U.S. patent application number 11/413776 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-08 for driver and safety personnel protection apparatus, system and method.
Invention is credited to Jarrett Seng.
Application Number | 20070028370 11/413776 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37716261 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070028370 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Seng; Jarrett |
February 8, 2007 |
Driver and safety personnel protection apparatus, system and
method
Abstract
A system of increasing the safety of motor sports drivers and
safety crews including a driver's safety suit having bodily
function monitoring capability and the ability to transmit
monitored information to an information processing station. A
helmet, to be worn by safety crew members, the helmet having
communications capability for communication with an information
processing station. The helmet having various safety, comfort,
communication and protection elements. A driver's helmet having
features that provide safety, comfort, protection and communication
capabilities. The system also having triage capability in the event
of a track incident to further protect and enhance the safety and
well being of a driver involved in an incident.
Inventors: |
Seng; Jarrett; (Orefield,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DOUGLAS W RUDY;LAW OFFICES OF DOUGLAS W. RUDY, LLC
401 N. MICHIGAN AVENUE
SUITE 1200
CHICAGO
IL
60611
US
|
Family ID: |
37716261 |
Appl. No.: |
11/413776 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60676226 |
Apr 29, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/410 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/046 20130101;
A41D 13/02 20130101; A41D 2600/102 20130101; A41D 13/1281
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/410 |
International
Class: |
A42B 1/06 20060101
A42B001/06 |
Claims
1. A system for increasing the personal safety of motor sports
competition drivers and motor sports rescue personnel comprising
the systems and apparatus as set forth in provisional patent
application 60/676,2226.
2. A racing accident integration system to be used by a safety crew
and a race driver comprising: a helmet for the safety crew, the
helmet having a communication system including a microphone and a
virtual retinal display; a driver's suit for the driver, the
driver's suit having a vital signs monitor and a communication link
to allow communication between the driver's suit and the helmet of
the safety crew.
3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein the virtual
retinal display of the safety crew helmet can display vital signs
information sent from the driver's suit.
4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the
communications link is a unit that receives life monitoring system
information as data transmitted from the driver's suit.
5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein the
communications link unit is a remote receiver that will receive
information from the driver's suit and process the information.
6. The invention in accordance with claim 5 where in the
communications link unit includes an interface informing the safety
crew of each of the drivers' condition after an accident and
prioritizing the order of attending to a driver by the severity of
their injuries. `
7. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein a switch
controls the virtual retinal display and when switched allows the
virtual retinal display to switch from an initial display panel
showing car numbers of cars involved in the accident to a panel
showing the vital signs of a driver of a car involved in the
accident.
8. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein a switch
controls the virtual retinal display and when switched allows the
virtual retinal display to switch from an initial display panel
showing car numbers of cars involved in the accident to a panel
showing the medical history of a driver of a car involved in the
accident.
9. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein the a driver's
suit comprises fabric including sensors sensing biometric
information.
10. The invention in accordance with claim 9 wherein the sensors
are connected by optical fibers to a multi-function processor.
11. A method of having a safety crew attend to a group of drivers
involved in an accident comprising the acts of: providing a helmet
for the safety crew, the helmet having a communication system
including a microphone and a virtual retinal display; providing a
driver's suit for the driver, the driver's suit having a vital
signs monitor and a communication link to allow communication
between the driver's suit and the helmet of the safety crew.
12. The method in accordance with claim 11 further comprising the
act of using the virtual retinal display of the safety crew helmet
to display vital signs information sent from the driver's suit.
13. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein the
communications link is a unit that receives life monitoring system
information as data transmitted from the driver's suit.
14. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein the
communications link unit is a remote receiver that will receive
information from the driver's suit and process the information.
15. The method in accordance with claim 14 where in the
communications link unit includes an interface informing the safety
crew of each of the drivers' condition after an accident and
prioritizing the order of attending to a driver by the severity of
their injuries.
16. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein a switch
controls the virtual retinal display and when switched allows the
virtual retinal display to switch from an initial display panel
showing car numbers of cars involved in the accident to a panel
showing the vital signs of a driver of a car involved in the
accident.
17. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein a switch
controls the virtual retinal display and when switched allows the
virtual retinal display to switch from an initial display panel
showing car numbers of cars involved in the accident to a panel
showing the medical history of a driver of a car involved in the
accident.
18. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein the a driver's
suit comprises fabric including sensors sensing biometric
information.
19. The invention in accordance with claim 18 wherein the sensors
are connected by optical fibers to a multi-function processor.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from Provisional
Application No. 60/676,226, filed Apr. 29, 2005, herein
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Today NASCAR and other sanctioning bodies that sanction auto
racing are improving racing safety by integrating new technologies
in to the sport. Racing sanctions are beginning to mandate the use
of the HANS and Hutchins head restraining devices. New soft walls
are being installed at tracks across the country. Racecar frames
are now being designed and constructed with built in crush zones to
help absorb accident impacts. But the underlying theme is that
despite the precautions taken, the sport will always have accidents
resulting in minor and fatal injuries.
[0003] When an accident occurs on the track the safety crew
responds as quickly as possible. They have to either run to the
scene of the accident or jump on the safety vehicle. This
transition time could take anywhere between thirty seconds to
several minutes depending on the size of the track and the location
of the accident. Every second is crucial to the driver's well
being.
[0004] Once the safety crew arrives at the scene they are presented
with a mess of mangled race cars. They travel from car to car
checking on the condition of the driver in each car. Most accidents
involve several cars, but others are upwards of ten to twenty cars
creating a large lapse of time till they get to a driver that is
seriously injured. To add to the hysteria the safety officials have
no clue pertaining to the state of the driver. In some scenarios
the driver might be knocked unconscious posing many dilemmas. If
the driver is knocked out and unable to communicate with safety
officials, improper handling of the driver might substantially
increase his injuries. In a lot of horrendous wrecks, the drivers
need to be cut out of the car. If a driver cannot respond to the
safety crew's questions, the safety crew needs to proceed with
caution in removing the driver from the car. There is an answer to
these issues. The answer provided by the inventor of the system
presented herein is to give the safety crew the ability to know the
driver's condition before the safety crew arrives at the accident
scene.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention presented here is a system that includes
hardware and a remote triage protocol for protecting the driver in
a car racing accident. The system is supposed to be universal for
all forms of racing. This invention pertains to automobile racing
and is directed to safety concerns for a driver and elements that
allow a safety crew to assist a driver in the event of an accident.
One element of the system is a safety helmet to be worn by safety
crew members. Another element is Nomex brand fiber underwear that
the drivers wear that will monitor their vital signs. Data sensing
wire will be woven into the Nomex underwear along with a flexible
CPU chip. This data is then received by two sectors, the driver's
crew will be able to monitor their driver throughout a race and so
will the safety crew. The safety crew members will be wearing a
helmet that uses a virtual retinal display system. The virtual
retinal display (VRD) is basically a display that gets projected
onto a persons eye at a very high resolution. It does not damage
the eye in anyway. The system is light and uses hardly any battery
power. The VRD is integrated into the helmet along with
communications to "Race Control."
[0006] If a driver is badly injured the Nomex underwear will
recognize his severe injuries and instantly call a helicopter or
other resource if needed and also send his vital signs in real time
to the hospital up to the very minute he gets to the hospitals
emergency room.
[0007] In a typical scenario an accident involving several cars
occurs. The drivers involved will have all their vital signs
transmitted to all the safety crew. This vital sign data can come
in various forms. The driver's health status will be transmitted to
the visual retinal display in a green color, meaning the driver is
OK, a yellow color, meaning the driver needs help, or in red,
meaning that there is danger. The color is displayed on a symbol
over the driver's car. This will allow the safety crew to know
who's car to go to first and the instant knowledge of the driver's
condition.
[0008] It is an object of this invention to provide a system for
increasing the personal safety of motor sports competition drivers
and motor sports rescue personnel. This is done by implementing the
systems and apparatus as set forth in provisional patent
application 60/676,2226.
[0009] It is also an object of this invention to provide a triage
system for the benefit of race car drivers.
[0010] It is also an object to provide a helmet that can be worn by
safety crews that includes a visual retinal display and
communication capabilities.
[0011] It is a further object of this invention to provide an
artide of clothing that can be worn by a driver that can sense the
driver's vital signs and transmit that data.
[0012] Another object of the invention is to allow safety crews
approaching an accident to determine the status of the drivers
involved in the accident.
[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a racing
accident integration system to be used by a safety crew and a race
driver that comprises a helmet for the safety crew, the helmet
having a communication system including a microphone and a virtual
retinal display and a driver's suit for the driver. The driver's
suit has a vital signs monitor and a communication link to allow
communication between the driver's suit and the helmet of the
safety crew.
[0014] It is another object to provide a virtual retinal display on
the safety crew helmets worn by safety crew members that can
display vital signs information sent from the driver's suit.
[0015] Another object is to provide a communication link to receive
life monitoring system information as data transmitted from a
driver's suit. This communications link unit can be a remote
receiver that will receive information from the driver's suit and
process the information.
[0016] One further object is to provide a communications link unit
that includes an interface informing the safety crew of each of the
drivers' condition after an accident and prioritizing the order of
attending to a driver based on the severity of each driver's
injuries.
[0017] Another object is to provide a switch to control the virtual
retinal display. When switched this switch allows the virtual
retinal display to switch from an initial display panel showing car
numbers of cars involved in an accident to a panel showing the
vital signs, or the medical history of a driver, of a car involved
in the accident.
[0018] One further object is to provide a driver's suit comprising
fabric that includes sensors sensing biometric information.
Further, the sensors may be connected by optical fibers to a
multi-function processor.
[0019] The inventor contemplates that his invention includes all
systems and methods that can be practiced from all suitable
combinations of the various aspects of the invention, as well as
those disclosed in the detailed description below and particularly
pointed out in the claims. Such combinations have particular
advantages not specifically recited in the above summary.
[0020] The aspects and applications of the invention presented here
are described below in the drawings and detailed specification.
Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and
phrases in the specification and the claims be given the plain,
ordinary and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the
applicable arts. The inventors are fully aware that they can be
their own lexicographers if desired. The inventors expressly elect,
as their own lexicographers, to use only the plain and ordinary
meaning of terms in the specification and claims unless they
clearly state otherwise and then further, expressly set forth the
"special" definition from that term and explain how it differs from
the plain and ordinary meaning. Absent such clear statements of
intent to apply a "special" definition, it is the inventors' intent
and desire that the simple, plain and ordinary meaning to the terms
be applied to the interpretation of the specification and
claims.
[0021] The inventors are also aware of the normal precepts of
English grammar. Thus, if a noun, term or phrase is intended to be
further characterized or specified, or narrowed in some way, then
such noun, term or phrase will expressly include additional
adjectives, descriptive terms or other modifiers in accordance with
the normal precepts of English grammar. Absent the use of such
adjectives, descriptive terms or modifiers, it is the intent that
the such nouns, terms or phrases be given their plain and ordinary
English meaning to those skilled in the applicable arts as set
forth above.
[0022] Likewise, the use of the words "function," "means," or
"step" in the specification or claims is not intended to indicate a
desire to invoke the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph
6, to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of
35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6 are sought to be invoked to define the
inventions, the claims will specifically state the phrases "means
for" or "step for" and a function, without also reciting in such
phrases any structure, material or act in support of the function.
Even when the claims recite a "means for" or "step for" performing
a function, if they also recite any structure, material or acts in
support of that means or step, then the intention is not to invoke
the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6. Moreover, even if the
provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6 are invoked to define the
inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only
to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in
the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all
structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function,
along with any and all known or later-developed equivalent
structures, material or acts for performing the claimed
function.
[0023] The inventors of the devices, systems and methods presented
herein have compiled a document containing numerous nuances of the
invention presented herein. The document details the invention, the
background of the invention, some of the art known at the time this
invention was made and the sources of some of the products that are
integrated into the apparatus, systems and methods of this
invention. This undated document or compilation is titled "R.A.I.S.
Racing Accident Integration System" and the authors are Jarrett
Seng and Blair Sonnen. This compilation of information is herein
incorporated by reference into this application and specification
related to the invention.
