Prediction of Hyperbaric Oxygen Toxicity

Military divers, technical scuba divers, and medical patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy may breathe pure oxygen under pressure. The elevated pressure leads to high partial pressures of oxygen (PO2) which can become toxic. While theeffects of moderate oxygen toxicity are reversible, a diver experiencing seizures could drown. The susceptibility to HBO poisoning is highly variable between individuals and, at present, there is no effective technique to warn divers that they aresuffering from oxygen toxicity and are at imminent risk of having seizures.This Phase II SBIR project involves continued development of a Diver Warning System (DWS) incorporating a predictive model that warns divers when they are at high, imminent risk of HBO seizures. The DWS and associated sensors that are expected to resultfrom this research are intended to be integrated into the Lambert Air Rebreather Model V (LAR V) used by Special Operations Forces divers to provide unobtrusive monitoring of working divers. Successful completion of this project will increase the safety of military divers exposed to hyperbaric oxygen. The technology developed under this program may also benefit recreational scuba divers and medical patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygentherapy.