The remote processor compiles the physiologic and location data for the wearer of the SCBA and transmits a signal back to the SCBA receiver which, in turn, sends a signal to a display integrated into a SCBA mask. The display indicates to the inpidual his physiologic status. The display incorporates indicator lights are inte- grated into the mask of the SCBA to indicate, for example, when bottled air must be switched on, to indicate the emergency situation of the wearer and/or to indicate the direction that the wearer of the SCBA is going. The proces- sor associated with the transmitter also monitors groups of inpiduals wearing the SCBA masks. In this way, the particular status of several inpiduals in hazardous envi- ronment can be monitored at once and their situation known over a period of time in the hazardous conditions. Specifically, the physiologic condition of the group can be monitored to track the changes in the group condition over the time that the group is exposed to the hazardous envi- ronment.

Primary  Examiner tic F. Winakur 2 Claims, 16 Drawing Sheets

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a pision of application Ser. No. 09/759,095, filed Jan. 12, 2001, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,606,993, which is a pision of application Ser. No. 09/134,483, filed Aug. 14, 1998, now issued as U.S. Pat. No.  6,199,550.

FIELD  OF  THE  INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of monitoring systems. More particularly, this invention relates to the sensor system self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) used by person- nel in hazardous conditions.

BACKGROUND  OF THE INVENTION

Many occupations require personnel to operate under extreme physical stress and/or hazardous conditions. Such occupations are, for example, firefighters, mine workers, military personnel, ship yard workers, chemical industry personnel, athletes, permit required confined space applica- tions (as defined by OSHA) or personnel working in asbes- tos removal projects. The physiologic condition of personnel working in hazardous environments, and/or with high physi- cal stress is a vital concern. It is desirable that the physi- ologic condition can be monitored on an ongoing real time basis. In particular, it is desirable to monitor the physiologic condition of the personnel in combination with the physical location of the personnel.

Generally, physiologic sensor systems have been devel- oped to monitor patient’s physiologic status in a clinical setting. Monitoring healthy personnel working under stress- ful or hazardous conditions, however, differs in several essential ways from monitoring patients in a clinical setting. While some physiological parameters will likely be common in both instances, the types of sensors used and the data processing and data management is different in critical ways. Most non-invasive patient monitoring focuses on detection of alterations in temperature, heart rate or rhythm, blood pressure or oxygen saturation. These observations are recorded and analyzed under environmentally controlled conditions with the patient at rest or engaged in tightly limited physical activities. Under these contro 11ed conditions, it is a relatively simple matter to attribute devia- tions from baseline values to pathologic states that require medical attention. Additionally, real time recognition of potentially significant physiologic events in monitored patients does not require complex analysis. Relatively nar- row limits defining tolerable values can be established and readings outside of these limits can then be used to trigger alarms. The medical personnel monitoring the output of the sensor instrumentation would then perform the more com- plex information processing including integration of the data from the sensor array with the clinical history and circum- stances of the patient.

Application of current real time medical monitoring tech- nology to personnel engaged in stressful activities such as, fire suppression, chemical clean up, asbestos removal or military activities, presents substantially different circum- stances. Specifically, access to the biological data of the worker must be gained without compromising response times or compromising the protective equipment worn by the personnel. This means that sensors have to be incorpo- rated  into  the  equipment  such  that  the  signals  from the