Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for collecting, interpreting, and utilizing noise exposure data may include sensors to obtain an analog signal representative of impulse noise sound pressure and an analog signal representative of continuous noise sound pressure. At least one ADC may generate digital signals by sampling the analog signals at rates equal to or greater than twice the reciprocal of a minimum impulse noise rise time. Accelerometers may obtain data in close proximity to and remote from the sensors. At least one processor may include a first combining node to combine the digital signals to represent both the continuous noise and the impulse noise, a shock-artifact detection filter to identify a time frame including a shock artifact based on the accelerometry data, a frequency filter to generate a background-removed audio signal, an adaptive filter to estimate the shock artifact, and a second combining node to produce a shock-artifact-free audio signal.

Abstract: Loud sounds with fast rise times, like gunfire and explosions, can cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Unfortunately, current models do not adequately explain how impulsive sounds cause NIHL, which makes it difficult to predict and prevent NIHL on battlefields and other hostile or rugged environments. Fortunately, the impulsive sounds experienced by soldiers and others working in rugged environments can be recorded using a compact, portable system that acquires, digitizes, and stores high-bandwidth audio data. An example of this system can be mounted on a helmet or other article and used to record hours of audio data at a bandwidth of 20 kHz or higher, which is broad enough to capture sounds with rise times less than 50 ms. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) digitizes these broadband audio signals at rate of 40 kHz or higher to preserve the impulse information. A processor transfers the digitized samples from a buffer to a memory card for later retrieval using an interrupt-driven processing technique.

Abstract: A directional force sensor and sensing system are described. The directional force sensor includes a leaf spring and one or more load sensors disposed about the leaf spring such that in response to a force applied to the leaf spring, the one or more load sensors provide a signal. A controller is coupled to receive signals from the one or more directional force sensors and determines characteristics of forces applied to the directional force sensors.

Abstract: Loud sounds with fast rise times, like gunfire and explosions, can cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Unfortunately, current models do not adequately explain how impulsive sounds cause NIHL, which makes it difficult to predict and prevent NIHL on battlefields and other hostile or rugged environments. Fortunately, the impulsive sounds experienced by soldiers and others working in rugged environments can be recorded using a compact, portable system that acquires, digitizes, and stores high-bandwidth audio data. An example of this system can be mounted on a helmet or other article and used to record hours of audio data at a bandwidth of 20 kHz or higher, which is broad enough to capture sounds with rise times less than 50 ms. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) digitizes these broadband audio signals at rate of 40 kHz or higher to preserve the impulse information. A processor transfers the digitized samples from a buffer to a memory card for later retrieval using an interrupt-driven processing technique.

Abstract: Loud sounds with fast rise times, like gunfire and explosions, can cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Unfortunately, current models do not adequately explain how impulsive sounds cause NIHL, which makes it difficult to predict and prevent NIHL on battlefields and other hostile or rugged environments. Fortunately, the impulsive sounds experienced by soldiers and others working in rugged environments can be recorded using a compact, portable system that acquires, digitizes, and stores high-bandwidth audio data. An example of this system can be mounted on a helmet or other article and used to record hours of audio data at a bandwidth of 20 kHz or higher, which is broad enough to capture sounds with rise times less than 50 ms. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) digitizes these broadband audio signals at rate of 40 kHz or higher to preserve the impulse information. A processor transfers the digitized samples from a buffer to a memory card for later retrieval using an interrupt-driven processing technique.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for collecting, interpreting, and utilizing noise exposure data may include sensors to obtain an analog signal representative of impulse noise sound pressure and an analog signal representative of continuous noise sound pressure. At least one ADC may generate digital signals by sampling the analog signals at rates equal to or greater than twice the reciprocal of a minimum impulse noise rise time. Accelerometers may obtain data in close proximity to and remote from the sensors. At least one processor may include a first combining node to combine the digital signals to represent both the continuous noise and the impulse noise, a shock-artifact detection filter to identify a time frame including a shock artifact based on the accelerometry data, a frequency filter to generate a background-removed audio signal, an adaptive filter to estimate the shock artifact, and a second combining node to produce a shock-artifact-free audio signal.

