Computer Utilization of Time-line Medical Data from Man in Space Flight PDF Download

Author: Jefferson F. Lindsey
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Space flight
Languages : en
Pages : 36

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Book Description
The NASA medical data program is designed to contribute to (1) the safety of the astronauts while in flight, (2) the development of scientific products, and (3) the standardization of in-flight and ground-based medical data so that they are in a standard and mutually interchangeable form for computer input and analysis. A time-line approach has been developed for accomplishing these purposes. It involves preparing medical data both on magnetic tape and on consecutive data sheets for appropriate portions of all NASA manned space flights. Each data sheet shows the physician all relevant information of interest for a specified time interval - a 10-second interval during stressful periods such as exit and reentry, and a one-minute interval during weightlessness. Data on each successive data sheet includes analog and digital indicators of astronaut beat-to-beat heart rate, pulmonary ventilation, and various spacecraft environmental as well as astronaut performance measures. Identical types of data pertaining to each astronaut have been recorded for comparable time periods for each of the six manned Mercury space flights and the Gemini flights to date, e.g., the periods of exit and reentry, and periods when identical functions were being performed. Selected ground-based medical data also have been prepared in this manner. An ultimate goal is to develop a standardized method to record and store on magnetic tape all useful medical data on a world-wide basis for immediate retrieval in connection with the solution of medical problems to benefit mankind. NASA has already taken the first step in this direction. The NASA approach for space medicine data has been presented in this paper. It can serve as a building block and is open for review, criticism, revision, combination with other approaches, or redirection. These are some of the steps by which progress can be made toward the ultimate goal.