Healthcare Technology Featured Article

July 07, 2011

GE Telemedicine System Chosen for International Space Station


When the space shuttle Atlantis lifts off tomorrow, a unique telemedicine solution from GE Healthcare will be included for delivery to the International Space Station (ISS). The GE Vivid q Cardiovascular Ultrasound system is slated to be delivered to the ISS, chosen by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

GE announced that NASA has chosen the Vivid q to meet its vigorous standards for spaceflight qualification and acceptance testing. A customized version of the Vivid q solution will be used on the ISS as part of NASA's human research program, helping to assess the impact of long duration microgravity space flights on astronauts.

The compact, lightweight Vivid q is a diagnostic ultrasound system measuring about the size of a laptop, for portability and ease of use. It is designed for cardiovascular imaging, but also enables the assessment of LV function and cardiac performance. A panoramic scan feature is a new capability never before used by NASA in space.

NASA will replace and upgrade a 10-year-old ultrasound unit with the new equipment, which had stopped operating earlier this year in the Human Research Facility. The system will be used for general crew health assessment as well as in NASA space research investigations like Integrated Cardiovascular, which examines the weakening of heart muscles in tandem with long-duration spaceflight. It will also be part of the Integrated Resistance and Aerobic Training study evaluation of using high intensity, low volume exercise training to minimize loss of muscle, bone and cardiovascular function in astronauts.

The system will also be used by a European Space Agency Experiment in Vascular Echography (Vessel Imaging) to evaluate changes in central and peripheral blood vessel wall properties as well as cross-sectional areas of the astronauts both during and after long-term exposure to microgravity.

NASA's New Millennium Observatory Network (NeMO Net) may also use the Vivid q for its extreme mission operation, providing underwater space simulation. The near real-time data communications system links instruments to the Internet and is located in a submarine volcano one mile underwater and 300 miles off the shore of Oregon.

"We are honored that NASA, a world leader in developing and testing true cutting edge technology, has selected Vivid q as the cardiovascular ultrasound for this space mission," said Al Lojewski, vice president and general manager of GE Healthcare's Cardiovascular Ultrasound Unit. "We are excited that the Vivid q's exceptional imaging capabilities will also now support NASA's important research in space flight and the impact of space travel on the human physiology."




Edited by Rich Steeves
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