Acoustic Sensor to Monitor Physiology and Voice

The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has developed a new method of measuring human physiological stress parameters. This consists of an acoustic sensor positioned inside a fluid-filled bladder in contact with the body. Packaging the sensor in this manner minimizes outside environmental interferences, and signals within the body are transmitted to the bladder with minimal losses. This fluid-coupling technology comfortably conforms to the human body, and enhances the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of human physiology to that of ambient noise. An acoustic sensor system can detect changes in a person's physiological status resulting from exertion or injuries such as trauma, penetrating wound, hypothermia, dehydration, heat stress and many other conditions or illnesses. A sensor contacting the torso, head, or throat region picks up the wearer's voice very well through the flesh, with fidelity sufficient to be used as a hands-free voice activation mechanism. Several different sensor configurations developed for evaluation include torso mount, neck attachment, and standard PASGT helmet headband mount.