Several technological enhancements have been made to METI’s commercial Emergency Care Simulator (ECS) with regard to how microgravity affects human physiology. The ECS uses both a softwareonly lung simulation, and an integrated mannequin lung that uses a physical lung bag for creating chest excursions, and a digital simulation of lung mechanics and gas exchange. METI’s patient simulators incorporate models of human physiology that simulate lung and chest wall mechanics, as well as pulmonary gas exchange.
Microgravity affects how O2 and CO2 are exchanged in the lungs. Procedures were also developed to take into affect the Glasgow Coma Scale for determining levels of consciousness by varying the ECS eye-blinking function to partially indicate the level of consciousness of the patient. In addition, the ECS was modified to provide various levels of pulses from weak and thready to hyper-dynamic to assist in assessing patient conditions from the femoral, carotid, brachial, and pedal pulse locations.
This work was done by Nigel Parker and Veronica O’Quinn of Medical Education Tech, Inc. for Johnson Space Center. MSC-23922-1
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Developing Physiologic Models for Emergency Medical Procedures Under Microgravity
(reference MSC-23922-1) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
Don't have an account?
Overview
The document titled "Developing Physiologic Models for Emergency Medical Procedures Under Microgravity" outlines advancements made by NASA in enhancing emergency medical training for astronauts. It focuses on the unique challenges posed by microgravity on human physiology, particularly how it affects lung mechanics and gas exchange.
Traditional patient simulators are designed for Earth-bound conditions, which do not account for the physiological changes that occur in space. In microgravity, the mechanics of oxygen (O₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) exchange in the lungs are altered, necessitating the development of new medical procedures tailored for space environments. The document describes the creation of a patient simulator that incorporates these microgravity effects, allowing for more realistic training scenarios.
Key innovations include the integration of a software-based lung simulation and a physical mannequin that mimics lung function through a digital simulation of lung mechanics. The Emergency Care Simulator (ECS) has been enhanced to vary pulse strengths, which is crucial for training medical personnel to assess different patient conditions accurately. This variability in pulse rates—from weak and thready to hyperdynamic—improves the realism of training and helps develop critical assessment skills.
Additionally, the document highlights the incorporation of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) into the simulator, allowing for the assessment of consciousness levels through eye blinking functions. This feature enhances the training experience by providing a more comprehensive understanding of patient conditions in a microgravity environment.
The potential commercial applications of these innovations extend beyond space exploration. The technology could be adapted for use in other challenging environments, such as deep-sea operations, where similar physiological changes occur. This opens new markets for the ECS, including training programs for medical facilities dealing with marine sciences and emergency response for divers.
Overall, the document emphasizes the importance of adapting medical training technologies to meet the unique challenges of space travel, ultimately improving the preparedness of astronauts for medical emergencies. By incorporating microgravity parameters into physiologic models, NASA aims to enhance the effectiveness of emergency medical procedures in space and potentially in other extreme environments.
