Near-infrared spectroscopy systems and methods for monitoring human physiology in activities related to aircraft

1 . A near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) system used for monitoring human physiology, the system comprising:

a substrate;

a first light source bank capable of emitting a first set of wavelengths of red or near-infrared light, the first light source bank mounted on the substrate;

a plurality of optical detectors, wherein at least a first optical detector of the plurality of optical detectors is capable of detecting the first set of wavelengths, the plurality of optical detectors mounted on the substrate;

a processor in electronic communication with at least one of the first light source bank and the optical detector, the processor mounted on the substrate;

a memory device in electronic communication with the processor, the memory device mounted on the substrate, wherein the memory device is non-transient; and

a battery in electronic communication with at least one of the first light source bank, the optical detector, the processor, and the memory device; and

program instructions stored on the memory device that, when executed, direct the processor to:

select, based on an input parameter, the first set of wavelengths;

select, based on the input parameter, the first optical detector of the plurality of optical detectors, the first optical detector being at a first distance from the first light source bank;

process a first signal from the first optical detector to calculate a first tissue oxygenation level;

compare the first tissue oxygenation level to a predetermined threshold; and

activate a feedback device when the first tissue oxygenation level is below the predetermined threshold.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second light source bank capable of emitting a second set of wavelengths of red or near-infrared light, the second light source bank mounted on the substrate;

wherein at least the first optical detector of the plurality of optical detectors is capable of detecting the first set of wavelengths and the second set of wavelengths

wherein the processor is in electronic communication with at least one of the first light source bank, the second light source bank, and the first optical detector;

wherein the battery is in electronic communication with at least one of the first light source bank, the second light source bank, the first optical detector, the processor, and the memory device; and

wherein the program instructions, when executed, direct the processor to:

select, based on the input parameter, at least one of the first set of wavelengths and the second set of wavelengths; and

select, based on the input parameter, the first optical detector and a second optical detector of the plurality of optical detectors, the second optical detector being at a second distance from the second light source bank.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a flexible substrate.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein a first assembly comprises the substrate, the first light source bank, the second light source bank, the first optical detector, the processor, and the memory device; and wherein a second assembly comprises the battery.

5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein each wavelength within the second set of wavelengths is less than about 805 nm.

6 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the second distance from the second light source bank is from about 0.8 cm to about 4.5 cm.

7 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the second distance from the second light source bank is about 1.5 cm.

8 . The system of claim 2 , wherein:

the first set of wavelengths pass through a first type of tissue,

the second set of wavelengths pass through a second type of tissue, and

processing the first signal from the first optical detector comprises isolating first oxygenation within the first type of tissue from second oxygenation within the second type of tissue.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein isolating the first oxygenation from the second oxygenation comprises mathematically filtering out the second oxygenation by comparing respective light signatures of the first and second sets of wavelengths.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined threshold of the first tissue oxygenation level is from about 50% oxygen to about 100% oxygen.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the feedback device is a haptic feedback device.

12 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer mounted on the substrate.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the program instructions further direct the processor to modify the feedback device when the change in velocity differs from a threshold for a predetermined period of time.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a rigid substrate.

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each wavelength within the first set of wavelengths is from about 660 nm to about 940 nm.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each wavelength within the first set of wavelengths is greater than about 805 nm.

17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first distance from the first light source bank is from about 0.8 cm to about 4.5 cm.

18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first distance from the first light source bank is about 4 cm.

19 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an inflatable wearable device,

wherein the program instructions further direct the processor to:

direct at least a portion of the inflatable wearable device to adjust an inflation level of the inflatable wearable device based on the comparison of the first tissue oxygenation level to the predetermined threshold.

20 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first tissue oxygenation level comprises a cerebral tissue oxygenation level.