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Fiscal Year: FY 2010  Task Last Updated:  10/08/2009 
PI Name: Soller, Babs R. 
Project Title: Noninvasive Biosensor Algorithms for Continuous Metabolic Rate Determination 
   
Division Name: Human Research 
Program/Discipline: NSBRI 
Element/Subdiscipline: Smart Medical Systems and Technology Team 
Joint Agency Name:  
Human Research Program Elements: (1) ExMC:Exploration Medical Capabilities
Human Research Program Risks:: (1) ExMC:Risk of Inability to Adequately Treat an Ill or Injured Crew Member
Human Research Program Gaps: (1) ExMC 4.18:Lack of adequate biomedical monitoring capability for Constellation EVA Suits
PI Email: babs.soller@umassmed.edu  Fax:  508-856-7520 
PI Organization Type: UNIVERSITY  Phone: 508-856-5904  
Organization Name: University of Massachusetts Medical School 
PI Address 1: Department of Anesthesiology, S2-725 
PI Address 2: UMass Medical School 
PI Web Page:  
City: Worcester  State: MA 
Zip Code: 01655  Congressional District: 
Comments:  
Project Type: GROUND  Solicitation:  2007 NSBRI-RFA-07-01 Human Health in Space 
Start Date: 10/01/2007  End Date:  09/30/2011 
No. of Post Docs: No. of PhD Degrees: 
No. of PhD Candidates: No. of Master' Degrees: 
No. of Master's Candidates: No. of Bachelor's Degrees: 
No. of Bachelor's Candidates: Monitoring Center:  NSBRI 
Contact Monitor:   Contact Phone:   
Contact Email:  
Flight Program:  
Flight Assignment:

 

Key Personnel Changes/Previous PI:  
COI Name (Institution): Lee, Stuart  ( Wyle Integrated Sciences and Engineering Group ) 
Grant/Contract No.: NCC 9-58-SMS01301 
Performance Goal No.:  
Performance Goal Text:

 

Task Description: NASA is planning a return to the moon in the next decade with extended human presence on the lunar surface for both scientific and commercial objectives. Significant astronaut activity will be conducted in a spacesuit or EVA (extravehicular activity) suit. The suit becomes the astronaut's personal habitat, supplying O2, removing CO2, and maintaining appropriate temperature. During lunar surface exploration, the astronauts must have continuous real-time feedback to assure that all consumables (O2, cooling water, power) last until they can return safely to their quarters. The consumption rate of these resources depends upon the metabolic rate of the astronaut during EVA tasks and the suit's ability to manage thermal loads. This project will develop novel algorithms for our existing near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) platform for real-time assessment of metabolic rate (measured as the rate of oxygen consumption, VO2) and muscle temperature. This capability is intended to be incorporated into biosensors which will be part of a smart system to advise astronauts about their usage of consumables during lunar surface activities. The following specific aims were proposed: 1. Develop and validate algorithms to accurately calculate VO2 from NIR spectra collected from muscle; 2. Develop and validate algorithms to simultaneously calculate muscle temperature; 3. Support incorporation of the sensor algorithms into the EVA suit testing program, where practical. We have demonstrated the feasibility determining VO2 with the Fick equation and data that can be collected solely through a NIRS system. The accuracy of this technique is currently limited at high exercise intensities, primarily due to inaccuracies in our stroke volume estimate. We have initiated human studies that will allow us to improve our ability to estimate stroke volume and increase the accuracy of our VO2 calculation. The goal for this project is the demonstration of decreased VO2 as a result of deconditioning (bed rest).

With synergistic funds from the US Army Medical Research Command and an additional small grant from NSBRI we have designed and demonstrated a completely solid-state (non fiber based) sensor. This sensor runs off a small battery pack and a handheld computer. A sophisticated user interface performs automated system set-up and on-the-fly error checking to optimize data quality in the face of changing blood flow. After laboratory evaluation in the JSC Cardiovascular Lab, the system will be available for in-suit testing by the EVA Physiology project.

This project has produced a prototype wearable sensor that terrestrial doctors and their patients can use to track and optimize exercise in the management health and fitness, as well as during related applications in the care of critically ill patients.

 

Research Impact/Earth Benefits: This work will have direct Earth-based application. The fitness and exercise applications we are developing can be used to assist in the training and evaluation of elite and recreational athletes. This direct application of interest to NASA for assessing fitness in space may be useful to assess success of physical therapy in rehabilitating patients with muscle injury or atrophy.

