Ear Melds Dosimeter

Asymmetric Technologies proposes to develop a dosimeter capability for its previously developed custom inner ear device called Ear Melds. The current Ear Melds prototypes are custom fit, low cost ear plugs or audio ear buds, equipped with health sensors such as a pulse oximeter, temperature sensor, and movement sensor. Embedding the dosimeter into a custom fit earplug offers several advantages over a modular system that could be added to commercial off the shelf (COTS) earplugs. These include (1) being more mechanically secure and rugged, ensuring the dosimeter is protected from mechanical stress during earplug insertion, (2) the user is not responsible for the dosimeter insertion process involved in assembling or configuring the dosimeter reducing the likelihood of user error, (3) it build upon the work that has been performed on Ear Melds development, leading to a future system with integrated dosimeter and health sensing, (4) it ensures that only materials which have been tested and certified as biocompatible will be in contact with the user, and (5) embedding components into Ear Melds results in a durable product that can survive many insertion cycles while a modular dosimeter that attaches to deformable ear plugs will not meet the durability expectations of the average military user.