Solution Set for TopCoder Dataset

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Medical Hardware for the Space Environment: An Engineering Experience at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The complexity and amount of medical hardware needed by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) constantly shifts with mission requirements. Early missions such as Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo required minimal, relatively non-complex medical hardware, but as mission lengths have increased from hours to multiple months and mission crew sizes have increased from one to seven, so has the amount and complexity of medical hardware. As such, a need has arisen to develop a methodology by which medical hardware is certified for the space environment in a safe, consistent, and economically viable manner. This record of study documents my experiences certifying medical hardware for the space environment by providing two specific certification examples, a defibrillator, and automated external defibrillator and provides a brief history of the medical hardware used by NASA for its manned space programs

Evaluating the Medical Kit System for the International Space Station(ISS) - A Paradigm Revisited

Medical capabilities aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have been packaged to help astronaut crew medical officers (CMO) mitigate both urgent and non-urgent medical issues during their 6-month expeditions. Two ISS crewmembers are designated as CMOs for each 3-crewmember mission and are typically not physicians. In addition, the ISS may have communication gaps of up to 45 minutes during each orbit, necessitating medical equipment that can be reliably operated autonomously during flight. The retirement of the space shuttle combined with ten years of manned ISS expeditions led the Space Medicine Division at the NASA Johnson Space Center to reassess the current ISS Medical Kit System. This reassessment led to the system being streamlined to meet future logistical considerations with current Russian space vehicles and future NASA/commercial space vehicle systems. Methods The JSC Space Medicine Division coordinated the development of requirements, fabrication of prototypes, and conducted usability testing for the new ISS Medical Kit System in concert with implementing updated versions of the ISS Medical Check List and associated in-flight software applications. The teams constructed a medical kit system with the flexibility for use on the ISS, and resupply on the Russian Progress space vehicle and future NASA/commercial space vehicles. Results Prototype systems were developed, reviewed, and tested for implementation. Completion of Preliminary and Critical Design Reviews resulted in a streamlined ISS Medical Kit System that is being used for training by ISS crews starting with Expedition 27 (June 2011). Conclusions The team will present the process for designing, developing, , implementing, and training with this new ISS Medical Kit System

Miniature Biometric Sensor Project

Heart rate monitoring (HRM) is a critical need during exploration missions. Unlike the four separate systems used on ISS today, the single HRM system should perform as a diagnostic tool, perform well during exercise or high level activity, and be suitable for use during EVA. Currently available HRM technologies are dependent on uninterrupted contact with the skin and are prone to data drop-out and motion artifact when worn in the spacesuit or during exercise. Here, we seek an alternative to the chest strap and electrode based sensors currently in use on ISS today. This project aims to develop a single, high performance, robust biosensor with focused efforts on improved heart rate data quality collection during high intensity activity such as exercise or EVA

Evaluating the Medical Kit System for the International Space Station A Paradigm Revisited

This slide presentation reviews the Medical Kit for the International Space Station. It includes a review of the kit, the users, the implementation of new kits, and lessons learned

Integrated Photonics for NASA Applications

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Processes for Designing Innovative Biomedical Hardware to Use in Space and on Earth

The new era of space exploration is increasing the astronaut's number and diversity in low orbit and beyond. The influx of such a diverse crew population will also increase the need for medical technologies to ensure safe and productive missions. Such a need represents a unique opportunity to innovate and develop diagnostics and treatment tools to meet future needs. Historically, terrestrial regulatory oversight of biomedical design processes was considered separate from spaceflight regulatory processes because it did not address spaceflight constraints. These constraints challenge the creative development of unique solutions for use in space. Translation between healthcare innovation in spaceflight to healthcare on Earth and vice versa requires understanding the commonalities, unique needs and constraints. This manuscript provides a framework for comparing Earth-space design processes and a perspective on the best practices to improve healthcare equity and health outcomes