Remotely Guided Ultrasound Scanning Successfully Used by Astronauts

Astronauts on extended space missions may become injured or develop diseases, necessitating immediate diagnosis and treatment. Research conducted on the International Space Station (ISS) revealed that astronauts could effectively perform remotely guided sonograms.

In 2001, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA; Washington DC, USA) integrated an ultrasound machine into the Health Research Facility on board the International Space Station. In the study, a ground-to-space two-way communication system was set up between the astronauts and the radiologists at Mission Control (Houston, TX, USA) and the operating astronauts were guided in performing sonograms for trauma, as well as ocular and musculoskeletal exams. The study revealed that ultrasound examinations were successfully performed within that microgravity environment. The study was published in the October 2008 issue of the Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

The astronauts in the study were introduced to the fundamentals of ultrasound and then the radiologists provided guidance, in real time, effectively supplementing the inadequacies of the astronaut's scanning abilities. The research demonstrated that the operating astronauts were able to identify and image normal anatomy, but whether they would be able to remain calm enough to scan adequately during a stressful, traumatic situation still remains to be answered.

"NASA's intent to prove that remotely-guided sonograms could be made to work within a microgravity environment was achieved,” reported author Kendell Cole in his article. "As more trial sonograms are conducted on the ISS, NASA may push the bounds of sonography and uncover other potential uses. There are sure to be many more trial sonograms to be conducted in space, but it is amazing to consider that eventually, a sonography machine may reside on Mars.”

Related Links:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration