Fact Sheet
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Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images
Facility/Payload OverviewBrief Facility Summary
The Human Research Facility Ultrasound on the International Space Station (Ultrasound) hardware will use high resolution imaging to conduct ultrasound exams on crewmembers during ISS missions to help develop strategies for diagnostic telemedicine in both space and on Earth.
Facility Manager(s)Information Pending
Facility DeveloperJohnson Space Center, Houston, TX
Sponsoring AgencyNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Expeditions Assigned|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12|13|14|15|16|17|18|19|20|21|22|
Previous ISS MissionsUltrasound has been operational on the ISS since expedition 2.
Facility/Payload Description
Facility Summary
- The Human Research Facility Ultrasound on the International Space Station (Ultrasound) equipment is the only medical imaging device currently available on the ISS which locally records analog and digital high resolution images for a broad range of applications.
- Ultrasound is capable of being upgraded with new system options including software and hardware upgrades.
The Human Research Facility - 1 (HRF-1) is equipped with a space-adapted, rack-mounted version of the HDI-5000 Ultrasound System (ATL/Philips, Bothwell, WA). The The Human Research Facility Ultrasound on the International Space Station (Ultrasound) is capable of high resolution imaging in a wide range of applications, both research and diagnostic. Compared to other diagnostic imaging tools, the Ultrasound system is compact and lightweight, and the ultrasound images appear instantly. The ultrasound computer monitor and keyboard connect to the main ultrasound unit. It features a Hi-8mm video recorder, digital and output storage capability, a clock display, a microphone and a deployable keyboard and display screen. It is able to perform in various two-dimensional (2D) modes (M-mode, Spectral Doppler, Color Doppler, Color Power Angiography, Continuous Wave Doppler, and Color M-mode). It is able to record analog and digital images locally and downlink them for further analysis on Earth.
The Ultrasound allows for stereo, audio output, and voice annotation by the ISS crew. The Ultrasound allows the realization of the great scientific potential of ultrasound imaging in conditions of space flight, acquiring morphological (form and structure) and morphometric (size and shape) as well as physiological information from virtually every area or organ system of the human body.
Ultrasound is capable of being upgraded with new system options, software and hardware upgrades. Deep organ, muscular and vascular ultrasounds are some applications capable of being performed by Ultrasound. The Ultrasound hardware also has cardiac features capable of volume and pressure determination, tissue imaging and flow determination.
Operations
Facility Operations
Ultrasound is constrained to a maximum of four hours in a 24-hour period, and it is required to be run at least one time per increment. If imaging will take place during the session, private space-to-ground video downlink is required. The ISS crew must set up the ultrasound hardware (this consists primarily of the HRF laptop and the ultrasound keyboard, monitor, and probes) prior to Ultrasound usage.
Results/More Information
During ISS Expedition 5, a focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) examination utilizing the Ultrasound, including four standard abdominal windows, was completed in approximately 5.5 minutes onboard the ISS. Following commands from the Johnson Space Center ? TeleScience Center (JSC-TSC) based expert, the crewmember acquired all target images without difficulty. The anatomic content and fidelity of the ultrasound video were excellent and would allow clinical decision making. It was concluded that it is possible to conduct a remotely guided FAST examination with excellent clinical results and speed, even with a significantly reduced video frame rate and a 2-second communication latency. A wider application of trauma ultrasound applications for remote medicine on Earth appears to be possible and warranted (Saragsyan 2004).
In 2005, athletic trainers for the National Hockey League (NHL) and the United States Olympic teams received a brief (less than 2 hours) hands-on course for musculoskeletal ultrasound techniques, from NASA scientists. Remotely guided musculoskeletal ultrasound examinations (knee, groin, ankle, elbow or shoulder) were obtained on 32 athletes by non-physician operators in less than 15 minutes each during the 2005 ? 2006 NHL season and 2006 Winter Olympics. Digital images and video-streams were saved at intervals during the examinations and downloaded. All images and video-streams were considered adequate by professional musculoskeletal ultrasound radiologists. The use of the Ultrasound onboard ISS demonstrated that non-physician operators with limited ultrasound training can perform quality examinations with direction from remote-based professionals. Therefore, this experience suggests that remote ultrasound guidance can be expanded for use in locations without on-site expertise as demonstrated at the 2006 Winter Olympics and (Kwon 2006).
Given such risks that injury in space may increase due to the greater number of hours spent on orbit and the multitude of demanding tasks being performed, diagnostic capabilities onboard the ISS should be maximized both to prevent an unnecessary medical evacuation and to increase survival chances and recovery from serious injury if trauma is sustained. Sonography is the only means of medical imaging onboard the ISS, and is likely to remain the leading imaging modality in future human space flight programs. Although trauma sonography (TS) has been well recognized for use on Earth, the technique had to be evaluated for suitability in space flight prior to adopting it as an operational capability. Over a course of four phases, researchers conducted the following investigations: gathered literature reviews that supported the idea that TS was a potential screening tool for trauma in space; developed and tested animal models in ground studies; flight-tested animal models in the NASA KC-135 Reduced Gravity Laboratory; and addressed issues necessary to offer modified TS techniques for space use. Researchers believe that this four-phased approach provided an avenue to evaluating other future potential technologies for operational space medicine (Kirkpatrick 2007).
Availability
Related Web Sites
Publications
Results Publications
Related Publications
Images
NASA Image: ISS05E15406 - View of Astronaut Peggy Whitson working with the Human Research Facility (HRF) Ultrasound Flat Screen Display in the U.S. Laboratory/Destiny during Expedition Five on the International. Space Station (ISS).+ View Larger Image
NASA Image: ISS005E15408 - View of Astronaut Peggy Whitson working with the Human Research Facility (HRF) Ultrasound Flat Screen Display and keyboard in the U.S. Laboratory/Destiny. Photo was taken during Expedition Five on the International. Space Station (ISS).+ View Larger Image
NASA Image: ISS014E11764 - Astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, Expedition 14 Commander, smiles for the camera as he holds the Human Research Facility (HRF) 1 Ultrasound Transducer Probe assembly. Lopez-Alegria was performing the (HRF) 1 Ultrasound Lite Closeout operations in the Destiny laboratory module when this photo was taken.+ View Larger Image
Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office