Intrusion-free physiological condition monitoring

Physiological condition monitoring apparatus for a exposed aircrew member comprising the combination of:

• a mask member disposed in covering relationship over at least the nosebridge facial region of said aircrew member;
• a source of optical energy radiation mounted on said mask member in a first nosebridge facing position thereon;
• optical-to-electrical energy transducer means mounted on said member in an opposed second nosebridge facing position thereon, for generating electrical signals representing optical energy signals received from said source of optical energy radiation via blood encolored tissue in the nosebridge region of said G-force exposed aircrew member;
• and
• oximeter means for converting said transducer means electrical signals into physiological condition related electrical signals for said G-force exposed aircrew member.

The method of monitoring blood oxygen content in an oxygen mask assisted person comprising the steps of:

• illuminating nasal septum facial regions of said person with oxygen mask nose region sourced optical energy of predetermined red to infrared spectral band energy content;
• collecting, with oxygen mask nose region located optical-to-electrical signal transducer means, a sample of the optical energy transmitted through blood encolored said nasal septum region tissue of said person;
• and
• converting the transducing means electrical signals into physiological condition related electrical signals using a red, and infrared, spectral region dual spectral band oximeter conversion.

Oxygen mask apparatus comprising the combination of:

• a facial feature conformed enclosure member receivable adjacent nose and mouth structure openings of an oxygen-assisted person, said enclosure member including first and second surface portions extending one along each side of said nose structure of said assisted person;
• means for communicating a flow of life-supporting oxygen inclusive gases to and from the space within said enclosure member and thereby to and from said assisted person;
• a source of optical illumination mounted on said first surface portion of said enclosure member and directed toward an adjacent lateral nose surface of said assisted person;
• and
• optical signals reception means mounted on said enclosure member second surface portion and responsive to the optical illumination signals originating in said source of optical illumination and passed through nose region blood encolored tissue of said person.