The sensor, which also is of tremendous interest to the Army, will have application in emergency response vehicles, emergency rooms, and hospitals. Pre-hospital applications include assessing the severity of shock and triaging multiple casualties, as well as providing a sensor for a smart medical system to guide resuscitation from hemorrhage. In the ICU we expect that this monitor will find application in helping provide early identification of patients with hemodynamic instability before they go into shock.

The miniaturization of the sensor and monitor, required for EVA suit placement, will result in a highly portable system for emergency medical use. If small and inexpensive enough, it could be used world-wide for screening of anemia associated with malnutrition.

 

Task Progress: Our collaborators in the JSC Cardiovascular lab implemented a technique to determine stroke volume during exercise using ultrasound imaging. Data collection using this technique has been completed for 31 subjects.

Spectral data collection has been completed on 6 subjects, both pre- and post-bed rest. Additionally, spectral data collection has been completed on 5 subjects in the hypovolemia study. Data review and analysis is underway.

Initial data review indicated that we needed to gain a better understanding of the impact of fluid shifts on our NIRS measurements. We conducted a stand test to determine the effect of postural changes on our NIRS measurements, including a independent assessment of blood volume using regional bioimpedance measurements. We learned in this study that it takes 15min after a transition from standing to supine for the blood volume to normalize across all anatomical sites. We took advantage of this information in a study at UMass to investigate the sensor's ability to measure SmO2 on different muscles through various fat thicknesses. After 15min of supine rest to allow blood to normalize across the body we demonstrated on 6 subjects, that SmO2 measurements were equal, despite the choice of muscle used for the measurement (shoulder, calf, upper thigh, or lower thigh). This study included fat thickness that ranged from 5-19mm.

We have received synergistic funding from non-NASA sources to develop a solid state, low profile sensor that can be worn in a space suit for determining metabolic rate. During this year we completed development of the prototype and demonstrated that it was equivalent to our fiber optic model in the measurement of muscle oxygen saturation and pH. With additional NSBRI support we also developed the technology to run the sensor off a battery pack and augmented our system automation to include on-the-fly error checking and correction. The requirements for the additional automation features were the result of feedback from our NASA collaborators, based upon their previous experience using our original fiber optic system. In exercise studies we found that the optical signal can degrade during certain exercise periods. The new sensor is able to detect these problems and correct them within a few seconds, so no data is lost.

 

Bibliography Type: Description: (Last Updated: 06/14/2010) Show Cumulative Bibliography Listing
 
Abstracts for Journals and Proceedings Jin C, Zou FM, Ellerby G, Scott P, Soller BR. "Accurate, in-vivo NIR measurement of muscle SO2 through fat." SPIE BiOS Conference, San Francisco, CA, January 23-28, 2010.

SPIE BiOS Conference, San Francisco, CA, January 23-28, 2010. In press, October 2009. , Oct-2009

Abstracts for Journals and Proceedings Everett ME, Lee SM C, Stroud L, Scott P, Hagan RD, Soller BR. "Time-to-fatigue and Intramuscular pH Measured via NIRS during Handgrip Exercise in Trained and Sedentary Individuals." 56th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Seattle WA, May 27-30, 2009.

Med Sci Sports Exerc, 2009 May;41(5):205-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.0000355183.35616.4d then click LWW access , May-2009

Abstracts for Journals and Proceedings Lee SM C, Ellerby G, Stroud L, Soller BR. "Hydrogen ion threshold differs between the thigh and calf muscles during locomotion." Integrated Physiology Conference, Hilton Head, SC, September 24-27, 2008.

Integrated Physiology Conference. In press, 2008. , Sep-2008

Abstracts for Journals and Proceedings Zou FM, Peshlov B, Ross RR, Ellerby G, Scott P, Yang Y, Soller BR. "Feasibility of analyte prediction in phantoms using a theoretical model of near-infrared spectra." SPIE BiOS Conference, San Francisco, CA, January 23-28, 2010.

SPIE BiOS Conference, San Francisco, CA, January 23-28, 2010. In press, October 2009. , Oct-2009

Abstracts for Journals and Proceedings Ellerby GE C, Lee SM C, Stroud L, Norcross J, Gernhardt M, Soller BR. "Near-infrared spectroscopic measurements of calf muscle during walking at simulated reduced gravity-preliminary results." 56th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Seattle, WA., May 27-30, 2009.

