Superficial temporal artery waveform

Abstract

Journeying into the 21st century, aircrafts are no longer limited by the physical factors of the aircraft to achieve high speeds but by the biological constraints of the pilot. Pilot’s face the challenge of Gravity induced Loss of Consciousness (G-LOC) which could sometime prove fatal.

This project is a study focusing on improving the design of the prototype head attachment which can monitor the blood pressure within the Superficial Temporal Artery. It is hypothesized that the general blood pressure in the STA can reflect the amount of blood flowing into the head.

Using this relationship the author attempts to fashion the headgear to measure the estimated blood flow to the head to help test subjects avoid the otherwise painful procedure of penetrating the internal carotid artery to measure the blood flow to the brain, which can also help anticipate when the pilot will go into G-LOC.

The project was successful in fabricating a headgear which can accurately detect the pulse of the blood flowing through the STA. Results were thus drawn to test the workability of the design under vibrations and with the muscle movements a pilot would employ when conducting the Anti-G Straining Manoeuvre. The results obtained suggest a relationship between the blood supply to the brain and the blood pressure flowing through the STA. However, more tests and equipments are required to be conducted to draw a more concrete link.