A Physiological and Human Factors Evaluation of a Novel Personal Helicopter Oxygen Delivery System

Evaluation of a Gentex (registered trademark) ORO-NASAL Oxygen Mask for Integration with the Aqualung (registered trademark) Personal Helicopter Oxygen Delivery System (PHODS)

“…A unique feature of this apparatus is the inclusion of the Oxygen Pulse Controller (OPC) (figure 2) which according to the manufacturer (Mountain High ® Corp.), automatically provides "on-demand" oxygen regulated to altitude by detected barometric pressure (pressure altitude); which is unlike the system presently used by aircrew. There are several aspects of airworthiness such as human factors and aircraft integration that was addressed by the previous study (Curry & Roller, 2007). The purpose of the current investigation is to determine if the Gentex ® mask, coupled with the previously tested Aqualung ® PHODS will adequately protect aircrew from hypoxia at altitude and to determine its ease of use by aircrew when integrated with the current system.…”

“…b. Compare the efficacy of the mask to the nasal cannula in preventing hypoxia, and the results of this study were compared to the previous USAARL study of the Aqualung ® PHODS equipped with the nasal cannula (Curry & Roller, 2007). c. Accurately measure average oxygen consumption using both cannula and mask configurations.…”

“…The U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) has previously evaluated the Aqualung ® Personal Helicopter Oxygen Delivery System (PHODS) (Curry & Roller, 2007). This system (figures 1 through 4) has been modified in accordance with the USAARL's recommendations and is currently scheduled for use by U.S. Army Aviation.…”

“…During that previous investigation it was determined that at moderate altitudes (> 15,000 ft) and under conditions of exercise, aircrew may desaturate while using that system if they breath through their mouth and not through the nasal cannula (figure 3). During testing a prototype Gentex ® oxygen (O 2 ) face mask was evaluated with the system and found to not adequately protect against hypoxia at altitude; in fact, the nasal cannula provided better oxygenation than the mask at 18,000 ft (Curry & Roller, 2007). Our previous study suggested that certain Army aircrew (e.g., CH-47 crew chiefs) may desaturate at altitude while using the PHODS equipped with nasal cannula if they are physically active or happen to respire more through their mouths than nasal passages.…”

“…Our previous study suggested that certain Army aircrew (e.g., CH-47 crew chiefs) may desaturate at altitude while using the PHODS equipped with nasal cannula if they are physically active or happen to respire more through their mouths than nasal passages. Dedicated training in the use of the PHODS system and the importance of breathing through the nasal cannula was recommended by the USAARL (Curry & Roller, 2007). Product Manager (PM) Air Warrior had requested that the USAARL evaluate a re-designed Gentex ® Oxygen mask (figures 4, 5a, and 5b) for integration with the Aqualung ® PHODS.…”