A system to measure a pilot's temporal pulse pressure during acceleration

Area of Science:

• Aerospace Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering
• Physiological Monitoring

Background:

• Monitoring pilot physiological status during high-G maneuvers is critical for flight safety.
• G-induced Loss of Consciousness (G-LOC) is a significant risk in high-performance aircraft.
• Noninvasive methods for real-time physiological monitoring are needed in aviation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the design and capabilities of a novel noninvasive system for recording superficial temporal artery (STA) pulse pressure.
• To evaluate the system's utility in monitoring pilots during simulated diving and high-G acceleration scenarios.
• To assess the potential of the system for determining G-LOC conditions and integration into aircraft safety systems.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Piezoelectric Pulse Pressure Monitoring System (P3) utilizing an array of piezoelectric benders.
• Recording the optimal pulse pressure waveform from the STA during +1 Gz acceleration.
• Continuous monitoring of the STA pulse pressure during sustained +Gz acceleration to identify G-LOC precursors.

Main Results:

• The P3 system successfully recorded superficial temporal artery pulse pressure waveforms.
• The system demonstrated capability for monitoring during simulated high-G acceleration relevant to aviation.
• Preliminary results suggest the P3 system can aid in the determination of G-LOC conditions.

Conclusions:

• The Piezoelectric Pulse Pressure Monitoring System (P3) is a viable noninvasive tool for monitoring pilot physiological responses in cockpit environments.
• The P3 system holds potential as a controller for an aircraft autorecovery system to mitigate G-LOC events.