US Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Other

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Reed W Hoyt

John F Lanza

Lawrence M Candell

Kyle J Thompson

Gary A Shaw

Andrew M Siegel

Scott James Montain

Steven Woolfson

Robert L Standley

Matthew S Kressy

Larry G Berglund

Holly Lehmann McClung

Joseph M Mahan

Michael H Wollowitz

Matthew Hickcox

Christopher Ferraiolo

George Zogbi

Holly Mcclung

Alan L Goldberg

A conventional flow tube for a metabolic cart is usually a straight length of pipe whose inner diameter is fixed by the respiratory burden imposed by the flow tube on the user, with a smaller diameter imposing a higher respiratory burden. The ratio of the straight flow tube's length to diameter is fixed by fluid dynamics, so increasing the flow tube's diameter causes the flow tube's length to increase. As the flow tube gets longer, it exerts more torque on the user's neck and jaw, creating discomfort. Reducing the flow tube's length causes an undesired increase in the respiratory burden but increasing the flow tube's diameter to reduce the respiratory burden makes the flow tube less comfortable, making the flow tube unconformable, hard to breathe through, or both. Bending the flow tube makes it possible to increase the flow tube's propagation length without increasing the flow tube's lever arm length.

Passive, proportional measurement of oxygen and carbon dioxide consumption for assessment of metabolic parameters

A conventional flow tube for a metabolic cart is usually a straight length of pipe whose inner diameter is fixed by the respiratory burden imposed by the flow tube on the user, with a smaller diameter imposing a higher respiratory burden. The ratio of the straight flow tube's length to diameter is fixed by fluid dynamics, so increasing the flow tube's diameter causes the flow tube's length to increase. As the flow tube gets longer, it exerts more torque on the user's neck and jaw, creating discomfort. Reducing the flow tube's length causes an undesired increase in the respiratory burden but increasing the flow tube's diameter to reduce the respiratory burden makes the flow tube less comfortable, making the flow tube unconformable, hard to breathe through, or both. Bending the flow tube, e.g., in an L shape, makes it possible to increase the flow tube's propagation length without increasing the flow tube's lever arm length.

Systems, apparatus, and methods related to modeling, monitoring, and/or managing metabolism of a subject include measuring a respiratory quotient (RQ) level in a subject and/or optimizing and executing a nonlinear feedback model to model energy substrate utilization in the subject based on at least one of a macronutrient composition and caloric value of food consumed by the subject, an intensity and duration of activity by the subject, a rate and maximum capacity of glycogen storage in the subject, a rate and maximum capacity of de novo lipogenesis in the subject, a quality and duration of sleep by the subject, and/or an RQ level in the subject.

Systems, apparatus, and methods related to modeling, monitoring, and/or managing metabolism

A hazardous materials protective garment may use a two-stage evaporative cooling process to ease heat strain on the wearer of the garment. The garment may include an impermeable inner layer and a wicking outer layer. One or more reservoirs may be disposed interior to the inner layer for collecting condensed and/or unevaporated sweat. One or more pumps may move the sweat to the exterior of the impermeable layer for distribution in the wicking layer and evaporation from the garment.

Protective clothing ensemble with two-stage evaporative cooling

A magnetic induction data transmission network comprising a master hub, at least one sensor node communicatively coupled to the master hub and a magnetic induction coil preferably adapted to be worn about a body part of a subject such as an individual's waist or neck. In at least one embodiment of the invention, the magnetic induction coil preferably includes a connector which serves as an intermediary between the coil and the hub to allow data communication.

System and method for short range wireless communication

A magnetic induction data transmission network comprising a master hub, at least one sensor node communicatively coupled to the master hub and a magnetic induction coil preferably adapted to be worn about a bodypart of a subject such as an individual's waist or neck. In at least one embodiment of the invention, the magnetic induction coil preferably includes a connector which serves as an intermediary between the coil and the hub to allow data communication.

Systems and methods for short range wireless communication

An apparatus for monitoring the consumption of fluid by a user, particularly fluids being drank from a container. The apparatus may be used with wide variety of container types. The fluid monitoring unit uses a pair of gears in rotational engagement with each other such that fluid passes around them and rotation of at least one gear is indicative of fluid consumption. The gears in at least one exemplary embodiment are arranged to have low frictional resistance with respect to each other and their respective axles such that the gears quickly and easily rotate and over a wide fluid flow range. This allows the apparatus to accurately and consistently monitor fluid flow from very low flow rates to high flow rates and therefore provide very reliable consumption information. The apparatus in one exemplary embodiment includes an electromagnetic drinking straw embodiment that allows a user to monitor the consumption of fluids from virtually any container type.

