ADA TECHNOLOGIES, INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N192-096

Description

In the event of a disabled submarine (DISSUB), the US Navy needs the capability to rescue and bring back to the surface safely crews of up to 155 submariners. The judicious use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) can significantly reduce the decompression time of crewmembers compared to a traditional air schedule. In the rescue of a large crew, this benefit cannot be ignored as speed is critical. An oxygen delivery and monitoring system (ODMS) designed to supply 16 to 35 crewmembers with HBO within the confines of a rescue sub or a decompression chamber is sought by the Navy. ADA Technologies has conceptualized such an ODMS architecture that integrates multiple masks on the same closed-circuit oxygen loop, along with a graphical dashboard to monitor individual apparatuses and health of the rescuee. The system will be electronically-controlled to provide automatic oxygen replenishment to the main loop and directly to the multiple users connected to the loop, as needed. In Phase I, ADA will develop a detailed design for this ODMS, assemble an initial two-mask ODMS prototype and develop a basic monitoring dashboard. Lockheed Martin and Wake Forest University School of Medicine will assist ADA in this project.