GB2596875A - Automatic inflatable buoyancy aid that is inflated by biometric and environmental indicators of a user emergency - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of automatically inflating a life vest or buoyancy aid comprises a plurality of sensors mounted at predetermined positions to acquire biometric information of the user and environmental information. The information is assessed using an algorithm, and the system will automatically inflate the buoyancy bladders bringing the user safely to the surface in an ergonomically safe position. It can also automatically start an alert process to bring attention of the injured user to local persons and/or emergency services. In the case of a buoyancy aid for divers, it is also possible for the device to use water pressure sensors to control the amount of inflation and therefore control the rate of ascent for the safety of the diver.

Description

Automatic inflatable buoyancy aid that is inflated by biometric and environmental indicators of a user emergency

Background

Worldwide, drowning is the third-leading cause of death due to unintentional injury. An estimated 372,000 people around the world die by drowning each year.

There exist certain situations where it is not feasible for persons to wear a current generation buoyant life vest even when there is a drowning risk present such as surfing, snorkeling or diving. A current generation standard life vest would affect their buoyancy and an automatically inflating life vest only activates when water is detected which would not be helpful for many participating in water sports or other activities. Although divers do have automatic buoyancy aids, in 50% of diver deaths the buoyancy aid was not activated. In the sport of free diving, the death rate for recreational free divers is 1 in 500. 80% of boating deaths were wearing a life vest but that indicates that 20% were wearing a life vest but it did not save their life.

For activities where an automatically inflated life vest rather than a standard life vest is not strictly necessary such as boating it may still be a preferable form for boaters who wish to swim from their craft and encourage higher overall compliance with regulations to wear some form of life vest.

Description

The present invention consists of a wearable device consisting of inflatable buoyancy bladders, means to inflate said inflatable buoyancy bladders, means to detect biometric and environmental data from the wearer and means to activate the inflation of the inflatable buoyancy bladders by algorithmic assessment of the biometric and environmental data.

The piurality of sensors acquire the biometric information through at least one biometric sensor including but not limited to a body temperature sensor, a blood pressure sensor, an EGG (electrocardiogram) sensor, an oxygen saturation sensor, and may include at least one of environmental sensors such as but not limited to, a GPS sensor, an liVIU (inertial measurement unit) sensor or a water pressure sensor.

Further, the system can interact with any other communication system designed to,ceive cfistress signals.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of algorithmically activating an automatic buoyancy aid by measuring biometric and environmental sensor data and detecting a likely emergency, comprising the steps of: Receiving the biometric information and the environment information of the user and algorithmically determining if the user requires assistance and if so, deploying the buoyancy aid and emergency alert systems.

Fig. 1 shows a possible embodiment of the device, with inflation bladders at the front and the collar of the life vest to ensure that the wearers head stays out of the water nynce inflated. The biometric sensors are located on the collar in this instance but may be located anywhere where is appropriate to take such a measurement or, in addition or in conjunction, can be an externally connected sensor or sensors such as a users smart watch..lhe electronic portion along with the compressed gas can be located on the front or back depending on the best position for an activity, a surfer would prefer y bulge of components to be located on the hack so as to accommodate lying on a surf board, wftle a diver would prefer any bulge to be to the front to avoid interference with their tanks.

Claims (1)

1. Claims I. An auto-inflating life jacket worn by a user with a plurality of sensors mounted at predetermined positions of to acquire biornetric information of the user and/or environmental information of an environment where the user is located; And Wherein each of the plurality of sensors collects information on the health and operation of the user which is algorithmically assessed to determine if the user is in an emergency situation; And Wherein the assessment of a user emergency being detected can activate the auto-inflation mechanism of the life vest; And Wherein the assessment of a user emergency being detected can activate inbuilt emergency alert devices The method accord i a The oiurahtv at sent including t inch.; * leas: One or a lainatru, d pressure sensor. ail the at least one sensor Cita e:.....ironocental son sensor and a water 3. The method necordirq The alert t Wherein fadii-a Iran.1. The ineihot Whorcin the can be al:guitar cally adju The method of claim 1. \Arlierciitt the seth rues fir; mechanism are adijitstable via a actiiiy they are going to perform oi a user s 6. The method of claim I. Wherein ihci inflation gds ideas mechanism en any faiths xviih the buoyancy bladders ha detect Includes: ahich coast of a ft The method of claim Wherein t of gaS release if the -tts in rate ojury to the allow se ars external to the devic-The method of cl watch! whIt laiont sors. to connect iaii h the system and he used claimIi mahasec user The (i can release ens into hnoyanc The apparatus of I Can be desiaaed. to w worn on wetsuit, rash vest or othei 11 The cwimratus of claim I. Can include an electronic shark deterrent 1 by an al<, he attached t(