July 2008

NASA uses Quixote technology

Undersea testing helps researchers learn about effects of space

We normally think of astronauts floating in space or orbiting high above the earth. But, for 22 days, two astronauts -- Commander Dave Williams, a Canadian physician, and America's Ron Garin -- lived and worked in a special undersea research habitat 65 feet below the surface off the coast of Florida.

The project, dubbed "Nemo Nine" was one of many experiments conducted in the NASA undersea facility, but this one was different: NASA used the same technology now available to chiropractors through Quixote Instrumentation. The device is a wearable outfit that records multiple physiological measurements simultaneously. The technology is an ultra-miniaturized physiological encoder and stores the data using flash memory cards.

Since an undersea environment is, in many ways, similar to outer space, researchers are able to test physiological responses to zero gravity as well as long-term confinement in small spaces. Much of this research has been done by researchers William B. Toscano, PhD and Patricia S. Cowing, PhD. Both are research psychologists with the Human Systems Integration Division of NASA's Ames Research Center.

"What we were looking for was the effect of isolation, workload and fatigue on the individuals. We're using the Nemo Nine environment as an analog of a space station," stated Dr. Toscano.

For several days during the mission, the two astronauts wore the device while they conducted their normal activities and tasks. Five different physiological measurements -- heart rate and electrocardiogram, respiration, skin conductance, hand temperature and finger pulse volume -- were recorded and stored on electronic flash memory cards.

Prior to the development of microminiaturization technology, such tests would have required massive machines weighing half a ton or more! The equipment used by NASA on this project weighed less than a pound and was easy to use.

"We had the equipment and shipped it down there, trained them how to use it and off they went... We had a training manual, showed them procedures, how to put it on," explained Toscano. "The data was stored on flash memory cards, they (the astronauts) would change it out each day they recorded. They would swap out the batteries, put on new electrodes, as needed."

Toscano admitted that, since the air pressure in the undersea lab is about 2.65 atmospheres, "there were questions of whether the instrument would function. Would it work? And it did, with flying colors!"

The data collected by the instrumentation has already been put to good use and will help NASA plan for longer space missions and space station life.

For information about Quixote chiropractic instrumentation, call DeDe Van Riper at 866-760-1048.