Credit: NASA
The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) has funded a clinical study to test the Sustained Acoustic Medicine (sam®) device in patients suffering from lower back pain.
Thanks to a partnership with the private sector, the idea is to accelerate the development of commercially promising products meeting a medical need in space…as well as on Earth.
Back pain is experienced by astronauts as their spine elongates up to 2 inches while in the microgravity environment of space.
The wearable sam® system enables delivery of one to four hours of therapeutic ultrasound treatment and could be used by astronauts in space.
ZetrOZ, Inc., of Trumbull, CT will receive a Space Medical and Related Technologies Commercialization Program (SMARTCAP) grant. SMARTCAP grants are administered by NSBRI’s Industry Forum.
Ultrasound
Back pain is experienced by astronauts as their spine elongates up to 2 inches while in the microgravity environment of space. sam® was developed for daily use and is prescribed by licensed healthcare practitioners such as orthopedists and physiotherapists for tendonitis and muscle injury recovery.
The wearable sam® system enables delivery of one to four hours of therapeutic ultrasound treatment and could be used by astronauts in space.
“Ultrasound is a great platform for spaceflight, delivering both diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities” said Dr. Dorit Donoviel, NSBRI’s Deputy Chief Scientist and Industry Forum Lead.
Established in 1997 through a NASA competition, NSBRI is headquartered in the Texas Medical Center and is a consortium of leading biomedical institutions.
Sustained acoustic medicine
Donoviel added that ultrasound is portable, wearable and does not deliver harmful radiation. NSBRI has supported the development of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches involving ultrasound for kidney stones, bone, and brain health.
Sustained acoustic medicine holds great promise to accelerate the healing of muscles and tendons as well as possibly bone and cartilage.
“ZetrOZ has developed a disruptive technology and we are excited to fund this important clinical study,” Donoviel stated in an NSBRI press statement.
ZetrOZ, founded in March 2009, is a biomedical ultrasound technology designer and manufacturer.
By Leonard David