ForeWarm: FHE Microclimate Heating System for Strength and Dexterity

American Semiconductor’s programmable forearm worn hand and finger heating system (ForeWarm™) implements advanced flexible electronic and printed heater materials in an innovative stretchable wearable system. The ForeWarm system increases hand and finger temperatures to improve dexterity and finger strength in cold air exposure. A warfighter wearing the ForeWarm system is able to perform complex tasks bare-handed that are not feasible with bulky gloves. This project will develop a lightweight, low-profile, form-fitting forearm heater system prototype that may increase hand and finger temperatures by as much as 8°C and improve manual dexterity and finger strength by up to 75%, compared to no heating, during resting, bare-handed, cold air exposure of 0°C for 4 hours. DuPont, a global leader in advanced materials, will provide assistance to American Semiconductor for flexible electronics materials optimization including substrates, heater inks, and insulators. In addition, American Semiconductor will develop the work plan and experimental framework in collaboration with the University of Oregon for subsequent Phase II experimental testing on human volunteers including completing approvals of the research protocol for Institutional Review Board (IRB) and U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command's Office of Research Protections, Human Research Protections Office (HRPO).