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Overview

Ground Portion – Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity

Principal Investigator:
Scott A. Dulchavsky, M.D., Ph.D.

Organization:
Henry Ford Health System

If an astronaut suffers an injury or a sudden illness, there are limited capabilities aboard a spacecraft that can be used to diagnose the problem. In addition to the likelihood of not having an onboard physician, a spacecraft will not have an X-ray machine. However, research has shown that ultrasound, a technology on the International Space Station, can be used to obtain diagnostic quality images.

Dr. Scott A. Dulchavsky is leading ground-based tests to improve the ability to use ultrasound in the diagnosis of abdominal/thoracic trauma, bone and ligamentous injury, dental/sinus infections and ophthalmic and urologic complications. The optimization of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool will greatly enhance space medicine capabilities, as well as provide benefits for military and rural health care on Earth.

NASA Taskbook Entry

Technical Summary

The diagnosis of acute health problems in space is problematic due to limited training of the Crew Medical Officer, human and environmental factors and changes in anatomy and disease presentation in microgravity. Trauma and other acute clinical conditions may cause serious mission-ending health consequences. There is no planned radiological capability aboard the International Space Station further complicating medical diagnosis in space. However, terrestrial investigations have suggested expanded diagnostic applications of ultrasound in abdominal/thoracic trauma, bone and ligamentous injury, dental/sinus infections, and ophthalmic and urologic complications. The Human Research Facility will have ultrasound capability for research and possibly operational use. This project will optimize ground-based diagnostic ultrasound in these applications to fulfill the objectives.

Objective
Maximize the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in the diagnosis of abdominal injury, pneumothorax, extremity injury, dental/sinus infection, ophthalmic injury and urologic disorders in ground-based testing.

The unique constraints imposed by the space environment require the development of novel strategies for crew member health problems including the expanded use of ultrasound. Thoracic ultrasound, initially investigated by NASA as an alternative diagnostic modality for pneumothorax and orthopedic injury, has proven accuracy in terrestrial and microgravity applications and may have widespread impact in acute care. The ultrasonic diagnostic modalities described in this project, when optimized, would provide a significant, clinically-relevant advance in space medical capabilities with profound Earth-based ramifications in rural or military applications.

Earth Applications

The ultrasonic diagnostic modalities described in this project, when optimized, would provide a significant, clinically-relevant advance in space medical capabilities with profound Earth-based ramifications in rural or military applications.

This project's funding ended in 2007