Med Sci Sports Exerc, 2009 May;41(5):58-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.0000354741.74499.2d then click LWW access , May-2009

Papers from Meeting Proceedings Soller B, Coates J, Ellerby G, Scott P, Peshlov B, Zou F, Ryan K, Convertino V. "Spectroscopic sensor for trauma care." 60th Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, Chicago, IL, March 2009.

Proceedings of the 60th Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, Chicago, IL, March 2009, in press, 2009. , Mar-2009

Patents Patent Application 12/172,942. Patent Application, July 2008. Jul-2008 Soller BR. "Physical Performance Monitoring and Monitors."
Patents Not yet available. Patent, August 2009. Aug-2009 Soller BR, Coates JP, Yang Y, Jin C. "Spectroscopic Sensors."
Patents US Patent 7,532,919. Patent, May 2009. May-2009 Soyemi O, Soller BR, Yang Y. "Measuring Tissue Oxygenation."
 
Fiscal Year: FY 2009  Task Last Updated:  11/05/2008 
PI Name: Soller, Babs R. 
Project Title: Noninvasive Biosensor Algorithms for Continuous Metabolic Rate Determination 
   
Division Name: Human Research 
Program/Discipline: NSBRI 
Element/Subdiscipline: Smart Medical Systems and Technology Team 
Joint Agency Name:  
Human Research Program Elements: (1) ExMC:Exploration Medical Capabilities
Human Research Program Risks:: (1) ExMC:Risk of Inability to Adequately Treat an Ill or Injured Crew Member
Human Research Program Gaps: (1) ExMC 4.18:Lack of adequate biomedical monitoring capability for Constellation EVA Suits
PI Email: babs.soller@umassmed.edu  Fax:  508-856-7520 
PI Organization Type: UNIVERSITY  Phone: 508-856-5904  
Organization Name: University of Massachusetts Medical School 
PI Address 1: Department of Anesthesiology, S2-725 
PI Address 2: UMass Medical School 
PI Web Page:  
City: Worcester  State: MA 
Zip Code: 01655  Congressional District: 
Comments:  
Project Type: GROUND  Solicitation:  2007 NSBRI-RFA-07-01 Human Health in Space 
Start Date: 10/01/2007  End Date:  09/30/2011 
No. of Post Docs: No. of PhD Degrees: 
No. of PhD Candidates: No. of Master' Degrees: 
No. of Master's Candidates: No. of Bachelor's Degrees: 
No. of Bachelor's Candidates: Monitoring Center:  NSBRI 
Contact Monitor:   Contact Phone:   
Contact Email:  
Flight Program:  
Flight Assignment:

 

Key Personnel Changes/Previous PI:  
COI Name (Institution): Lee, Stuart  ( Wyle Integrated Sciences and Engineering Group ) 
Grant/Contract No.: NCC 9-58-SMS01301 
Performance Goal No.:  
Performance Goal Text:

 

Task Description: The Vision for Space Exploration calls for a return to the moon in the next decade; NASA is planning for extended human presence on the lunar surface with both scientific and commercial objectives. Significant astronaut activity will be conducted in a spacesuit or EVA (extravehicular activity) suit. The suit becomes the astronaut’s personal habitat, supplying O2, removing CO2, and maintaining appropriate temperature. During lunar surface exploration, the astronauts must have continuous real-time feedback to assure that all consumables (O2, cooling water, power) last until they can return safely to their quarters. The consumption rate of these resources depends upon the metabolic rate of the astronaut during EVA tasks and the suit’s ability to manage thermal loads. This project will develop novel algorithms for our existing near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) platform for real-time assessment of metabolic rate (measured as the rate of oxygen consumption, VO2) and muscle temperature. This capability is intended to be incorporated into biosensors which will be part of a smart system to advise astronauts about their usage of consumables during lunar surface activities. The following specific aims were proposed: 1. Develop and validate algorithms to accurately calculate VO2 from NIR spectra collected from muscle; 2. Develop and validate algorithms to simultaneously calculate muscle temperature; 3. Support incorporation of the sensor algorithms into the EVA suit testing program, where practical. We have demonstrated the feasibility determining VO2 with the Fick equation and data that can be collected solely through a NIRS system. The accuracy of this technique is currently limited at high exercise intensities, primarily due to inaccuracies in our stroke volume estimate. We have initiated human studies that will allow us to improve our ability to estimate stroke volume from heart rate, increase the accuracy of our VO2 calculation and demonstrate we can detect a decrease in VO2 as a result of deconditioning (bed rest). Over the next year we expect to complete bed rest on 10 subjects. We also have been working on improving the accuracy of the NIRS measurements used to calculate oxygen content. These improvements are expected to be complete over the next year and will be tested with the data collected from bed rest subjects as well as data collected from a hypovolemia study, that will look at the effect of plasma volume changes alone on these measurements.

