Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for non-invasive monitoring of blood oxygen saturation and pulse is made by modifying a conventional prior art pulse oximeter probe for use inside an ear canal or other body cavity. This placement is particularly useful for unobtrusively monitoring the blood oxygen saturation and pulse of pilots flying high performance military aircraft. When monitored blood oxygen saturation or pulse levels fall to a level indicating imminent unconsciousness, control of the aircraft can be removed from the pilot and the aircraft unloaded to reduce G-loading. The apparatus is made by removing the light emitting diode (LED) and light sensor from a commercially available pulse oximeter probe, or oxisensor, and cementing them on opposite sides of a conventional ear plug. The light emitted from the LED travels a reflective path through the vascular tissue surrounding the ear canal to be received by the light sensor on the other side of the canal.

Abstract: A flexible lower body negative pressure (LBNP) anti-G suit for protecting against the adverse effects of -G.sub.z acceleration is disclosed. Conventional anti-G suits protect against the adverse effects of +G.sub.z acceleration. Accelerations in the negative z direction, -G.sub.z, can also cause adverse physiological effects and, additionally, severely unpleasant subjective sensations. LBNP has been used in the past to alleviate the somewhat similar physiological effects of weightlessness in space. It has also been used with merely limited success to treat various medical problems. The present invention provides an improved LBNP suit that successfully alleviates the adverse physiological and subjective effects of -G.sub.z accelerations. Applying LBNP to an aircrew member increases venous vascular volumes in the lower body and reduces the otherwise increased pressures in the upper cardiovascular system.

Abstract: An improved anti-G suit incorporates stiffening inserts sized and shaped to cover each inflatable air bladder and inserted between the bladders and the anti-G suit fabric. The stiffeners may be made of polypropylene, neoprene rubber, or a composite structure of Kevlar.RTM. fabric and polyethylene. A butt strap covers the buttocks of an aircrew member and is secured by belts extending across the abdominal and the thigh bladders of the anti-G suit. Inflation of the air bladders pulls the butt strap belts to compress the butt strap tightly against the aircrew member's buttocks.

Abstract: A physiological well-being monitoring system especially suited for use by the pilot or other aircrew members of a high-performance aircraft such as a tactical aircraft is disclosed. The monitoring arrangement includes non-invasive sensing of arterial blood supply in the cranial adjacent portions of the pilot's body through the use of pulsating vascular bed optical signal transmission. The signal transmission is accomplished by way of sensors included in a pilot invisible and non-obstructing modification of, for example, the oxygen mask portion of the pilot life-support apparatus. Use of the physiological monitoring signals to generate alarm or assume control of the aircraft is also disclosed along with representative data associated with the sensed pilot physiological well-being indicators.