Patent ID: 7246620

Claim:
A system for use in an aircraft for avoiding hypoxemia in at least one subject exposed to a reduced atmospheric pressure, the system comprising: an air source to supply an oxygen mixture to at least one subject; a microprocessor being configured to determine an increased risk of hypoxemia in the at least one subject and atmospheric conditions corresponding to hypoxemia in the at least one subject, the microprocessor activating the air source to provide the oxygen mixture to the at least one subject in response to a determination of the increased risk of hypoxemia or atmospheric conditions corresponding to the increased risk of hypoxemia in the at least one subject; a first sensor to measure at least one physiological characteristic of the at least one subject, the first sensor transmitting a first signal to the microprocessor with the at least one physiological characteristic of the at least one subject; wherein the microprocessor determines the increased risk of hypoxemia in the at least one subject by comparing the at least one physiological characteristic of the at least one subject with a predetermined value for the at least one physiological characteristic of the at least one subject, the microprocessor determining the increased risk of hypoxemia in response to the at least one physiological characteristic of the at least one subject being less than the predetermined value for the at least one physiological characteristic; and a first time reference measured from an instant the oxygen mixture is first being provided to the at least one subject, the at least one subject being required to perform an affirmative act to reset the first time reference, the first time reference being compared to a second predetermined period of time, wherein in response to the first time reference exceeding the second predetermined period of time, emergency procedures are initiated, the emergency procedures include transmitting an automatic emergency message to a pre-programmed airport tower.