Wireless Non-Invasive Core Temperature Sensor

The objective of this Phase II project is to produce a wearable and wireless prototype sensors for monitoring real-time core temperatures in volunteer humans in a laboratory setting simulating extreme warfighter conditions of cold (<40░F air), heat (>90░F air), and immersion (50-80░F water) at rest and exercising for 2 hours. The sensors will provide early warning of heat stress, heat stroke and hypothermia which together cause nearly 3000 casualties annually across all armed services.ĀĀSuch a wearable warning device that can save military medical cost and increase duty readiness timeĀdoes not currently exist.Ā At the conclusion of Phase II, 20 manufactured prototypes will be available for limited deployment in Phase III to evaluate scalable deployment for training, field use, and further research uses to better understand human response and cognitive readiness in extreme conditions of environment and stress. The fundamental principle of the proposed novel device is measurement of radio-frequency blackbody power naturally radiated by internal tissues, and an inverse algorithm applied to determine the temperature of each sub-surface tissue layer.ĀThis method will provide non-invasive true internal body temperatures that have been shown to accurately predict these dangerous stress conditions. Phase II extends the Phase I breadboard prototype developed to demonstrate the science and feasibility by miniaturizing and mobilizing the concept to a wireless, mobile form-factor that is readily deployable, does not interfere with physiological functions and duties, and uniquely identifies warnings for each individual user in the confined presence of many. Research challenges include development of a design methodology for an ultra-low noise radio-frequency (RF) receiver with a near-field wearable probe, finding efficient interference mitigation techniques, and developing an algorithm for accurate and fast temperature estimation, all with a focus on low-power, compact implementations.Ā An early portion of Phase II will focus on human factors that will affect a successful and easily deployed sensor along with performance requirements for accuracy, resolution, and a wireless communication strategy may require store and forward when field monitors are temporarily not reachable.