PILOTS CAN COUNTER HYPOXIA Nothing else matters, no matter what enemies you fight when you can't breathe.

The May 2022 release of the movie "Top Gun: Maverick" has put a spotlight on naval aviators and the struggles that they face. One problem many movie fans may not consider when watching the elite military pilots fly are susceptible to breathing problems that could trigger the deadly onslaught of Hypoxia (lack of enough oxygen for brain, blood, tissues, and cells.). Fighter jets are equipped with a dynamic pressurization system that changes the pressure inside the cockpit as the aircraft climbs and descends. Advanced systems designed are not enough to offset high levels of oxygen loss in the atmosphere. Aircraft like the ones Maverick aviates, Hypoxia's evident symptoms are tingling extremities, confusion, fatigue, anxiety, visual changes, nausea, cognitive impairment, dizziness, euphoria and/or loss of consciousness. This can be deadly. While military pilots use oxygen masks and other systems to help pilots breathe at high altitudes and during physically demanding maneuvers, Hypoxia remains a persistent problem. Since 2010, pilot breathing problems have been increasingly reported, although their underlying cause has not been fully understood.?

Cause

When the aircraft reaches 10000 feet above sea level, atmospheric air pressure is insufficient to push enough oxygen into the lungs and circulate in the bloodstream, and symptoms of oxygen deprivation will begin.?The pilot experiences and feels added pressure in the body when the acceleration (G Force) is due to the force of gravity. For ex. While taking multiple loops on fun rides like Roller coasters, you will experience the pressure of 2 G or 3 G force that pushes you back to the seat, making it hard to breathe or move. Hence, when pilot maneuvers tricks and spin, modern fighter pilots deal with 9G, or approximately 2,000 pounds of crushing gravity, making it almost impossible to draw breath.?

Coherently oxygen masks have become essential. Oxygen masks introduce positive pressure and force air into the lungs, which can counter the effects of Hypoxia caused by rising altitudes and G-force. Today, military regulations require all fighter pilots to be on oxygen above 10,000 feet. Since these aircraft can climb to high altitudes in seconds, pilots commonly must wear masks from start to finish. NASA Pilot Breath Assessment Project concluded that many pilots suffer from Hypoxia. It is still a huge problem, and every fighter pilot must be ready to battle each time they enter the cockpit.

Resolution

In the cockpit, the focus has always been to monitor air quality, including strains of bleed air (if any). The Pilot Breath Assessment Project conducted by NASA, researched how pilots interact and breathe with a dynamic pressurized system. Breathing tests of pilots before and after flights are undertaken to monitor inhalation, exhalation, and air volume using a spiro meter. Laser integrated with prototype masks determines the levels of carbon dioxide and water exhaled inside the mask. Large nos. of Pilot breathing needs were studied, but this was only the tip of the iceberg, and there is still much work to be done. The project released its findings in?a final report?in March 2021, which includes recommendations for users and manufacturers of the aircraft systems.

Using photonic sensing systems, Castle Advanced Technologies and Systems has developed a real-time spirometer using:

·????????Unique photonic system (using a single laser as a medium)

·????????Backscattering,

·????????Statistical Mechanics,

·????????Time Series Analysis,

·????????Spectral Analysis,

·????????Artificial Intelligence

·????????and Machine / Deep Learning.

The system, namely Dr. T ?accurately detects the specific gases or VOCs at ppb levels in exhaled breath, known as biomarkers or breath finger-printing. It can thus provide essential information for diagnosing particular diseases. This non-invasive and low-cost breath analysis system is breakthrough research that further elevates the monitoring of respiratory patterns.

Dr T. thereby is seamlessly integrated with the Oxygen Mask of Jet fighters. Oxygen masks introduce positive pressure and force air into the lungs can now monitor in real-time :

• Breathing Patterns
• Respiration Rates
• Forced Expiratory Volume
• Inspiration Characteristics
• Expiration Characteristics
• Exhaled Breath Metabolites

Dr. T integrated with an oxygen mask for real-time recording of the pilot's respiration will be used:

·????????to create a future mechanism to meet pilot physiological needs.

·????????to real-time monitor key parameters like breathing pressure, flow rates, and oxygen concentration

·????????to evolve in creating a standardized flight test procedure

·????????to evaluate an aircraft's pilot breathing system.

·????????to indicate significant breathing system performance.

Pilots can now have online real-time breathing pattern recording, and dynamic pressurization will be more scientific based on every individual breath analysis.

Rather than "take my breath away" chartbuster song by Berlin from Top Gun, Dr T. oxygen mask counters Hypoxia with a 2018 chartbuster song, "Breathin, Breathin" by Ariana Grande