[0024] The invention disclosed is a motor sports competition driver
protection and rescue system. It includes driver specific
apparatus, such as driver head restraint systems, driver helmet
systems, driver environmental equipment, driver life signs data
communication systems, as well as other nuances related to driver
safety, driver biomedical data acquisition and tracking. The system
also includes event crew, support staff, including doctor and
hospital communication links, and rescue personnel hardware and
communication systems that assist rescue personnel in giving a high
level of medical attention, and rescue support to a driver, a
plurality of drivers or personnel involved in a situation and real
time triage and priority assignments to a large group of diverse
rescue personnel that need to work together in order to supply the
best support to drivers, spectators, other rescue workers, and team
members that may be involved in a situation.
IN THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The invention is set forth in the following description and
drawings in which:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a representation of a safety crew helmet showing a
virtual retinal display and a switch for its actuation;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a depiction of a driver's suit, a driver's helmet
and a communications link to a transceiver;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a representation of interconnection fabric;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a chart showing current accident procedure;
[0030] FIG. 5 is a chart showing accident procedure as disclosed
herein;
[0031] FIG. 6 is a stylized representation of the display in a VRD
showing vehicles at an accident scene and ancillary
information;
[0032] FIG. 7 is a panel showing the current state of the vital
signs of a driver;
[0033] FIG. 8 is a panel showing the medical history of a
driver.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] A summary of the areas addressed by this invention include,
but are not limited to the apparatus shown in the illustrations
included in this specification which are primarily directed to:
personal environmental status sensing fabrics incorporated into
temperature and humidity stabilizing clothing that is worn by
drivers and rescue personnel to first provide a medium that can
sense certain body functions and status as well as temper the
effects of heat intrusion on a wearer's body; a safety crew
personal communication and environmental protection head gear
including visual and audio input and output capability receiving
communications from a processing center, receiving a driver's
personal biometric information, receiving vehicle identification
data, data and communication from other safety crew personnel,
triage directors, transport crews, hospitals, doctors and medical
evacuation professionals and the like.
[0035] Various elements that will be useful in carrying out the
object of the invention will be described below.
[0036] In one embodiment of the invention the invention includes a
racing suit, see FIG. 2, with built in life monitoring modules that
will transmit the driver's condition to a device seen by safety
officials on the way to an accident. The driver's suit will contain
the life monitoring system, wiring and data transmission device.
The unit that receives this data, whether it is hand held or clips
onto the safety officials belt, will have a built in interface
informing them of each driver's condition, prioritizing the order
by the severity of their injuries. The data could also be
immediately transmitted to the local hospital to allow them to
prepare the incoming patient and alert the helicopter if the
driver's condition is that severe. By giving the safety crew the
ability to know the condition of the drivers involved in the
accident, they can prepare for any situation they are presented
with. Saving precious seconds and saving many lives.
[0037] In the event of an accident, data will be relayed in
real-time to a supplied device which is carried by the team and the
crew, instantaneously displaying urgent information. The suit and
helmet with incorporate sensors at vital points in the body.
Research has shown that the brain, neck/spinal cord, wrists, heart,
lungs, femurs, knees and ankles are the most commonly affected in a
car accident of any sorts.
[0038] The inventor's research into safety crews took an in-depth
look at several aspects of their work. The first of those being
what they wear. Findings laid down some basic criteria of what the
data transfer device should be. Basic criteria such as the fact
that they wore heavy leather gloves told the inventor that if it's
a hand held device the buttons need to be large and accessible.
[0039] In doing the research a quote was found that greatly
influenced the design, "many people die because emergency service
personnel cannot reach then in time to carry out life saving
procedures." Thus it is apparent that safety crews need to know who
to go to first so they can get there in time and that they need to
be supplied with the proper information to make crucial life saving
decisions on the spot. The safety crews order of operations, as
shown in FIG. 4, was found to provide plenty of room for
improvement. The safety crews steps of operations were: 1.
determine what has happened, 2. look for hazards endangering life,
3. look for apparent problems in gaining access and
disentanglement, 4. determine immediate emergency care
requirements, 5. locate all the victims, 6. consider on the scene
capabilities, 7. request additional resources, 8. assign personnel.
The inventor wanted to design a system that put steps four through
eight after step one. See FIG. 5. This alone would greatly enhance
the safety crews order of operations by allowing them to know who
the victims are, request resources and assign personnel even before
they get to the accident scene.
