Diver Health Monitoring System (DHMS)

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 the development of a Diver Health Monitoring System (DHMS). The DHMS will provide the Navy with a powerful capability for real-time monitoring of the electrocardiogram and other key physiological parameters 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 ultimately predict impending problems (e.g., hypothermia and excessive fatigue).