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Hexoskin Receives 2022 International Space Station Research Innovation Award for Human Health in Space from American Astronautical Society

Hexoskin - International Space Station Research Innovation Award for Human Health in Space 2022

 Washington, D.C. - July 28th, 2022

The American Astronautical Society has awarded today the 2022 International Space Station Research Innovation Award for Human Health in Space to Hexoskin (Carré Technologies Inc.) for demonstrating a comprehensive physiology monitoring system for use in research and in situ crew care.

The Astroskin Bio-Monitor System was launched with SpaceX mission CRS-16 in December 2018 and was commissioned by Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques in January 2019. It is currently used in two clinical trials in microgravity to improve our understanding of cardiovascular health in space and physiological models of aging. These studies will help support human health during long-term space missions beyond Earth's orbit: to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

"This award celebrates 10 years of collaboration between Hexoskin and space agencies, and a technology that has a real impact on medical research in space and in our communities" said Pierre-Alexandre Fournier, CEO and co-founder of Hexoskin.

The Hexoskin space medicine team supports the operations of the Astroskin Bio-Monitor in space with the collaboration of the Canadian Space Agency, NASA, and other space agencies and subcontractors.

About Astroskin

Astroskin is the most advanced ambulatory vital signs monitoring platform for medical research in the world. Developed to qualify for space research, it can now benefit the most innovative research in Space and on Earth.

Astroskin offers state-of-the-art continuous real-time monitoring for 48 hours of blood pressure, pulse oximetry, 3-lead ECG, respiration, skin temperature, and activity.

The Astroskin garments are now available in a wide range of sizes for men & women. A large number of research organizations already use the Astroskin vital signs monitoring platform to collect data to answer their research questions.

About the ISS R&D Conference

The International Space Station Research and Development Conference (ISSRDC) brings together leaders from the commercial sector, U.S. government agencies, and academic communities to foster innovation and discovery onboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The conference is hosted by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc., manager of the ISS National Laboratory; NASA; and the American Astronautical Society (AAS). ISSRDC showcases how the space station continues to provide a valuable platform for research and technology development that benefits humanity and enables a robust and sustainable market in low Earth orbit. Additionally, the ISSRDC marketplace expo allows companies to showcase how they are advancing opportunities in low Earth orbit and provides a venue to meet with researchers, stakeholders, and policymakers.

About the American Astronautical Society

The American Astronautical Society (AAS), established in 1899, is a major international organization of professional astronomers, astronomy educators, and amateur astronomers. Its membership of approximately 8,000 also includes physicists, geologists, engineers, and others whose interests lie within the broad spectrum of subjects now comprising the astronautical sciences.

The mission of the AAS is to enhance and share humanity’s scientific understanding of the universe as a diverse and inclusive astronautical community, which it achieves through publishing, meetings, science advocacy, education and outreach, and training and professional development.

Japanese Astronaut Aki Hoshide (JAXA) Wears the Astroskin Bio-Monitor in the International Space Station

Japanese Astronaut Aki Hoshide was the 5th astronaut to wear the Astroskin Bio-Monitor system aboard the International Space Station last week. Astronauts use the Astroskin in space since 2019 to participate in various research studies, including "Vascular Aging", a project lead by University of Waterloo researchers.

Japanese astronaut Aki Hoshide inside the International Space Station

Many more astronauts are scheduled to use Astroskin in space. The system is available to all participating space agencies and research universities. The most recent Astroskin payload was launched with SpaceX's mission CRS-23 on August 29th, 2021.

Microgravity affects fluid movements in the body and heat transmission (in the absence of convection movement in microgravity). This triggers physiological phenomena impossible to monitor on the ground and tests our models of human physiology. The Astroskin Bio-Monitor system gives scientists a tool to observe these phenomena in space. It also prepares us to maintain crew health during long space missions beyond low earth orbit (LEO), to the Moon and Mars.

