A case study of technology transfer: Rehabilitative engineering at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital

The transfer of NASA technolgy to rehabilitative applications of artificial limbs is studied. Human factors engineering activities range from orthotic manipulators to tiny dc motors and transducers to detect and transmit voluntary control signals. It is found that bicarbon implant devices are suitable for medical equipment and artificial limbs because of their biological compatibility with human body fluids and tissues

Muscle Spasticity and Its Interaction with Myofascial System of Children with Central Paresis

Traditionally, the problem of muscle spasticity was considered by experts as a kind of local problem associated with the inhibition or traumatisation of the central motor neuron in a certain part of its path. According to this approach, only the first stage of the causal relationship of the two systems was reflected: the nervous and the muscular systems. In the following, intrasystem relations of the muscle and muscle complex appeared according to the type of harmonization or destructivization of the activity of this system. To resolve this problematic situation, the article examines the original theory of Thomas V. Myers about “anatomical trains” or “myofascial meridians” as an integral musculoskeletal system of the human body, which forms the basis of its anatomy and motor activity. Key ideas of tensegrity as a structure of balanced compression-tension of the musculoskeletal system are identified, and it is necessary to rush to the targets, carrying out the correction of motor disorders of the tender age children with paresis of central type by means of physical education. For deeper understanding of the activities of these mechanisms of children myofascial status harmonization, the main myofascial lines were briefly characterized: surface back line, surface frontal line, lateral line, spiral line, arm lines. On this basis, working hypothesis was formulated as for using the holistic myofascial system capabilities of the child's body to correct both the tonic state of individual spastic muscles and to improve the general children motor status. To check the formulated hypothesis, the directions of the implementation of correctively directed physical education of tender age children with central paresis of different localization levels were indicated. An attempt was made to use the basic knowledge of the myofascial meridians functioning to increase the efficiency of diagnosing the state of musculoskeletal formations of children with spastic paresis, developing strategies and tactics for correcting their tonic state, methods and techniques for adjusting the balance of compression and tension of these structures to improve children motor activity and to improve the efficiency of their basic motor regimes mastering. There was made a fundamental conclusion that the correctional work by means of physical education should be preceded by preparatory work aimed at normalization of the whole myofascial system of a child with a spastic type of movement disorders, which can be carried out using purely medical techniques and the techniques based on the means of children physical education. Prospects of the scientific and practical development of the problem indicated in this article are highlighted separately

USSR Space Life Sciences Digest, issue 29

This is the twenty-ninth issue of NASA's Space Life Sciences Digest. It is a double issue covering two issues of the Soviet Space Biology and Aerospace Medicine Journal. Issue 29 contains abstracts of 60 journal papers or book chapters published in Russian and of three Soviet monographs. Selected abstracts are illustrated with figures and tables from the original. A review of a book on environmental hygiene and a list of papers presented at a Soviet conference on space biology and medicine are also included. The materials in this issue were identified as relevant to 28 areas of space biology and medicine. The areas are: adaptation, aviation medicine, biological rhythms, body fluids, botany, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, developmental biology, digestive system, endocrinology, equipment and instrumentation, genetics, habitability and environment effects, hematology, human performance, immunology, life support systems, mathematical modeling, metabolism, musculoskeletal system, neurophysiology, nutrition, personnel selection, psychology, radiobiology, reproductive system, space biology and medicine, and the economics of space flight

Rehabilitation Engineering

Population ageing has major consequences and implications in all areas of our daily life as well as other important aspects, such as economic growth, savings, investment and consumption, labour markets, pensions, property and care from one generation to another. Additionally, health and related care, family composition and life-style, housing and migration are also affected. Given the rapid increase in the aging of the population and the further increase that is expected in the coming years, an important problem that has to be faced is the corresponding increase in chronic illness, disabilities, and loss of functional independence endemic to the elderly (WHO 2008). For this reason, novel methods of rehabilitation and care management are urgently needed. This book covers many rehabilitation support systems and robots developed for upper limbs, lower limbs as well as visually impaired condition. Other than upper limbs, the lower limb research works are also discussed like motorized foot rest for electric powered wheelchair and standing assistance device

Thalidomide-induced Teratogenesis : History and Mechanisms

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Technology applications

A summary of NASA Technology Utilization programs for the period of 1 December 1971 through 31 May 1972 is presented. An abbreviated description of the overall Technology Utilization Applications Program is provided as a background for the specific applications examples. Subjects discussed are in the broad headings of: (1) cancer, (2) cardiovascular disease, (2) medical instrumentation, (4) urinary system disorders, (5) rehabilitation medicine, (6) air and water pollution, (7) housing and urban construction, (8) fire safety, (9) law enforcement and criminalistics, (10) transportation, and (11) mine safety