Comparison of Pulse-Oximetry, Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), and Gas Sensors for In-Cockpit Hypoxia Detection.

摘要

In response to the increase in reported in-cockpit hypoxia-related physiological events and mishaps, investigators at the Naval Medical Research Unit-Dayton (NAMRU-D) recently completed an experiment designed to compare the speed of finger pulse oximetry, forehead-mounted NIRS sensors, and gas sensors to detect hypoxic events. Although each technology represents a marked improvement over current hypoxia detection methods, each also comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages in terms of the ability to distinguish between the three most common types of in-cockpit hypoxia, stagnant (Gz forces), hypoxic (low pressure/lack of oxygen), and histotoxic (inhalation of harmful toxicants). Because no validated off-the-shelf technology currently exists for detecting hypoxia in-cockpit, all systems will require in-lab testing and modifications before integration as part of an in-cockpit hypoxia detection system. This report summarizes the merits and deficiencies of several technologies for in-cockpit hypoxia monitoring and presents data comparing the speed at which they are capable of detecting a hypoxic event.