Space Shuttle Atlantis blasts off with m-health gear in tow

When the space shuttle Atlantis blasted off earlier today for the final mission of its kind in space, it was also carrying a first of its kind for m-health. General Electric Co. (GE) Healthcare’s Vivid q Cardiovascular Ultrasound is on board and NASA plans to bring it to the International Space Station to assess the impact of long spaceflight on astronauts for years to come.
NASA will be replacing a decade-old ultrasound that broke down earlier this year. The new system will be used to study the effects of microgravity on the human body during prolonged space flights. Some of the research will provide insight into the weakening of heart muscles, which occurs during long periods in space. NASA also plans to evaluate the use of low volume exercise training to minimize the loss of muscle, bone and cardiovascular function in astronauts.
“We are honored that NASA, a world leader in developing and testing true cutting edge technology, has selected Vivid q as the cardiovascular ultrasound for this space mission,” said Al Lojewski, VP and GM of GE Healthcare’s Cardiovascular Ultrasound Unit. “We are excited that the Vivid q’s exceptional imaging capabilities will also now support NASA’s important research in space flight and the impact of space travel on the human physiology.”
The Vivid q is designed for cardiovascular imaging and the panoramic scan feature is a capability that NASA has not had available in space before.