SBIR/STTR Research Award
Ear-based Wearable Solution to Protect Air Crew and Pilots from Hypoxia
Award amount
$74,628Program and phase
SBIR · Phase IAward year
2024Award details
- Awarding agency
- Department of Defense
- Branch
- Air Force
- Recipient company
- OXIWEAR INC
- Proposal award date
- 2023-12-12
- Contract end date
- 2024-03-12
- UEI
- W31HNR3D7FH5
- Solicitation number
- X23.7
- Topic code
- AFX237-PCSO1
Research abstract
á OxiWear is an ear-based wearable device which uses advanced photoplethysmongram (PPG) sensor technology to continuously measure oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels and heart rate in real-time. OxiWear is clinically tested and verified allowing for continuous monitoring, wearable convenience, and user specified blood oxygen alerts. It is sweat proof, water-resistant, and provides seamless data tracking, even on dark skin tones.á Hypoxia (low blood oxygen levels) is one of the most lethal injuries a person can sustain which may result in cardiac arrest, stroke, or mortality. The DoD has concerns regarding unexplained physiological events (UPEs) affecting pilots of training, fighter, and attack aircraft, with both the Air Force and Navy grounding aircraft and expending considerable resources in search of root causes and solutions. Hypoxia-induced loss of consciousness (H-LOC) is a well-known physiological threat in aviation and poses significant risks to military aircrew who navigate great safety risks during high altitude, unpressurized flight missions. The threat of H-LOC extends to all aircrew, including rear crew, such as air warfare specialists, jumpmasters, loadmasters, and medics leading to 718 UPEs in-flight in just six years.áá OxiWearĺs ear-wearable device can detect and alert aircrew to hypoxia, improving critical decision making before cognition and/or consciousness is lost.
Technology keywords
Not reported
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