As NASA https://www.nasa.gov prepares to send astronauts further into space for longer durations means that managing and maintaining their health is a top priority.
Currently, researchers and engineers are testing a medical diagnostic device aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to enable astronauts to evaluate to their physical conditions.
Recently, experts from NASA’s Human Research Program’s Exploration Medical Capability (ExMC) team successfully tested the Reusable Handheld Electrolyte and Laboratory Technology for Humans (rHEALTH) ONE biomedical analyzer, a portable device that uses laser technology to diagnose illness or injury. Launched to the station in February, rHEALTH is a miniature flow cytometer that can detect cells and other biomarkers to assess biological changes.
There are a variety of medical conditions that can affect astronauts who live for prolonged periods in space including blood clots, kidney stones, radiation exposure, and a range of other illnesses and injuries. However traditional medical diagnostics and treatments when working on the Moon or even Mars would not be available.
The device offers a two pronged approach. A sensor is affixed to the chest and streams real time vital signs to the astronauts and NASA’s medical team on Earth. Then the astronaut collects a single biological sample such as blood, salvia, or more on a nanostrip and inserts it into the device. Once inside the rHEALTH reader, microfluidic technology performs dilution, mixing, and complete sample prep.
The sample is then exposed to two lasers that read and analyze it, collecting over 100 million raw data points for particles the size of cells. Thousands of tests are recorded, referenced to calibrators, and then finally communicated to the astronaut and physicians on the ground within minutes. This type of demo using small samples is the first of its kind in orbit, allowing astronauts the potential to get more biomedical information faster.
“NASA has made a concerted effort to sponsor and test medical technologies over past decades to advance human health and performance in space. rHEALTH is an example of this partnership between NASA and industry to bring the best technologies to flight” said, Gail Perusek, Project Manager for ExMC and Co-Investigator for rHEALTH at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
Go to https://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/home/index.html for more information.