SCUBA Skin Conductance for Underwater Body Assessments

As identified by the DHA STTR solicitation DHA23B-002, thereÆs a need for an innovative, wearable device which can monitor the electrodermal activity (EDA) of the wearer to prevent possible Central Nervous System Oxygen Toxicity (CNS-OT). This device includes form factor developments, accurate EDA readings, durability for sea-water environments, and on device computing to enable real-time feedback to the diver.??Ā To meet the demands of the DHA23B-002 STTR solicitation, the MaXentric led team proposes the Skin Conductance for Underwater Body Assessments (SCUBA) monitoring system. It is a wearable, flexible patch which provides real-time monitoring and recording of EDA for over 24hrs. Due to the high concentration of sweat glands in the palmar and plantar regions of the body, the optimal placement of the sensors is also the most obtrusive for divers. By integrating the sensing platform and on-board electronics into a flexible material, the proposed device will conform to the nonplanar and dynamic surfaces of the palmar and plantar regions. On-board processing will include computation of the time-varying index of EDA as well as motion artifact removal from accelerometer measurements. Stored data is wirelessly transmitted to a paired end user device (EUD) using a Bluetooth upon diver surfacing, providing valuable information for future dive planning and medical evaluation. The SCUBA system meets or exceeds the system specifications listed. During Phase I the team will design and simulate many of the SCUBA components to determine the feasibility and accuracy of creating a fully functional system. During Phase II a SCUBA system prototype will be constructed and delivered. For Phase III and beyond, underwater data transmission to a paired EUD will be developed for the finalized commercial product. SCUBA addresses the requirements with the following features in sea water:?Ā Record data for 24+ hours continuously?Ā Electrodermal Activity within 1 microsiemen of clinical grade device?Ā Sampling rate 100HzĀĀ Functional at depths up to 300 feet of sea waterĀ Functional at water temperatures between 32?-95?F?Ā Motion measurement?Ā