System for inhalation-based underwater alerts

Abstract

In variants, a wearable stimulant alert system for a diver can include an air tank, first stage regulator, air hose, second stage regulator, a mouthpiece, a stimulant mechanism, and/or an optional controller. The stimulant mechanism can include a stimulant, stimulant container, and a stimulant release mechanism. The wearable stimulant alert system can function to alert a diver when a stimulant condition (e.g., when the air tank pressure falls below a threshold value) is met.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A wearable stimulant alert system for an underwater diver, comprising:
 an air tank configured to store pressurized air defining an air tank opening with internal threads;   a first stage regulator defining a regulator opening with external threads; and   a stimulant mechanism defining an inlet with external threads configured to mate with the internal threads of the air tank opening and defining an outlet with internal threads configured to mate with the external threads of the regulator opening;   wherein the air tank, the stimulant mechanism, and the first stage regulator cooperatively define an air channel;   wherein the stimulant mechanism includes:
 a stimulant container configured to store a fluid stimulant at a stimulant container pressure and defining a stimulant container outlet; 
 an ambient pressure valve located between the air channel and the stimulant container outlet and configured to close when an ambient pressure is lower than 17.5 psi and to open when the ambient pressure is greater than 17.5 psi; and 
 an air pressure valve located between the air channel and the ambient pressure valve and configured to open when an air channel pressure is below an air pressure threshold value; and 
   wherein the stimulant container is configured to removably connect to the air pressure valve.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable stimulant alert system of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulant container pressure is 750 psi. 
     
     
         3 . The wearable stimulant alert system of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulant container and the ambient pressure valve cooperatively compose a removable stimulant vessel which is removably connected to the air pressure valve via a threaded connection. 
     
     
         4 . The wearable stimulant alert system of  claim 1 , wherein the air pressure threshold value is 750 psi. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable stimulant alert system of  claim 4 , wherein the air pressure threshold value increases to 500 psi when the ambient pressure is above 20 psi. 
     
     
         6 . The wearable stimulant alert system of  claim 1 , wherein the air pressure threshold value changes based on an underwater diver weight, an underwater diver heart rate, a stimulant type, an underwater diver experience level, an underwater diver location, a time of day, and a proximity of other wearable stimulant alert systems. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable stimulant alert system of  claim 1 , wherein the system additionally comprises a second stimulant mechanism configured to facilitate flow of a second stimulant which is separate and distinct from the first stimulant into the air channel when a rate of change of the ambient pressure exceeds a pressure change threshold value, and wherein the second stimulant mechanism is configured to mate with the internal threads of the outlet of the stimulant mechanism, wherein the second stimulant mechanism additionally defines the air channel. 
     
     
         8 . The wearable stimulant alert system of  claim 7 , wherein the pressure change threshold value increases when the air channel pressure decreases. 
     
     
         9 . The wearable stimulant alert system of  claim 7 , wherein the stimulant mechanism and the second stimulant mechanism release stimulant into the air channel at the same time. 
     
     
         10 . The wearable stimulant alert system of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulant mechanism is communicatively connected to a different iteration of the wearable stimulant alert system comprising a different air pressure valve and wherein the air pressure valve opens when to the different air pressure valve opens. 
     
     
         11 . The wearable stimulant alert system of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulant mechanism comprises an aerosolization mechanism fluidly connecting the air channel and the stimulant channel and configured to aerosolize the stimulant. 
     
     
         12 . The wearable stimulant alert system of  claim 1 , additionally comprising an air hose connected to the first stage regulator, wherein an inner surface of the air hose is coated with an anti-fouling coating. 
     
     
         13 . An air management system for a diver, comprising:
 an air tank configured to store pressurized air above 3000 psi;   a first stage regulator; and   a stimulant mechanism comprising a stimulant container containing a stimulant at a pressure above 200 psi;   wherein the air tank, the first stage regulator, and the stimulant mechanism cooperatively define an air channel; and   wherein the stimulant mechanism additionally comprises:
 an air pressure valve configured to open when an air channel pressure is below an air pressure threshold value, wherein the air pressure threshold value is above 200 psi; 
 an ambient pressure valve configured to open when an ambient pressure is above an ambient pressure threshold value, wherein the ambient pressure threshold value is above 15.5 psi; and 
   wherein the stimulant container, ambient pressure valve, and air pressure valve cooperatively define a stimulant channel fluidly connected to the air channel.   
     
     
         14 . The air management system of  claim 13 , wherein the stimulant container and the ambient pressure valve are connected by a fixed connection and wherein the ambient pressure valve and the air pressure valve are connected by a threaded connection. 
     
     
         15 . The air management system of  claim 13 , wherein the stimulant mechanism comprises a float, wherein the density of the float is less than 500 kg/m 3 . 
     
     
         16 . The air management system of  claim 13 , wherein an atomizing nozzle additionally defines the stimulant channel and wherein the air pressure valve and the air channel are fluidly connected via the atomizing nozzle. 
     
     
         17 . The air management system of  claim 13 , wherein the air pressure valve is configured to open after the ambient pressure valve opens. 
     
     
         18 . The air management system of  claim 13 , wherein the air pressure valve is configured to open responsive to a signal from a controller, wherein the controller is configured to dynamically calculate the air pressure threshold value based on a measured ambient pressure measurement value received from a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The air management system of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to calculate the air pressure threshold value using a model trained on data from a set of prior dives. 
     
     
         20 . The air management system of  claim 13 , wherein the stimulant mechanism comprises multiple types of stimulant and is configured to mix the different types of stimulant in differing proportions based on the ambient pressure and the air channel pressure.