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The F-22 Helmet Mounted In-Flight Physiological

Monitoring System and Beyond

21 May 2014

Lloyd Tripp, Ph.D.Program Manager,

Aerospace Physiology & Toxicology711th Human Performance WingAir Force Research LaboratoryDISTRIBUTION A: Cleared for public release

16 March 2012, RH-12-109304

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Background

• 16 November 2010, F-22 class A mishap

• F-22 pilots are experiencing hypoxic like symptoms in-flight 2010-2011

• Raptor fleet grounded for 4 months (Alaska Dispatch | Sep 20, 2011)

• Returned to flight – pilots to wear finger pulse oximeter sensor as part of return to flight (477th Fighter Group November 2011)

• Finger pulse oximeter data reliability issues

• 711th HPW develops and tests the helmet mounted pulse oximetry system

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Transmission vs Reflectance

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F-22 Uses Wrist Mounted Pulse Oximeter for In-Flight Arterial O2 Monitoring

• Commercial off-the-shelf monitoring device

• Provides both arterial oxygen saturation and heart rate information

• Allows pilots to spot check their oxygen saturation during flight

• There are issues with this approach

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In-Flight Finger Left Hand vs Right Hand Oximeter Data

Pilot = E Tail = T1470 Monitor = M8133 Date = 21OCT11 Left RightHeart Rate r = 0.74

SpO2 r = 0.48

40

120

78

100

90

15:50:17 19:31:46

Pilot = F Tail = T1104 Monitor = M8130 Date = 19OCT11 Left RightHeart Rate r = 0.86

SpO2 r = 0.54

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114

81

100

90

16:06:14 18:12:13

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Moving the Sensor North of the Heart: Arteries of the Face

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Helmet Ear Cup Integrated Pulse Oximetry 1990’s

Peel and Stick Oxisensor Silicon Ear Cup Integrated Oxisensor

OUCH!!!

Helmet Ear Cup Integrated Oxisensor: F-22 SAB 120 Day Challenge: 15 Nov 2011

Oxisensor

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Helmet Mounted Cerebral and Arterial O2 Saturation During Simulated Aerial Combat Maneuver

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

1 23 45 67 89 111 133 155 177 199 221

TIME (sec)

%rS

O2

/Sa

O2

/HE

AR

T R

AT

E (

bp

m)

1

3

5

7

9

11

13

15

17

19

+G

z

SAO2

rSO2

HEART RATE

Gz

Tripp, Chelette, Savul, & Widman, 1998

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Helmet Mounted Pulse Oximeter: RH + USAFSAM + HSI + NAMRU-D + F-22 SPO + AFRL/RY + Industry =

Integrated Human Performance Solutions

Data Collection

EMI/EMC

NVG

Cockpit/User

Survivability Emergency Descent

Maintainability

Training

Acoustic Evaluation

Centrifuge Test

Survivability Wind Blast

Safety In-House Prototype Fabrication

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Helmet-Mounted Pulse OxSystem Integration

Cabling follows Comm Cord

In-line disconnects

WristOx Display

Helmet Modification and Testing BeginNovember 2011

Flight Helmet Oximeter Wiring Parachute Harness Oximeter Pouch

Integrated Oximeter System NVG System Compatibility Test 12

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Helmet Centrifuge Testing December 2011

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Centrifuge Tests Finger vs. Helmet

Subject = 4 Trial = 2

Ear Left Finger Right Finger Gz SpO2 Percent Dropout (2%, 20%, 1%)

Hea

rt R

ate

SpO

2

Gz

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

GOR

132s

GOR

6G

76s

6G

9G

48s

9G

SACM

82s

SACM

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Hanging Harness Test at USAFSAMDecember 2011

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Electromagnetic Interference Characteristics Test January 2012

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Windblast Testing 600 Knots Equivalent Air Speed

January 2012

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Flight Test: Edwards & Nellis 7 February 2012

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Flight Equipment Technicians Briefing Pilots on HMPO System

Helmet Mounted Pulse OximetryFirst Unit Equipped Apr 2012 – Last Unit Equipped Dec 2012

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Tactical Aircraft Physiological & Cognitive Monitoring System (TAPCOMS)

Helmet Pulse Ox

Cerebral Oximeter

Mask O2 / CO2

VOC - Acetone

Cognitive VOC

Hydration Sensor

O2 Flow Meter

Blood Flow Sensor

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Questions

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