Sound concept: medical spin-off from ISS technology

Spending long periods of time in space can put a huge strain on the human body, so astronauts need to be carefully monitored for signs of ill health.

But the International Space Station is a long way from the nearest hospital, so researchers have had to develop imaging technologies that can be operated from Earth, to allow specialists to keep a careful eye on the astronauts during their time in orbit.

Now this remote imaging technology is being used to help give people on Earth better access to specialist medical scans.

The technology, known as tele-ultrasound, was originally developed in a series of projects by the European Space Agency (ESA), according to Arnaud Runge, a biomedical engineer at the agency.

“Upcoming long-duration ISS stays and future manned exploration missions will require the use of different medical tools in order to diagnose potential crews’ health problems,” said Runge.

Consisting of a remotely-controlled ultrasound probe, the system was also designed to image astronauts’ hearts as part of ESA’s research into the effects of microgravity on the cardiovascular system.