Evaluation of Noninvasive Measurement Methods and Systems for Application in Vital Signs Detection. Part 2. Breadboard Design of a Vital Sign Detector

摘要

In the event of chemical warfare, military medical technicians must be able to identify and treat victims exposed to harmful chemical agents. To determine which victims are in need of immediate treatment, a diagnostic tool is needed to help medical technicians in the performance of triage. An evaluation of current literature on noninvasive techniques and systems for physiological measurements indicates that the most promising methods/systems are: 1) an electromechanical device such as an electronic stethoscope to measure respiratory and cardiac sounds; 2) a dry electrode/bioamplifier system to measure the electrocardiogram (ECG); 3) an infrared device to measure arterial pulse and skin temperature; and 4)sphygmomanometer/stethoscope to measure blood pressure. The throat area appears to be the most accessible body surface for a person in a protective garment, and a combination of electronic stethoscope plus dry electrode may provide the essential information. A suggested breadboard system was fabricated and demonstrated. Keywords: Chemical defense.