[0040] Safety crews have no prior knowledge of a driver's condition
when they are approaching the accident scene. In some instances the
driver may be knocked unconscious and unable to communicate with
the safety crew. The solution to this problem is provided by a
wearable vital signs monitoring system from Lifeguard System; NASA
Ames Astrobionics. This device monitors the following signs: ECG,
respiration, activity skin temperature, heart rate, pulse oximetry,
and diastolic and systolic blood pressure. The wearable device
acquires and logs these physiological parameters and can download
or stream the information in real time to a base station PC on
demand.
[0041] One implementation of safety crew data transfer using the
Lifeguard CPOD system is provided in the scenario wherein the
driver is equipped with a Lifeguard vital signs system sewn to his
NOMEX underwear. An accident occurs. The driver's vital signs are
sent in real time to the safety crew and the crew chief. The
driver's vitals are also transmitted to a hospital. On the drivers
arrival at the hospital the hospital has immediate knowledge of the
incoming patient's status and history. At this point remote triage
system is enabled.
[0042] Another way to monitor driver vitals is by using smart
underwear. Generally smart underwear is known. Sensatex has
developed a groundbreaking Interconnection Technology that allows
sensing, monitoring and information processing devices to be
networked together in a fabric. See FIG. 3. This outlast technology
was developed by Georgia Institute of Technology's School of
Textile and Fiber Engineering. The technology can be incorporated
into any fabric (cotton, lycra, wool, silk, etc.) or blend of
fabrics without effecting the look, feel or integrity of the fabric
that it is replacing. The so called "SmartShirt System"
incorporates advances in textile engineering, wearable computing,
and wireless data transfer to permit the convenient collection,
transmission and analysis of personal health and lifestyle data.
The SmartShirt allows the comfortable measuring and/or monitoring
of individual biometric data, such as heart rate, respiration rate,
body temperature, caloric burn, and provides readouts via a wrist
band PDA, or voice. Biometric information is wirelessly transmitted
to a personal computer an ultimately to the Internet. The smart
underwear wirelessly transmits the driver's biometric information
to the safety crew's helmet. As shown in FIG. 3 there is a basic
shirt grid, generally 136 that included sensors, one of six in this
figure identified as 140, optical fibers 138 and a multi-function
processor 142. After an accident instant biometric information is
sent to the safety crew and ambulance, to a helicopter standing by,
and to an emergency room.
[0043] Turning to FIG. 1, there is a representational drawing of a
safety helmet, generally 110, that would be worn by safety crew
members. The basic parts of this helmet are the shell 112, an outer
shield 114, an inner shield 115 having a lever 116 to raise the
inner shield that tucks away into the main shell. In an alternative
embodiment an exterior shield may be movable to cover a wearer's
face or to uncover the wearer's face. Movement of this exterior
shield it may be more efficient for the wearer to just grab the
visor at the top or the bottom to pull the visor closed or to open
it. Also there may be a noise canceling boom mike 118 that can be
operated by a push-to-talk switch 120, having a raised edge so the
user can feel when it is fully depressed and ready for
communication. Alternatively the microphone can be voice
activated.
[0044] A chin strap 121 will serve as part of the retention system.
It may be a nylon strap covered in cotton that is breathable for
comfort. Alternatively, it can be a chin strap that is lined with
Nomex.
[0045] The noise canceling boom microphone may be moveable mounted
on the helmet to make it easier to talk to a driver, that is, the
boom mike can be swung out of the way to talk to the driver. The
boom could alternatively be a flexible urethane boom so the user
can move it out of the way in need be. In an alternative embodiment
the boom mike 118 can be rigidly mounted and thus afford some
protection to the face of the helmet wearer.
[0046] It is expected that the helmet may have a microphone to
record outside ambient sound. Ambient noise is handled by use of a
noise canceling microphone which may be mounted in two positions,
one in the front such as 144 and one in the back of the helmet in a
location near location 146, underneath the outer shell of the
safety helmet. It then records ambient noise and directs it to the
headset. The microphone specifically cancels out race car engine
noise. This allows the safety crew to communicate with the driver
at the accident scene. Previously, the safety crew took their
helmet off when they got to the accident scene so they could hear
the drivers. It will also have interior communications capability.
