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Adjustable apparatus which simulates partial to zero gravity partially supports the weight of convalescing patients in rehabilitation exercises. This device is an ideal tool for physical therapy.
Causes of signal loss in magnetic computer tapes, and wet and dry cleaning procedures for rehabilitating used tapes
Significant applications of aerospace technology were achieved. These applications include: a miniaturized, noninvasive system to telemeter electrocardiographic signals of heart transplant patients during their recuperative period as graded situations are introduced; and economical vital signs monitor for use in nursing homes and rehabilitation hospitals to indicate the onset of respiratory arrest; an implantable telemetry system to indicate the onset of the rejection phenomenon in animals undergoing cardiac transplants; an exceptionally accurate current proportional temperature controller for pollution studies; an automatic, atraumatic blood pressure measurement device; materials for protecting burned areas in contact with joint bender splints; a detector to signal the passage of animals by a given point during ecology studies; and special cushioning for use with below-knee amputees to protect the integrity of the skin at the stump/prosthesis interface.
Application team methodology identifies and specifies problems in technology transfer programs to biomedical areas through direct contact with users of aerospace technology. The availability of reengineering sources increases impact of the program on the medical community and results in broad scale application of some bioinstrumentation systems. Examples are given that include devices adapted to the rehabilitation of neuromuscular disorders, power sources for artificial organs, and automated monitoring and detection equipment in clinical medicine.
The Lewis Research Center earth resources program efforts are in the areas of: (1) monitoring and rapid evaluation of water quality; (2) determining ice-type and ice coverage distribution to aid operations in a possible extension of the Great Lakes ice navigation and shipping season; (3) monitoring spread of crop viruses; and (4) extent of damage to strip mined areas as well as success of efforts to rehabilitate such areas for agriculture.
A summary of NASA Technology Utilization programs for the period of 1 December 1971 through 31 May 1972 is presented. An abbreviated description of the overall Technology Utilization Applications Program is provided as a background for the specific applications examples. Subjects discussed are in the broad headings of: (1) cancer, (2) cardiovascular disease, (2) medical instrumentation, (4) urinary system disorders, (5) rehabilitation medicine, (6) air and water pollution, (7) housing and urban construction, (8) fire safety, (9) law enforcement and criminalistics, (10) transportation, and (11) mine safety.
Current activities of the program to accelerate specific applications of space related technology in major public sector problem areas are summarized for the period 1 June 1971 through 30 November 1971. An overview of NASA technology, technology applications, and supporting activities are presented. Specific technology applications in biomedicine are reported including cancer detection, treatment and research; cardiovascular diseases, diagnosis, and treatment; medical instrumentation; kidney function disorders, treatment, and research; and rehabilitation medicine.
Applications of control theory and systems analysis to the problem of orientation and posture control are discussed, with the possible long range goals of contributing to the development of hardware for rehabilitation of the handicapped.
An artificial limb attached directly to the bone by a quick-disconnect coupling was tested in-place at a California medical rehabilitation center. Its design concept and development, made possible by multiple spinoffs of aerospace technology, are discussed.
A flow model has been developed to study the flow development after reattachment with supersonic external streams. Special attention is given to the pressure difference across the viscous layer, and it is suggested that such a flow redevelopment can be treated as a relaxation of this pressure difference. Upon correlating the pressure difference with a slope parameter of the velocity profile, the system of equations governing the flow would produce a saddle point singularity corresponding to the fully rehabilitated asymptotic flow condition. A method of calculation for this flowfield, in conjunction with the matching of the upstream flow, has been derived and is discussed. Samples of calculations are also presented. Reasonably good agreement with experimental data has also been observed.
Review of carbon implants developed by NASA discussed four different types of implants and subsequent improvements. Improvements could be of specific interest to rehabilitation centers and similar organizations.
Control theory and the design of manipulators, teleoperators, and robots are considered. Applications of remotely manned vehicles to space maintenance and orbital assembly, industry and productivity, undersea operations, and rehabilitation systems are emphasized.
Efforts by NASA and the VA to apply available teleoperator/robot technology to rehabilitate amputees and spinal cord injured patients having severe loss of motor, manipulative, and sensory capabilities in the lower and/or upper extremities are summarized. Techniques developed include the control of a wheelchair by voice control or tongue chinswitch. The voice recognition computer and its operation are also described.
Remote sensing airborne surveys were conducted, as part of the plan of rehabilitation, of the Suez Canal Zone using I2S multispectral camera and Bendix LN-3 infrared passive scanner. The multispectral camera gives four separate photographs for the same scene in the blue, green, red, and near infrared bands. The scanner was operated in the microwave bands of 8 to 14 microns and the thermal surveying was carried out both at night and in the day time. The surveys, coupled with intensive ground investigations, were utilized in the construction of new geological, structural lineation and drainage maps for the Suez Canal Zone on a scale of approximately 1:20,000, which are superior to the maps made by normal aerial photography. A considerable number of anomalies belonging to various types were revealed through the interpretation of the executed multispectral and infrared thermal surveys.
The accommodations provided by the airlock module and the orbital workshop were completely examined with the thought of total reactivation as an enhancement to the STS long duration missions. Each subsystem is described and a summary of subsystem performance during the Skylab missions is presented. End-of-mission status and the status of today for each subsystem is shown together with refurbishment/resupply requirements and refurb kit descriptions to restore Skylab to full operational capability. An inspection/refurbishment and operations plan for Skylab is included. The initial Shuttle-tended operational activity would provide a safe, effective phase of Skylab rehabilitation while simultaneously benefitting the Orbiter crew through the addition of private accommodations, off-duty recreation area, and physical conditioning equipment. This period would also permit exercising selected onboard experiments.
A rehabilitation institute's needs and wants from a scheduling system were established by (1) studying the existing scheduling system and the variables that affect patient scheduling, (2) conducting a human-factors study to establish the human interfaces that affect patients' meeting prescribed therapy schedules, and (3) developing and administering a questionnaire to the staff which pertains to the various interface problems in order to identify staff requirements to minimize scheduling problems and other factors that may limit the effectiveness of any new scheduling system.
Tests were conducted on 100 sexually immature inbred August and Wistar male rats in order to determine the effects hypokinesia, physical load and phenamine on the liver. Weight and linear dimension fell in hypokinesia; total serum protein lowered and aldolase and cholesterol and beta-lipoprotein levels rose. Blood sugar content rose and liver glycogen fell. Interlinear differences of these indices are found. Rehabilitated physical loading against hypokinesia background diminished and at times completely prevented its negative effect. Extent of correction depended on animal species. Evidence of genotypical conditionality of organism adaptation to physical load in hypokinesia was found.
Blood microcirculation in the region of the scleral bulbar conjunctiva and the nail folds on the fingers and toes was studied in 18 practically healthy men during 182 day antiorthostatic hypokinesia and 30 day rehabilitation period. Marked changes in microcirculation in the sclera and feet and less evident changes on the hands was revealed. A complex of special prophylactic physical exercises had a distinctly favorable effect on circulation in the hands.