US Patent 7125302 Personal flotation device and method for same

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.