← Back to NASA Technology Projects
Mixed-Reality Holographic Training System to Enable High-Value Surgical and Complex Medical Procedures by Astronauts
Completed
TRL 6 (started at 3, targeting 6)
Description
The proposed R&D will develop a holographic augmented/mixed-reality (AR/MR) medical and surgical assist system for astronauts of exploration-class space missions. The system will enable users possessing minimal medical training to perform high-value, life-saving procedures that otherwise would exceed their capabilities. Astronauts can communicate with the system via natural modalities (speech, gaze, and hand gestures). In Phase I complete holographic apps for six medical procedures will be developed. In Phase II and beyond an entire suite of more than 100 procedures will be developed.
Benefits
The innovation will directly support NASA’s exploration medical capability (ExMC) and can be used for terrestrial training and life-saving procedures on space missions. It will emphasize surgical and complex medical procedures that are likely to be needed on an exploration class space mission and that could be performed by a total of two or three people.
A possible non-NASA extension of the proposed project could be an AR/MR life-saving visualization aid for civilian, law enforcement, and military use. With such a system paramedics, military medics and other caregivers in the field can visualize a patient’s internal anatomy, diagnose the extent of the internal injury based on externally visible wounds, and treat the patient accordingly.
Details
| Technology area | Human Health, Life Support, and Habitation Systems > Human Health and Performance > Medical Diagnosis and Prognosis |
| Program | Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer (SBIR/STTR) |
| Lead organization | Mgenuity Corporation, Lincroft, NJ |
| Start date | 2020-08-31 |
| End date | 2021-03-01 |
Project contacts
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
How to get involved
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.