Medical Gaming Technology can Help Train Astronauts

Medical gaming technology can help train astronauts to deal with emergency medical situations during missions.

Medical gaming company called the Level Ex is working with NASA to help train the astronauts in dealing with emergency medical situations during missions.

GlobalData medical writer Allie Nawrat finds out how the space simulation works as NASA looks towards longer missions to Mars.

Long Space Travels Can Cause Vision Impairment In Astronauts
NASA is studying and testing numerous ways that simulate conditions leading to visual impairment intracranial pressure (VIIP) in astronauts who travel to space.

‘Medical gaming technology can help train astronauts to deal with emergency medical situations during missions. Medical game will be used both during standard pre-space flight training and while on the space flight.’

Nawrat says: “Longer space missions, such as a journey to Mars, require new methods to deal with medical emergencies quickly as communication channels become much too slow when astronauts venture away from the space station."

To support astronauts in dealing with medical emergencies themselves, US-based medical gaming company Level Ex has received a grant from the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) to virtually simulate how the human body changes and is affected by space. This model will be used to train astronauts to treat diseases and perform medical procedures without needing to wait to receive instructions from mission control.

“The company envisions that the medical game will be used by astronauts both during their standard pre-space flight training and while they are on the space flight.”

Long Duration In Spaceflights Affects The Spine Of Astronauts - NASA Study
Astronauts on long missions in space experience moderate to severe backache due to atrophy or shrinkage of the muscles supporting the spine.

Level Ex vice-president and medical director Eric Gantwerker tells GlobalData: “The communication turnaround is 40 minutes there and 40 minutes back; that’s too long to wait in an emergency scenario. Unforeseen emergencies are always going to happen, the hope is the skills they have at their fingertips from their training will allow them to handle the situation.”

Kidney Stones Zapping Technology by NASA to Help Treat Astronauts With Stones
Astronauts are more prone to get kidney stones. Burst wave lithotripsy which detects and breaks stones, could be the next step for its treatment on Earth too.

Source-Eurekalert

Astronauts may Have to Wear Swimming Goggles to Avoid Vision Issues in Spaceflight
Astronauts might need to use swimming goggles to save their vision as reduced pressure during space missions can lead to adverse changes in the eye, reveals a new study.