Abstract: A directional force sensor and sensing system are described. The directional force sensor includes a leaf spring and one or more load sensors disposed about the leaf spring such that in response to a force applied to the leaf spring, the one or more load sensors provide a signal. A controller is coupled to receive signals from the one or more directional force sensors and determines characteristics of forces applied to the directional force sensors.

Abstract: Loud sounds with fast rise times, like gunfire and explosions, can cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Unfortunately, current models do not adequately explain how impulsive sounds cause NIHL, which makes it difficult to predict and prevent NIHL on battlefields and other hostile or rugged environments. Fortunately, the impulsive sounds experienced by soldiers and others working in rugged environments can be recorded using a compact, portable system that acquires, digitizes, and stores high-bandwidth audio data. An example of this system can be mounted on a helmet or other article and used to record hours of audio data at a bandwidth of 20 kHz or higher, which is broad enough to capture sounds with rise times less than 50 ms. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) digitizes these broadband audio signals at rate of 40 kHz or higher to preserve the impulse information. A processor transfers the digitized samples from a buffer to a memory card for later retrieval using an interrupt-driven processing technique.

Abstract: Loud sounds with fast rise times, like gunfire and explosions, can cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Unfortunately, current models do not adequately explain how impulsive sounds cause NIHL, which makes it difficult to predict and prevent NIHL on battlefields and other hostile or rugged environments. Fortunately, the impulsive sounds experienced by soldiers and others working in rugged environments can be recorded using a compact, portable system that acquires, digitizes, and stores high-bandwidth audio data. An example of this system can be mounted on a helmet or other article and used to record hours of audio data at a bandwidth of 20 kHz or higher, which is broad enough to capture sounds with rise times less than 50 ms. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) digitizes these broadband audio signals at rate of 40 kHz or higher to preserve the impulse information. A processor transfers the digitized samples from a buffer to a memory card for later retrieval using an interrupt-driven processing technique.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that determines a quality of a connection of an electrode to a patient is provided. The apparatus includes at least three electrodes selectively connected to a patient for sensing an electro-physiological signal representing a patient parameter. A current source is connected to each of the at least three electrodes, the current source able to apply both a positive current and a negative current. A control processor is connected to the current source and the at least three electrodes. The control processor identifies a number of unique electrode pairs of the at least three electrodes and controls the current source to simultaneously apply a positive current to one electrode and a negative current to an other electrode of each identified electrode pair to determine a connection quality for at least one of the at least three electrodes.

Abstract: Loud sounds with fast rise times, like gunfire and explosions, can cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Unfortunately, current models do not adequately explain how impulsive sounds cause NIHL, which makes it difficult to predict and prevent NIHL on battlefields and other hostile or rugged environments. Fortunately, the impulsive sounds experienced by soldiers and others working in rugged environments can be recorded using a compact, portable system that acquires, digitizes, and stores high-bandwidth audio data. An example of this system can be mounted on a helmet or other article and used to record hours of audio data at a bandwidth of 20 kHz or higher, which is broad enough to capture sounds with rise times less than 50 ms. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) digitizes these broadband audio signals at rate of 40 kB/s or higher to preserve the impulse information. A processor transfers the digitized samples from a buffer to a memory card for later retrieval using an interrupt-driven processing technique.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing noise in an electrical system includes a first isolation stage for a patient monitoring system that provides a first power transformation and a first isolation barrier to current flow. The patient monitoring system including a portable patient monitoring device, a charging apparatus that charges the portable patient monitoring device and a power supply that provides power to the charging apparatus and the first isolation stage is connected to the power supply. A second isolation stage is electrically connected between the first isolation stage and the charging apparatus. The second isolation stage provides a second power transformation and a second barrier to current flow, the second isolation stage reduces noise in the electrical system caused by stray currents.