Multi-Functional Integrated Medical Device (MIM Device)

The current International Space Stations (ISS) medical system has a large mass and volume footprint. Provision of care for several significant medical conditions is out of scope for the current system given the ability to quickly evacuate from ISS back to ground. As missions increase in both duration and distance, so too does medical risk. To combat this increased risk, the medical system needs to be more capable while also conforming to mass and volume constraints. The Multi-functional Integrated Medical (MIM) device project achieves this while also minimizing setup/training time and system complexity by finding, testing, and demonstrating devices that combine multiple capabilities into a single device. With each new capability added, medical risk decreases as crew gains the tools needed to image, diagnose, and treat more and more spaceflight targeted medical conditions.

The Exploration Medical Integrated Product Team (XMIPT) in collaboration with the Human Research Program selected two commercial off-the-shelf, multi-parameter vital signs monitoring MIM devices to evaluate. The XMIPT completed a market survey and trade study and selected the Tempus Pro^TM and LifeBot® devices to test and demonstrate. Both were introduced to an exploration atmosphere and were tested in a ground study. The Tempus Pro was flight certified, launched, and used in-flight on SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission. The purpose of the ground and flight studies is to evaluate if these types of devices provide the ease of use and medical capabilities for inclusion in an exploration medical system. The MIM Device project will continue these studies with the next planned demonstration being the Tempus Pro on ISS.

By providing increased ability to image, diagnose, and treat anticipated spaceflight medical conditions, the MIM Device project enables crew to better address medical conditions at risk of occurring on exploration missions. Furthermore, the combination of multiple capabilities into a single device allows for simpler stowage, setup, and training which saves crew time. Future integration with a Crew Health and Performance Integrated Data System Platform will simplify data sharing and reduce manual data entry as only one data stream will have to be incorporated in order to provide real time data to crew.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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.