NASA Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports

The need to visualize and interpret human body movement data from experiments and simulations has led to the
development of a computerized, three-dimensional representation of tbe human body and crew station. While conventional
charts and graphs can be used to follow movements of individual body parts, it has been our experience that only by observing
the entire movement of the various body segments can experimental results be integrated with simulation studies. Such a
process requires that program output be used to animate a realistically formed and jointed human body model incorporated
within an existing or projected crew station. Animations are essential whenever the volume of data collected or generated is
too great to assimilate piecemeal, or when the complexity of the motion under study leads to visualization difficulties in a
two-dimensional graph. Dissatisfaction with existing body models and stick figure displays led to the development of a new
human and crew station model for the computer with distinct advantages in display realism, movement definition, collision
or interaction detection, and cost- effectiveness in a real-time animation play-back environment. Development of this program
was meant to provide an improved method for evaluating the physical compatibility of crew members with crew stations under
all types of G environ- ments.
DTIC
Crew Workstations; Display Devices; Human Body
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AEROSPACE MEDICINE
Includes the biological and physiological effects of atmospheric and space flight (weightlessness, space radiation, acceleration, and
altitude stress) on the human being; and the prevention of adverse effects on those environments. For psychological and behavioral
effects of aerospace environments, see 53 Behavioral Sciences. For the effects of space on animals and plants see 51 Life Sciences.
20040070927 Hopital Bretonneau, Tours, France
Flow Redistribution Between Legs and Brain During STS 93 Re-Entry and Landing
Arbeille, P.; Meck, J.; Porcher, M.; Benavides, E.; Martin, D. S.; South, D. A.; Ribeiro, C.; Westover, A.; Journal of
Gravitational Physiology; July 2003; ISSN 1077-9248; Volume 10, No. 1, pp. P73-P74; In English; 24th Annual Gravitational
Physiology Meeting, 4-9 May 2003, Santa Monica, CA, USA; Original contains black and white illustrations
Contract(s)/Grant(s): NAG2-6072; Copyright; Avail: Other Sources
The objective was to quantify bit by bit the arterial hemodynamic response to the successive acceleration induced fluid
shifts during re-entry and landing. Method: The astronaut instrumented himself with a flat Doppler probe fixed on the skin,
a blood pressure arm cuff, and 3 ECG electrodes. The ICMS (integrated cardiovascular monitoring system, 15x15x25 cu cm,
battery powered) designed to monitor Blood pressure, ECG, cerebral and femoral flows was fixed below the astronaut sit in
the middeck. Recordings started 5 minutes before de-orbiting (TIG) and stopped 5 min after wheels stop. Results. During
re-entry blood pressure increased by 20% at TIG, and then by 25 to 30% during the highest Gz accelerations (approx 1Sg
) . The cerebral flow remained decreased by 10 to 15% below inflight value all during the Entry and landing phases.
Conversely the femoral flow increased at TIG and entry (+l0to20%), recovered at 0.lg, and then decreased in proportion
with the Gz acceleration (-10% to -40% from 0.5g to 1.5g). The reduction in Femoral flow was associated with an opposite
variation in lower limb vascular resistance. Consequently the cerebral flow/femoral flow ratio decreased at TIG and entry
(-20%), and then increased according to the Gz acceleration level (+l0to+40% from 0.5 to 1.5g). Conclusion: During
orthostatic tests (Stand LBNP tests) the cerebral to femoral flow ratio allowed to quantify the efficiency of the flow
redistribution between these 2 areas and predicted orthostatic intolerance. In the present case the astronaut was found
orthostatically tolerant at postflight tilt tests, but we suggest that during re-entry this parameter could predict the occurrence
of syncope in severely disadapted astronauts.
Author
Arteries; Blood Flow; Blood Pressure; Brain Circulation
20040070930 State Univ. of New York, Stony Brook, NY, USA
Development of a Vibration Based Countermeasure to Inhibit the Bone Erosion and Muscle Deterioration That
Parallels Spaceflight
Kaplan, Tamara; Qin, Yi-Xian; Judex, Stefan; Rubin, Clinton; Journal of Gravitational Physiology; July 2003; ISSN
1077-9248; Volume 10, No. 1, pp. P-105-P106; In English; 24th Annual Gravitational Physiology Meeting, 4-9 May 2003,
Santa Monica, CA, USA
Contract(s)/Grant(s): NAG2-6072; Copyright; Avail: Other Sources
The extent of bone and muscle loss in astronauts on missions longer than 30 days poses significant acute and chronic
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