TRITON SYSTEMS, INC. — Department of Defense STTR Phase I: N21A-T013

Description

Decompression sickness (DCS) is a disorder that poses a threat to the health of divers. It is a consequence of the depths at the divers must operate at; at high ambient pressures, nitrogen dissolves into the blood at tissues, and this dissolved nitrogen later forms bubbles as the pressure decreases. The injuries resulting from this disorder can range from mild to life-threatening. It is difficult to predict the impending onset of DCS during a dive since there have been no means of identifying gas embolisms within divers while they are underwater. Large gas embolisms are typically monitored using ultrasound methods after a dive has taken place.   It has been shown, however, that the formation of larger gas embolisms characteristic of DCS are usually preceded by the occurrence of much smaller bubbles, with dimensions of microscale length. If microbubbles could be detected at physiological concentrations during a dive, then decompression stress may be identified earlier, and measures could be taken to prevent further stress to the diver. The unique acoustic properties of bubbles have been extensively studied, and they may be leveraged to   Triton Systems proposes the Wearable Micro-bubble Concentration and Sizing (WUBCAS) device. The wearable detection system that can be worn by divers during operations. The detection system would monitor for the presence, size, and density of bubbles in an appropriate location on the body of the diver and alert the diver whenever unsafe levels have been reached. The signal transduction and processing would be carried out in a compact form factor, to prevent any inconvenience to the regular actions of the diver. To accomplish this, Triton will draw upon its internal expertise and experience with ultrasound acoustics and innovating in the underwater wearable space. Triton will also utilize strong academic and industrial partnerships with entities that have established success in diver physiology, bubble physics, and small-scale digital electronics development.