Gear-type drink-o-meter to monitor fluid consumption

A personal water and additive apparatus includes a first container; a manifold having a water passageway and an additive passageway, the water passageway and additive passageway intersecting to form a single mixing passageway; a first tube connecting the first container to the water passageway of the manifold, the combination of the first tube and the water passageway defining a water channel; a second container; a second tube connecting the second container to the additive passageway of the manifold, the combination of the second tube and the additive passageway defining an additive channel; an outlet tube having one end connected to the mixing passageway of the manifold; a check valve disposed in the water channel; and a flow regulator that controls flow in at least one of the water passageway and the additive passageway.

Personal water and additive apparatus

An apparatus configured to be movably mounted upon a rope for lifting and pulling a load as the apparatus travels along the rope. The apparatus can also be used to retract a rope. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a pneumatic cylinder having first and second gas ports for receiving and venting a pressurized gas. The cylinder includes a piston and piston rod that move in response to the pressurized gas. A portion of the piston extends from the cylinder. The apparatus further comprises a first ascender and a second ascender. The first ascender is attached to the portion of the piston rod that extends from the cylinder. The second ascender is attached to the cylinder. Each ascender comprises a body through which a rope passes and a locking device that allows movement of the ascender, with respect to the rope, in a first direction, and prevents movement of the ascender, with respect to the rope, in a second direction. The second ascender includes means for attaching a load. When the apparatus is used to lift a load, pressurized gas is alternately introduced into one port and vented from the other port thereby causing the apparatus to climb the rope along with the load. When the apparatus is used to retract a rope, the attaching means of the second ascender is anchored to a secure object. Pressurized gas is alternately introduced into one port and vented from the other port so as to cause movement of the piston and piston rod in the first and second directions. When the piston rod moves in the second direction, the locking device of the first ascender clamps onto the rope thereby retracting the rope in the second direction.

Apparatus for lifting or pulling a load

An apparatus and method for measuring the true distance and relative velocity between first and second objects. The apparatus comprises a transceiver located at the first object which measures a first transit time for the transmission of a first signal from a first object to a second object and for the reflection of the first signal from the second object back to the first object. The transceiver further measures a second transit time for the transmission and reflection of a second signal, the second signal being transmitted immediately upon the reflection of the first signal back to the first object. First and second transit times can be used to calculate first and second apparent distances between the first and second objects, respectively. The apparatus also includes calculating means for determining the relative velocity between the first and second objects using the first transit time and the second transit time. The calculating means calculates the true distance between the first and second objects at the time of reflection of the second signal by modifying the second apparent distance in accordance with the relative velocity between the first and second objects during the time of transmission and reflection of the second signal.

Apparatus and method for measuring the relative velocity and true

This invention relates to a device and method for determining the metabolic energy expenditure by a human during periods of running or walking. The energy expenditure is correlated with the weight of the subject (W) divided by the time of foot contact with a hard surface (t). This relationship can be programmed into a portable device for the direct measurement of both the rate of energy expenditure and the total energy expended.

Foot contact sensor system

A winch includes a cylinder containing a movable piston to which are respectively mounted a fixed and a movable pulley assembly around which a line to be pulled is entrained. The pulley assemblies are located within the working chamber and the line enters the cylinder through one end formed remote from the chamber and through a one way brake mounted to that remote end. The brake permits line to enter the cylinder as the working chamber is pressurized to move the piston and thereby the movable assembly towards the remote end. The one way brake prevents line from exiting the cylinder at this location. The line extends slidingly through the piston and may exit the cylinder at the opposite end thereof which is also equipped with a one way brake which prevents line from entering the cylinder but allows the line to exit the cylinder. End of stroke positions of the piston are sensed by means of Hall Effect Sensors to control pressurization and venting of the working chamber through a three way valve.

Pneumatic winch

A height measurement system uses an inexpensive ultrasonic height measuring evice to provide an apparent height of a descending airborne object. To compensate for movement of the object during the ultrasonic measurement, a Doppler radar velocity measuring device determines the vertical velocity in a short measurement period. The measured vertical velocity is used to determine the vertical distance travelled during the ultrasonic measurement and to compensate therefor by converting the apparent height to a true height of the descending object. Updates of the true height may be obtained by storing the vertical velocity and retrieving the vertical velocity for multiplication by a time value to obtain an updated value of the true height.

Growing community of inventors

Framingham, MA, United States of America

Reed W Hoyt