplugs in a practical and cost effective manner. The most immediate application is the evaluation of earplug performance, specifically with regards to the important issue of middle ear pressure equalization and the risk of eardrum rupture among pilots undergoing rapid ascent or descent. More generally, the ability to integrate highly-miniaturized wireless sensors into the distal portion of a COTS earplug (e.g. that portion proximal to the middle ear) would make it practical to continuously monitor a wide variety of physiological parameters during military operations.