As NASA prepares to extend human exploration beyond low Earth orbit, the human research program is working to develop medical technologies for in-flight diagnosis and treatment. Identifying and testing medical care and crew health maintenance technologies is vital to providing capabilities for astronauts on long duration exploration missions.
The mission of the Exploration Medical Capability (ExMC) element within the Human Research Program is to advance medical system design and risk-informed decision making for exploration beyond low Earth orbit and to promote human health and performance in space.
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The Challenge is to develop the medical diagnostic capabilities used in hospital laboratories by “shrinking” the technology to accommodate long duration space flight. The Human Research Program (HRP) is addressing near term research risks such as inadequate nutrition, bone degradation, loss of cardiovascular function, etc. and aims to reduce the need for biological sample return … Read the rest ⇢
There is a need for having the capability to provide in situ intravenous fluid generation and resource optimization during long duration human space flight missions. NASA Glenn was charged with developing a compact water purification system to reliably produce sterile water for injection from in situ resources in a reduced gravity environment. This system was … Read the rest ⇢
There is a lack of efficient medical consumable inventory tracking that can provide data on overall usage and integrates security with the space vehicle inventory management system. NASA Glenn Research Center developed an RFID-based system that inventories hundreds of medical items in a locker setting and transmits time stamped usage data securely with an anonymous … Read the rest ⇢
We do not have fully-sufficient non-invasive diagnostic imaging capability and techniques to diagnose conditions listed on the Space Medicine Exploration List such as renal stones, bone fractures, bone density degeneration, intracranial pressure and cardiovascular pathologies. There has been an industry trend toward software-based ultrasound systems, which offers multiple advantages to NASA including greater user flexibility … Read the rest ⇢
There is a lack of medical suction and fluid containment capability for chest tube and airway management in partial gravity and microgravity environments. NASA Glenn Research Center, in cooperation with the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Program, developed a system that recovers air from a three phase mixture which includes bio-solids and liquids in a … Read the rest ⇢
A system is needed to deliver oxygen to crew members in flight while minimizing local and cabin oxygen build-up. An oxygen concentrator that provides a source of enriched oxygen from spacecraft cabin air for use in spacecraft emergencies that can be deployed rapidly, is portable and eliminates the possibility of a buildup of enriched oxygen … Read the rest ⇢
