High Frequency Optrode System for Ambulatory EEG Monitoring and Wirless Signal Transmission

The Army's Warfighter Physiological Status Monitoring (WPSM) and the Land Warrior Medic programs will provide Commanders with health and performance information regarding the readiness status of their troops. This proposal offers a novel optical approachto monitor the alertness level of a soldier and thereby enabling the Commander to assess the soldier's performance and make necessary decisions. Studies have shown that an individual's state of alertness can be determined by analyzing the information inthe high frequency spectrum of their electroencephalogram (EEG) signal. However, methods to non-invasively measure EEGs and other physiologic parameters of interest are currently not available or they need significant improvements to meet the stringent"real-world" requirements. The sensors must be compatible with the standards set for the soldier's wireless Personal Area Network (PAN), as well as those set by the FCC/FDA when used in an ambulatory setting.A 4-Channel belt-wearable device, based upon a Pocket PC platform, will be the product of this program. The three physiological signals that will be measured by this Alertness Monitoring System will be EEG, EKG and ACTIGRAPHY, with a spare channel inreserve. The EEG channel will employ an optical electrode or "optrode". The other channels will use conventional electrodes or sensing devices.