We have entered into a new collaboration, supported by non-NASA funds, to develop a solid-state, low profile spectroscopic sensor which will have the potential to provide a prototype unit with appropriate characteristics to be used for ground testing within the EVA suit. Non-suit testing of this sensor at JSC is expected begin this calendar year.

The proposed biosensor system has built-in redundancy, through easy application to both limbs, and will provide system redundancy in the measurement of heart rate and temperature to further assure astronaut safely. The proposed technology is expected to result in wearable sensors that terrestrial doctors and their patients can use to track and optimize exercise in the management health and fitness, as well as during related applications in the care of critically ill patients.

 

Research Impact/Earth Benefits: This work will have direct earth based application. The fitness and exercise applications we are developing can be used to assist in the training and evaluation of elite and recreational athletes. This direct muscle application of interest to NASA for assessing fitness in space may be useful to assess success of physical therapy in rehabilitating patients with muscle injury or atrophy.

The sensor, which also is of tremendous interest to the Army, will have application in emergency response vehicles, emergency rooms, and hospitals. Pre-hospital applications include assessing the severity of shock and triaging multiple casualties, as well as providing a sensor for a smart medical system to guide resuscitation from hemorrhage. In the ICU we expect that this monitor will find application in helping provide early identification of patients with hemodynamic instability before they go into shock.

The miniaturization of the sensor and monitor, required for EVA suit placement, will result in a highly portable system for emergency medical use. If small and inexpensive enough, it could be used world-wide for screening of anemia associated with malnutrition.

 

Task Progress: We developed a method to estimate stroke volume from heart rate and used it to calculate VO2 from the Fick equation using NIR spectra to calculate oxygen content. This was demonstrated during an incrementally increasing cycle exercise. We found very good agreement between VO2 measured by standard ventilatory methods and NIRS-determined VO2 at exercise levels below the anaerobic threshold. Significant deviations were observed at higher exercise intensities.

In the first year of this project our task was to improve the accuracy of our VO2 calculation. The two components of this are an improvement in the spectroscopic calculation of hematocrit (Hct) and venous oxygen saturation (SvO2), as well as an improved method for estimating stroke volume. We presented the results of our initial VO2 calculations to physiologists at the ACSM and AsMA meetings. Feedback we received indicated that the largest source of error was most likely in our estimate of stroke volume at high exercise intensities.

Over the last year we have developed a new calibration methodology that we expect will improve the accuracy of Hct and SvO2 measurement. This methodology is currently being tested in phantom materials and with previously collected data.

To improve our method of estimating stroke volume we have worked with the JSC Cardiovascular Laboratory to develop a method to determine stroke volume at each stage of the standard VO2max protocol. This technique was developed and tested on four pilot test subjects where we simultaneously measured VO2 and stroke volume with echocardiography. We received approval to add NIRS and echocardiography to the current bed rest campaign at UTMB and we have subsequently collected NIRS, echo and VO2 data from 5 bed rest subjects in their R-12 and R-7 testing. These subjects will be measured again at the end of their 90 day bed rest period. We also have been approved to add these additional measures to the cycle testing for the next planned bedrest campaign to imrpove the rate of our data collection.

We have received synergistic funding from non-NASA sources to develop a solid state, low profile sensor that can be worn in a space suit for determining metabolic rate.

 

Bibliography Type: Description: (Last Updated: 06/14/2010) Show Cumulative Bibliography Listing
 
Abstracts for Journals and Proceedings Soller BR, Yang Y, Lee SMC, Wilson CA. "Comparison of noninvasively determined hydrogen ion and lactate thresholds during cycle exercise." American College of Sports Medicine 54th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, May 30-June 2, 2007.