Interior communications may include built in hearing protection
cups and a intercom headset.
[0047] FIG. 1 shows the virtual retinal display 122. A switch 124
may be used to actuate the display or, as an alternative the VRD
may be voice. activated. Optical see through displays are made by
Sony and sold under the name Glasstron. Microvision's Virtual
Retinal Display holds the most promise for an augmented-reality
system. This device uses light to paint images onto the retina by
rapidly moving the light source across and down the retina. Retinal
scanning display is promising because it has the potential to be
small.
[0048] FIG. 1 is a helmet embodiment that includes the VRD and the
boom microphone but also include a dual visor mechanism having an
inner shield 115 and an outer shield 114. In one embodiment the
inner shield 115 slides through the outer shell 112 and not the
inner shell of the helmet. The inner shield control 116 could be a
lever that has at least a portion projecting into the wearers field
of vision to allow him to see the lever. FIG. 1 shows a location
for a switch 124 for the VRD 122. The switch 124 can be a rocker
switch located so the hand of the wearer is not in the wearer's
field of view when switching through interfaces.
[0049] The driver will be provided with apparel that can sense and
transmit biometric information to the safety crew's helmets. As
shown in FIG. 3 a section of fabric, generally 136, using
interconnection technology developed by Georgia Institute of
Technology's School of Textile and Fiber engineering will provide
this capability. Smart Underwear, for cooling and heating and for
vital signs monitoring, is apparel worn by the driver, allows
sensing, monitoring and information processing devices to be
networked and sown together within the fabric. The Smart Underwear
wirelessly transmits the driver's biometric information. The basic
shirt grid 136 may include optical fibers 138 connecting sensors
such as 140 to a multi-function processor 142.
[0050] FIG. 2 shows the driver's suit 148 incorporating the fabric
either in the suit itself or in underwear worn by the driver as
discussed above. The driver's suit, or the Smart Underwear worn
under it, will transmit, by wireless communication, represented as
150, from the driver's helmet as shown or the drivers suit using
the Smart Underwear fabrics, the driver's vital signs to a remote
receiver or unit, generically shown as item 152. This unit 152 that
receives the life monitoring system information as data,
transmitted from the wiring and data transmission device of the
driver's suit, will have a built in interface informing the safety
officials of each of the driver's condition after an accident and
prioritizing their order, that is, the driver order, by the
severity of the driver's injuries. In one embodiment of the
invention the driver's instant biometric information, or data, is
sent to the safety crew and then further to an ambulance, to a
helicopter and to an emergency room of a hospital if the drivers
condition is severe.
[0051] The driver's suit 148 in FIG. 2, will contain the life
monitoring system, wiring and data transmission device. The unit
that receives this data, such as item 152, whether it is hand held
or clips onto the safety officials belt, which will have a built in
interface informing them of each of the drivers' conditions,
prioritizing their order by the severity of their injuries. The
data could also be immediately transmitted to the local hospital to
allow them to prepare the incoming patient and alert a helicopter
if the driver's condition is ssevere. Life monitoring modules, such
as modules "a" through "e." The most commonly affected in a car
accident include the brain, the spinal cord, the heart, knees,
ankles, femurs, lungs, and wrists.
[0052] In an alternative embodiment to the Smart Underwear
alternative, a Lifeguard CPOD system may be used to collect vital
signs from the driver. The driver will have a Lifeguard CPOD sewn
to his Nomex underwear. This wearable vital signs monitoring system
monitors: ECG, respiration, activity, skin temperature, heart rate,
pulse oximetry and diastolic and systolic blood pressure. The
wearable device acquires and logs these parameters and can download
or stream in real time to a base station PC on demand.
[0053] At this point the safety crew helmet with communication
capabilities and the drivers apparel also with communication
capabilities and vital sign monitoring equipment has been
discussed. Following is a description of how the safety crew and
the driver will work together for the safety of the driver.
[0054] Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5 the current procedure of
accident response will be compared to the accident response
protocol herein.
