Tech Briefs Magazine - July 2024 - 37

SPINOFF
L
ife for astronauts on the International
Space Station has been, for the
most part, less taxing than it was in the
space shuttle days, when missions often
included many goals and milestones
compressed into a short period of time.
That won't be the case, however, for the
first astronauts to journey to the surface
of the Moon during the Artemis program,
said Alexandra Whitmire, a NASA
Scientist whose job concerns astronaut
well-being and performance.
" Artemis missions will be very ambitious,
with crews having to conduct many
tasks, sometimes across extended work
hours or overnight shifts, " she said.
" Their schedules will likely be disruptive
to sleep patterns, similar to what we experienced
in the shuttle days. "
As a Science Manager for the Human
Factors and Behavioral Performance element
of NASA's Human Research Program,
Whitmire is looking for the best
ways to monitor and support astronauts'
sleep to help ensure their safety and performance.
And hers is just one of five elements
in the Human Research Program
at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Others have concerns like astronauts'
exercise and medical needs and
guarding their health against hazards of
the space environment, such as radiation.
Most of the program's efforts could
benefit from a wearable device capable of
measuring and providing feedback on astronauts'
physiology in a variety of ways.
That's why, in 2020, Whitmire found herself
presented with the latest work from
medical wearable technology company
Empatica Inc. of Cambridge, MA.
With help from NASA and an eye toward
the agency's needs, the company
had developed a smartwatch that packed
five sensors into a small, comfortable, attractive
design, which is now commercially
available as the EmbracePlus.
Development of the device's prototype
was funded in part by a grant from the
Translational Research Institute for
Space Health (TRISH), a research consortium
that looks for ways to reduce
Tech Briefs, July 2024
Spinoff is NASA's annual publication featuring
successfully commercialized NASA technology. This
commercialization has contributed to the development
of products and services in the fields of health and
medicine, consumer goods, transportation, public safety,
computer technology, and environmental resources.
Medical-Grade Smartwatch Can Monitor Astronauts, Patients
Wearable technology measuring vital signs and sleep-wake activity could help ensure
astronauts' safety and performance during space missions.
Developed with funding from a NASA-backed consortium, the EmbracePlus combines medical-grade
capabilities and precision with the look, feel, and comfort of a consumer product. (Image:
Empatica Inc.)
risks to astronauts on long missions. TRISH
is funded by Johnson and Baylor
College of Medicine.
Empatica had previously commercialized
a science-grade smartwatch known
as the E4, mainly for use in academic research
and clinical studies, as well as a
smartwatch for detecting epileptic seizures
to alert caregivers, called the Embrace2,
which was designed to be attractive
and comfortable for daily use.
For the EmbracePlus, the company
wanted to combine the pleasing look and
feel of the Embrace2 with the capabilities
of the E4. These included an accelerometer
to detect movement, a temperature
sensor, an infrared sensor that monitors
cardiac and respiratory activity, and another
that detects electrical activity in the skin,
which correlates to nervous system activity.
The EmbracePlus also adds a gyroscope
for more refined movement detection.
" EmbracePlus combines the beautiful
design of Embrace2 with the data-collection
capabilities of the E4, so it's a medical
device with a consumer look and feel,
which can be easily worn in everyday
life, " said Simone Tognetti, Chief Technology
Officer at Empatica.
The development carried out with the
help of TRISH funding included evaluating
different sensors for detecting heart
rate and oxygen flow, running trials on
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critical features, integrating all the components
and design elements, determining
the most comfortable form factor, and
choosing a display, among other work.
" The funding allowed us to implement
important engineering features,
such as placing the electrodermal activity
sensors on a comfortable, removable
strap, " said Tognetti, referring to the
sensors for electrical activity in the skin.
" This was the result of much R&D into
the manufacturing, electrical connection,
and signal-quality implications of
various constructions. "
The Human Research Program's need
for a device to be used by astronauts in
space and even in studies on the ground
also shaped the watches. Whitmire noted
that a small, lightweight, comfortable design
is essential to the space program.
" You really need a device that is not obtrusive,
that is not burdensome, so it's not
causing a stressor in and of itself, " she said.
Tognetti said NASA also required the
technology to be energy-efficient, easy to
use, and robust enough to work in the
harsh space environment. " We have customizable
hardware modes to optimize
data collection with battery life, a built-in
memory that can store up to 55 days'
worth of data in case of low connectivity,
and a low-power display that also helps
with troubleshooting, " he said.
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