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European Space Agency

Press Release

Future astronaut diagnostics for the ISS
bring advances in technology for telemedicine
=============================================

6 December 2002

ESA PR 76-2002. On Thursday 5 December 2002 an ESA-coordinated
demonstration in medical telediagnostics was carried out on board the
French hospital ship Sirocco. 

In a project initiated by ESA in association with the Department of
Space Medical Physiology at the University of Tours, the Vision and
Robotics Laboratory at Bourges, Sinters Toulouse, and CNES, this was
the first real-time demonstration of the use of a teleoperated robotic 
arm for echographic diagnosis in a remote situation.

The objective of the project was to demonstrate how teleoperated
echographic diagnosis can be carried out on patients at remote
locations. A radiologist at St Anne's Hospital in Toulon used the
teleoperated robotic arm to diagnose a test patient on board the ship
stationed at sea.

With the robotic arm, videoconferencing equipment and satellite
communications, the radiologist was able to assess the severity of
medical problems from the remote site. This has important implications 
for spaceflight and research as it means that astronauts on board the 
international space station can receive diagnostic attention without 
returning to Earth.

Medical telediagnostic research also has important implications for
life on Earth. It expands the range of remote echographic diagnosis
and this can contribute significantly to the delivery of efficient
medical care in small rural hospitals in Europe where access to
radiologists is limited, or in situations where second opinions are
needed. Remote echographic diagnostics also have a role to play in
remote and emergency situations such as in many parts of the third
world, the polar regions and at sea.

The project has been funded by ESA for several years as part of its
Microgravity Applications Programme and Technology Transfer Programme, 
with support from the Directorate of Technical and Operations Support. 
It is an example ESA's sustained efforts to involve universities and 
industry in the development of space-related research which can serve 
to improve the quality of life on Earth. 

"The project reflects ESA's continued commitment to the advancement of 
space science for life", said Jörg Feustel-Büechl, ESA's Director of 
Human Spaceflight, "and aims to contribute to the development of
further cooperation on telemedical research among European scientific
communities and industry". 

The demonstration was carried out in conjunction with the conference
on telemedicine held in Toulon on 5 and 6 December. For specialists
interested in discussing telemedicine with project managers and
scientists, ESA is holding an Internet Forum on Thursday 12 December
from 14.00 to 15.00, which can be accessed via
www.esa.int/spaceflight. 

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Didier Schmitt
Head of Life Sciences Unit
ISS Utilisation and Promotion Division
Directorate of Human Spaceflight
European Space Agency
Tel: +31 (71) 565 48 88 
Mobile: +31 (6) 22 77 91 90
Fax: +31 (71) 565 36 61
E-mail: Didier.Schmitt{at}esa.int

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