High Altitude Sickness Detection

Hey guys, I'm investigating the possibility of developing applications of micro needle technology specifically for high-altitude climbers. I've a limited knowledge of high altitude climbing, so I'm very interested to get your input on what areas of climbing ye feel is suitable for current technologies currently being developed for the medical field.

Specifically I'm looking at ways to use the technology to help diagnose if a climber is starting to develop high altitude sickness or more severe forms such as HAPE and HACE.

I believe currently pulse oximeters aren't overly used by climbers due mainly to inconsistent results because of low circulation from the cold. Is this accurate?

The initial idea is to create a sensor that could be placed on a persons chest (similar to Nicotine patches) which would continuously monitor blood oximetery, heart rate and would listen to the persons breathing to detect early signs of HAPE.

This information would then stored, and algorithms would analyse the trend to alert the climber if they are at risk of altitude sickness by communicating wirelessly to a watch. Real-time data would also be displayed on the watch as well.

Would something like this be of value to you?

Is there anything else you feel a sensor would be particularly useful for? To continuously gather data and analysis the data for insights that would make climbing safer, etc?

I would greatly appreciate any helpful insight from you guys thanks!

Inconsistent, possibly yes. The pulseox will give you Hb bound. Arteriole shunting & tissue reaction in the cold can be a problem with the pulseox. Going up in altitude your blood gas will naturally adjust with a low PaO2, anyway. Also corresponding will be a lower PaCO2, indicative of your body maintaining a pH balance. Measuring only by an O2 sat could be healthy, or not, it's a number and will be low even if you don't have a problem. There are other variables, along with pH balance, that a person will need to adapt in order to maintain a healthy state given a hypoxic environment.

The clinical side is not yet entirely defined with an evidence-based foundation. In the field, your indicators will be symptom recognition, shortness of breath at rest and loss of muscle coordination. But, a lot of good that does you with trying to come up with a preventative indicator.