[The ultrasonic location of gas bubbles in the human bloodstream during work in a spacesuit]

The results of testing a procedure of ultrasonic location of the gas bubbles (GB) in man during space suit operations to simulate an extravehicular activity (EVA) are presented. Doppler echotachocardiograph "Rhythm" operating at ultrasonic frequency of 1.76 mHz was used as a GB detector. The device "Rhythm" integrated with a special flat transducer of 23 mm in diameter and 4 mm in width was positioned on the subject chest above the pulmonary artery projection. During 4-6 hour human operations while wearing pressurized (276-290 mm Hg) space suit, in 7 of 12 tests performed a stable and qualitative signal of the arterial blood flow in the lungs was recorded. In case of an unstable signal, in order that its quality be improved the posture of test subject was changed and the signal was recorded during a short-term expired breath-holding. Cardiac GB formation was noted during 6 tests in 2 subjects. The first GBs appeared at the 30th, 33rd, 70th, 111th, 114th and 180th minute after producing an operating reduced pressure in space suit. The time of GB detection on the average was 89.7 min. The maximum intensity of GB signal was 3-4 scores on Spencer's scale, but altitude decompression sickness symptoms did not develop in the test subjects. The risk of developing the altitude decompression sickness as opposed to the results of control experiments without use of space suit is discussed.