Diver recovery device, diver recovery system and techniques for using

Abstract

Disclosed are methods, computer readable medium, and an underwater diver recovery system configured to be worn by a diver. The underwater diver recovery system includes an inflatable bladder. The underwater diver recovery system also includes an inflation control mechanism coupled to the inflatable bladder. The underwater diver recovery system also includes a control module configured to be in communication with the inflation control mechanism. The control module is operable to determine an underwater depth of the diver, and upon determining that the underwater depth exceeds a depth threshold value, cause the inflation control mechanism to inflate the inflatable bladder with a preset amount of gas, and cause the diver to ascend in controlled manner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An underwater diver recovery system configured to be worn by a diver, the underwater diver recovery system comprising:
 an inflatable bladder;   an inflation control mechanism coupled to the inflatable bladder; and   a control module in communication with the inflation control mechanism and the control module is operable to:
 determine an underwater depth of the diver; and 
 upon determining that the underwater depth exceeds a depth threshold value, cause the inflation control mechanism to inflate the inflatable bladder with a preset amount of gas, and cause the diver to ascend in controlled manner. 
   
     
     
         2 . The underwater diver recovery system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module further comprises:
 an alarm device configured to output an alarm, wherein the alarm device is an audible device, an illumination device, or a haptic device.   
     
     
         3 . The diver recovery system of  claim 2 , wherein the control module is operable to:
 cause the alarm device to actuate in response to the determination the water depth exceeds the depth threshold value.   
     
     
         4 . The underwater diver recovery system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further operable to:
 in response to a user input, stop the inflation control mechanism from inflating the inflatable bladder for a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         5 . The underwater diver recovery system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further operable to:
 cause the inflation control mechanism to stop inflating the inflatable bladder based on a predetermined setting.   
     
     
         6 . The underwater diver recovery system of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined setting is an amount of gas delivered to the inflatable bladder. 
     
     
         7 . The underwater diver recovery system of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined setting is a change in measurements as measured by a depth sensor coupled to the control module. 
     
     
         8 . The underwater diver recovery system of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined setting is related to depth measurements, an amount of time, physiological measurements, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The underwater diver recovery system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further operable to:
 cause the inflation mechanism to off-gas gas from the inflatable bladder when the control module determines the diver is ascending too rapidly or at a predetermined depth.   
     
     
         10 . The underwater diver recovery system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further operable to:
 cause, based on a further evaluation of another received underwater depth of the diver, the inflation control mechanism to pause the diver from ascending for a rest period.   
     
     
         11 . The underwater diver recovery system of  claim 10 , wherein the control module is further operable to:
 calculate the rest period based on the further evaluation of the depth measurements.   
     
     
         12 . The underwater diver recovery system of  claim 10 , wherein the control module is further operable to:
 at an end of the rest period, cause the inflation control mechanism to restart inflating the inflatable bladder.   
     
     
         13 . The underwater diver recovery system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module, when evaluating underwater measurements with respect to a depth threshold, is further operable to:
 evaluate an amount of time that the control module is at an underwater depth corresponding to the depth threshold; and   in response to the amount of time exceeding both a time threshold and the depth threshold, generate a signal to initiate the inflating of the inflatable bladder by the inflation control mechanism.   
     
     
         14 . The underwater diver recovery system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further operable to:
 in response to the determining that the underwater depth exceeds the depth threshold value, transmit, via a wireless communication protocol, an indication that the control module is initiating inflation of the inflatable bladder.   
     
     
         15 . The diver recovery system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further operable to:
 receive a physiological indication from a physiologic monitor coupled to a user; and   determine whether to evaluate the underwater measurements with respect to a depth threshold based on the physiological indication, wherein the physiological indication is at least one of: a heart rate, blood oxygen level, or body temperature.   
     
     
         16 . The underwater diver recovery system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module further comprises:
 a transceiver operable to wirelessly couple to a user interface remote from the control module, wherein the control module is operable to receive commands from the user interface and transmit system status and queries to the user interface.   
     
     
         17 . The underwater diver recovery system of  claim 1 , further comprises:
 an attachment point configured to couple to a buoyancy control device, wherein the attachment point positions the inflatable bladder, when inflated, to cause a face of a user to be above a surface of the water.   
     
     
         18 . The underwater diver recovery system of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable bladder when inflated with the gas is configured to position a face of a user above a surface of the water. 
     
     
         19 . The underwater diver recovery system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first gas cartridge connector configured to accept a first gas cartridge having a first volume.   
     
     
         20 . The underwater diver recovery system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a second gas cartridge connector configured to accept a second gas cartridge, wherein the second gas cartridge has a second volume different from the first volume.