Personal flotation device and method for same

Abstract

A personal flotation apparatus including an inflatable bladder assembly coupled along a sleeve. The inflatable bladder assembly includes an inflatable bladder extending at least part way along the sleeve and a gas canister coupled with the inflatable bladder. The inflatable bladder assembly further includes an opening mechanism sized and shaped to open the gas canister. A heart monitor is in communication with the opening mechanism. In one option, the opening mechanism is adapted to open the gas canister and inflate the inflatable bladder when the heart monitor detects a heart rate outside of a predetermined range.

1 . A flotation device comprising:
 an inflatable bladder;   an inflation mechanism coupled with the inflatable bladder; and   a heart monitor in communication with the inflation mechanism, the heart monitor is configured to detect at least one heart physiological parameter, and the inflatable bladder inflates into an inflated configuration when the heart monitor detects a heart physiological parameter measurement outside of a predetermined range.   
   
   
       2 . The flotation device of  claim 1 , the inflatable bladder configured to float at least a portion of a human body. 
   
   
       3 . The flotation device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve, and at least the inflatable bladder is coupled along the sleeve. 
   
   
       4 . The flotation device of  claim 1 , the heart physiological parameter includes at least one of heart rate and blood pressure. 
   
   
       5 . The flotation device of  claim 1 , the heart monitor is electrically coupled with the inflation mechanism. 
   
   
       6 . The flotation device of  claim 1 , the heart monitor is wirelessly coupled with the inflation mechanism. 
   
   
       7 . The flotation device of  claim 1 , the inflation mechanism includes a portion of a gas container configured to melt when the heart monitor detects a heart physiological parameter measurement outside of a predetermined range. 
   
   
       8 . The flotation device of  claim 1 , the inflation mechanism includes a movable needle and a drive mechanism, and the drive mechanism is adapted to puncture a gas container with the needle. 
   
   
       9 . A flotation assembly comprising:
 a wearable article   an inflatable bladder coupled with the wearable article; and   a heart monitor coupled with the wearable article, the heart monitor is configured to detect at least one heart physiological parameter, and the inflatable bladder inflates into an inflated configuration when the heart monitor detects a heart physiological parameter measurement outside of a predetermined range.   
   
   
       10 . The flotation assembly of  claim 9 , the wearable article includes a garment. 
   
   
       11 . The flotation assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a gas container. 
   
   
       12 . The flotation assembly of  claim 11 , at least a portion of the gas container melts when the heart monitor detects the heart physiological parameter measurement outside of the predetermined range. 
   
   
       13 . The flotation assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one of a transmitter and a receiver in communication with the heart monitor. 
   
   
       14 . The personal flotation apparatus of  claim 9 , the heart monitor includes a predetermined range of heart rates. 
   
   
       15 . The personal flotation apparatus of  claim 9 , the heart monitor is programmable with a predetermined range of heart rates. 
   
   
       16 . A method comprising:
 coupling an inflatable bladder with an inflation mechanism; and   coupling a heart monitor with the inflation mechanism, the heart monitor is configured to detect at least one heart physiological parameter, and the inflatable bladder inflates into an inflated configuration when the heart monitor detects a heart physiological parameter measurement outside of a predetermined range.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising coupling at least the inflatable bladder with a wearable article. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , coupling the heart monitor with the inflation mechanism includes wirelessly coupling the heart monitor with the inflation mechanism. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , coupling the heart monitor with the inflation mechanism includes inflating the inflatable bladder into the inflated configuration with melting of at least a portion of a gas container. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising programming the predetermined range of the heart physiological parameter.