A Brief History of the Astroskin

Here's a list of space launches that carried Astroskin payloads:

  1. SpaceX CRS-16 (December 5th, 2018)
  2. Cygnus NG-11 (April 17th, 2019)
  3. SpaceX CRS-18 (July 25th, 2019)
  4. SpaceX CRS-19 (December 5th, 2019
  5. SpaceX CRS-20 (March 7th, 2020)
  6. Cygnus NG-14 (October 3rd, 2020)
  7. SpaceX CRS-21 (December 6th, 2020)
  8. SpaceX CRS-22 (June 3rd, 2021)
  9. SpaceX CRS-23 (August 29th, 2021)

The Astroskin Vital Signs Monitoring Platform is also used on Earth on industrial projects and scientific research

Information about Astroskin missions aboard the ISS:

https://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/Hardware/hardconfig/3065
https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/i/iss-bio-monitor-analyzer

Advancing space medicine knowledge aboard the ISS. Another space mission for Astroskin / Bio-Monitor!

Earlier this month, European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano conducted validation tests on-orbit and wore the Astroskin garment and headband connected to the data unit for his first 72-hour monitoring experience.

Luca Parmitano also conducted maintenance operations for the Astroskin / Bio-Monitor that was deployed on the ISS orbiting lab, last December by Canadian Astronaut David Saint-Jacques.

Although the ISS is equipped with health and life sciences research tools, the existing instrumentation for continuous and simultaneous recording of several physiological parameters was lacking. To address this issue, the Canadian Space Agency's Bio-Monitor Commissioning activity uses the Astroskin / Bio-Monitor system; a complete vital signs monitoring platform coupled with a wearable garment capable of monitoring relevant physiological parameters in a non-invasive and non-interfering way during a normal day in space. 

The physiological parameters which can be monitored consist of blood pressure, peripheral blood oxygen saturation, 3-lead ECG, respiration, skin temperature, and activity, will help push further our understanding of Vascular aging and Human Physiology in space. 

Venturing into the environment of space, microgravity can have negative effects on the human body. 
When astronauts return to Earth, their carotid arteries, which carry blood to the head and neck, appear to have aged 20 to 30 years. Artery walls become stiffer and thicker in space, the same as when people grow older on Earth.

“You can take extremely healthy, fit astronauts and put them in an environment that restricts their ability to do daily exercise, and they run the risk of developing insulin resistance that on Earth could lead to Type II diabetes,” said principal investigator Richard L. Hughson of Schlegel-University of Waterloo in Ontario

Now operational the Astroskin Bio-Monitor system is available for the next five years to conduct Health research in Space for all participating countries to the International Space Station.

 


Source:
NASA. 2019. ISS Daily Summary Report - 8/14/2019
NASA. 2019. ISS Daily Summary Report - 8/13/2019

 


About Hexoskin
Since 2006, Hexoskin’s mission is to develop sensors and health data infrastructure to generate clinical grade real-world evidence. The Astroskin demonstrates once again Hexoskin’s leadership in providing the industry leading sensors, software, and AI to push further our understanding of human physiology on earth and in space.

Live Webinar - Join Us for the upcoming Hexoskin Live Webinar on Artificial Intelligence, Cardiovascular & Respiratory Health Research with Hexoskin



Join Us for our Hexoskin Live Webinar on February 27th! 

We invite you to attend our Live Webinar on Artificial Intelligence, Cardiovascular & Respiratory Health Research with Hexoskin, that will cover the latest fields of applications & research studies. Our guest speaker, Thomas Beltrame, PhD, will discuss his work with his fellow research team at University of Waterloo to evaluate cardiovascular & respiratory health with Hexoskin and machine learning.

We will also present how the Hexoskin and Astroskin end-to-end platforms can support research and professional organizations for their Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence projects.

HEXOSKIN LIVE WEBINAR:
Artificial Intelligence, Cardiovascular & Respiratory Health Research with Hexoskin
Wednesday, February 27, 2019, at 12:00 PM (EST) - via the Zoom Video Conferencing software

Speakers: 
Pierre-Alexandre Fournier
CEO & Co-Founder, Hexoskin

Thu Ngan Trinh PhD
Clinical Applications Specialist, Hexoskin

Guest Speaker: 
Thomas Beltrame PhD
Department of Physiotherapy - Federal University of São Carlos
Institute of Computing - University of Campinas

If you are unable to attend, you can still register and we will send you the recorded webcast by email afterward. 

We look forward to your presence for this special event!