Processes for Designing Innovative Biomedical Hardware to Use in Space and on Earth

Area of Science:

• Biomedical engineering
• Space medicine
• Regulatory science

Background:

• Space exploration expansion necessitates advanced medical technologies for diverse astronaut populations.
• Current terrestrial regulatory processes do not fully address unique spaceflight constraints.
• Bridging healthcare innovation between Earth and space requires understanding distinct needs and challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a framework for comparing biomedical design processes for Earth and space applications.
• To identify best practices for developing medical technologies for space missions.
• To enhance healthcare equity and health outcomes in space exploration.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of terrestrial and spaceflight regulatory frameworks.
• Identification of unique constraints and requirements for space-based medical technology development.
• Development of a translational framework for healthcare innovation.

Main Results:

• A novel framework for comparing Earth-space biomedical design processes has been established.
• Key challenges and opportunities in space medical technology innovation are identified.
• The framework facilitates the translation of healthcare innovations between terrestrial and space environments.

Conclusions:

• Integrating terrestrial and space-based medical technology development is crucial for future space missions.
• A unified approach can accelerate innovation and improve astronaut health outcomes.
• This work provides a foundation for optimizing healthcare delivery in diverse space exploration settings.