[0055] In FIG. 4 the steps of response are shown. These are in
order of the safety crews order of operations and include the steps
of: 1. determining what has happened, 2. looking for endangering
hazards, 3. looking for apparent problems in gaining access, 4.
determining immediate emergency requirements, 5. locating all the
victims, 6. considering the on-scene capabilities of the safety
crew, 7. requesting additional resources and 8. assigning
personnel.
[0056] With the racing accident integration system, shown generally
as the list of acts generally 156 of FIG. 5, the acts are
reordered. In the racing accident integration system shown in FIG.
5 the order of the acts is: 1. determining what has happened, 2.
requesting additional resources, 3. locating all the victims, 4.
determining immediate emergency requirements, 5. assigning
personnel, 6. considering the on-scene capabilities, 7. looking for
endangering hazards, and 8. looking for apparent problems in
gaining access. By reordering the acts the safety crews order of
operations are greatly enhanced by allowing them to know who the
victims are, request resources and assign personnel even before the
safety crew gets to the scene of the accident.
[0057] In a typical accident response the safety crews will see, in
their VRDs, a scene where the actual cars that are involved in the
accident will be shown. FIG. 6 is a graphical representation of the
scene. The actual cars have been replaced by circles in this figure
as a figure with the cars drawn in detail (see the provisional
application for more detail) isn't necessary for an understanding
of the invention. For instance, race cars numbered 1, 5, 6, 21, 40,
42, 45 and 99 are the car numbers of the cars involved in this
particular example. The field of view shown in the VRD is bordered
by a border 158. Cars 21 and 42 are outside the field of view
however arrows with the car numbers proximate the arrows indicate
that these two cars are involved in the accident and will be
evaluated by the safety crew and the data for these cars that shows
up in the panel 160 at the left of the VRD screen. These cars out
of the safety crew user's sight will be indicated by an arrow
pointing in the direction of the car along with the coordination
driver condition color. In the case of a driver's condition
worsening, the color will change and blink. The blinking will be
accompanied by a simultaneous sound coming through the headset. The
car number will also be moved up the priority list in panel 160.
Given this information the safety crew members can begin to
communicate with each other about who is going to go where. The
safety crews, before they reach the accident scene, will
communicate amongst themselves delegating the proper personnel to
the correct places.
[0058] The interface panel 160 on the left in the screen has the
car numbers in order according to who needs to be attended to
first. Stylized NASCAR numbers are used as the safety crew could
recognize those easier than regular numbers.
[0059] When the safety crew reaches the cockpit of a car, they will
hit the rocker switch of the VRD to scroll to the next interface,
this being interface 162 shown in FIG. 7. As an example, after
seeing number 45 glowing red, an experienced EMT was delegated to
attend to him. In the cockpit the safety crew member in unable to
communicate with the unconscious driver. The EMT looks at the
driver of car 45 vital signs in the feature bar and assesses his
condition. The safety crew member can see that the driver of car 45
has sustained trauma to three sections of his body ( "a," "b" and
"c") as shown by the highlighted areas of the figure in FIG. 7. As
they extract the driver from the car they know how to be extra
careful in these injured areas so as not to further injure the
driver.
[0060] After seeing the driver's basic condition, the safety crew
can hit the VRD rocker switch again to bring up the driver's
medical history 164. The feature bar, shown as item 164 in FIG. 8,
lists the driver's medical history. It states everything known of
the driver from allergies, medications, blood type, current and
past injuries, surgeries and family history. Equipped with this
information the safety crew can go about making crucial decisions
much more efficiently.
[0061] With this information at hand the safety crew can quickly
and properly extract the driver without further injuring him, have
medevac on site and ready and waiting for transport to the
emergency room, and lastly, a prepared emergency room for incoming
patients.
[0062] Returning to FIG. 6 and the user interface design in one
embodiment the color displayed over the car coordinates to the
driver's condition. Red means that the driver needs immediate
attention, yellow means that the driver needs assistance, and green
means that no assistance is needed. The color key also applies if a
car is out of the safety crews sights.
[0063] While the invention has been described with respect to the
embodiments set forth above, the invention is not necessarily
limited to those embodiments. Accordingly, other embodiments,
variations and improvements not described herein are not
necessarily excluded from the scope of the invention, which is
defined by the following claims.
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