Blood Electrical Impedance at Low Temperature
Abstract
This research aims to develop an innovative indicator for thermal stress and oxygen tension to monitor human exposure to extreme environments, with a particular focus on cold-water diving in deep or Arctic conditions. Traditional physiological metrics, such as pulse and oxygen saturation, are often unavailable and unreliable in these settings due to physiological adaptations or technological limitations. The consequences may lead to potentially catastrophic medical conditions arising in an extreme environment. This study proposes testing within a narrow range between normal core body temperature and hypothermic conditions, leveraging impedance spectroscopy to monitor changes and will compare directly with current point of care techniques to confirm validity. The development of this physiological indicator marks a crucial step toward creating a physiologically agnostic, point-of-care device designed for extreme environments, enabling improved monitoring and care for Navy divers operating under these challenging conditions. This proposal also aims to support the professional development of Navy personnel, specifically through the pursuit of a Ph.D. at the University of Florida. By leveraging the Department of Defense SMART Program, the research will enhance collaboration across Naval Surface Warfare Center #Panama City Division (NSWC-PCD), Navy Experimental Dive Unit (NEDU), and Naval Medical Research Command (NRMC), fostering cross-command training and knowledge sharing. Key milestones of this effort include a summer internship to integrate academic and applied research, the publication of findings in a peer-reviewed academic journal, and the successful conferral of a Ph.D. to a DoD Civilian employee. These objectives not only contribute to advancing thermal stress monitoring technology but also strengthen workforce development within the Department of Defense. We propose that the research needed can be completed in 1 year for $ 58.9 K, using a partnership between the University of Florida, the NSWC-PCD, NEDU and the NMRC. The anticipated results of this effort would be the development of one academic papers on the topic of flow-based temperature dependent blood oxygen characterization and could lead to the development of a compact, fieldable, non-invasive measurement for an individual.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 10, 2025
- Source ID
- N000142512222
Entities
People
- William Eisenstadt
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Florida