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;40(5 Suppl):S426. , May-2008

Abstracts for Journals and Proceedings Soller BR, Yang Y, Lee SM C, Wilson CA. "Comparison of noninvasively determined hydrogen ion and lactate thresholds during cycle exercise." American College of Sports Medicine 55th Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, May 28-31, 2008

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;40(5 Suppl):S426. http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000322816.61090.71 , then click LWW access. , May-2008

Abstracts for Journals and Proceedings Lee SM C, Ellerby G, Stroud L, Soller BR. "Hydrogen ion threshold differs between the thigh and calf muscles during locomotion." Integrated Physiology Conference, Hilton Head, SC, September 24-27, 2008.

Integrated Physiology Conference. In press, 2008. , Sep-2008

Abstracts for Journals and Proceedings Marengi N, Yang Y, Lee SM C, Wilson C, Soller BR. "Assessment of metabolic rate in a spacesuite: measuring oxygen consumption without a facemask." Aerospace Medical Association 79th Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, May 11-15, 2008.

Aviat Space Environ Med. 2008 Mar;79(3):294. , Mar-2008

Articles in Peer-reviewed Journals Soller BR, Yang Y, Lee SM, Wilson C, Hagan RD. "Noninvasive determination of exercise-induced hydrogen ion threshold through direct optical measurement." J Appl Physiol. 2008 Mar;104(3):837-44. PMID: 18096753 , Mar-2008
Articles in Peer-reviewed Journals Soller BR, Yang Y, Soyemi OO, Ryan KL, Rickards CA, Walz JM, Heard SO, Convertino VA. "Noninvasively determined muscle oxygen saturation is an early indicator of central hypovolemia in humans." J Appl Physiol. 2008 Feb;104(2):475-81. PMID: 18006869 , Feb-2008
Papers from Meeting Proceedings Marengi N, Yang Y, Lee SM C, Wilson C, Heard SO, Soller BR. "Feasibility of using near infared spectroscopy in determining VO2 for preoperative risk assessment." American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, October 13-17, 2007.

Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) Symposium, Americal Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting, October 2007. , Oct-2007

Papers from Meeting Proceedings Soller B, Coates J, Ellerby G, Scott P, Peshlov B, Zou F, Ryan K, Convertino V. "Spectroscopic sensor for trauma care." 60th Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, Chicago, IL, March 2009.

Proceedings of the 60th Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy, Chicago, IL, March 2009, in press, November 2008. , Nov-2008

Patents Patent Application 12/172,942. Patent July 2008. Jul-2008 Soller BR. "Physical Performance Monitoring and Monitors."
 
Fiscal Year: FY 2008  Task Last Updated:  12/03/2007 
PI Name: Soller, Babs R. 
Project Title: Noninvasive Biosensor Algorithms for Continuous Metabolic Rate Determination 
   
Division Name: Human Research 
Program/Discipline: NSBRI 
Element/Subdiscipline: Smart Medical Systems and Technology Team 
Joint Agency Name:  
Human Research Program Elements: (1) ExMC:Exploration Medical Capabilities
Human Research Program Risks:: (1) ExMC:Risk of Inability to Adequately Treat an Ill or Injured Crew Member
Human Research Program Gaps: (1) ExMC 4.18:Lack of adequate biomedical monitoring capability for Constellation EVA Suits
PI Email: babs.soller@umassmed.edu  Fax:  508-856-7520 
PI Organization Type: UNIVERSITY  Phone: 508-856-5904  
Organization Name: University of Massachusetts Medical School 
PI Address 1: Department of Anesthesiology, S2-725 
PI Address 2: UMass Medical School 
PI Web Page:  
City: Worcester  State: MA 
Zip Code: 01655  Congressional District: 
Comments:  
Project Type: GROUND  Solicitation:  2007 NSBRI-RFA-07-01 Human Health in Space 
Start Date: 10/01/2007  End Date:  09/30/2011 
No. of Post Docs:   No. of PhD Degrees:   
No. of PhD Candidates:   No. of Master' Degrees:   
No. of Master's Candidates:   No. of Bachelor's Degrees:   
No. of Bachelor's Candidates:   Monitoring Center:  NSBRI 
Contact Monitor:   Contact Phone:   
Contact Email:  
Flight Program:  
Flight Assignment:

 

Key Personnel Changes/Previous PI:  
COI Name (Institution): Lee, Stuart MC  ( Wyle Laboratories ) 
Grant/Contract No.: NCC 9-58-SMS01301 
Performance Goal No.:  
Performance Goal Text:

 

Task Description: The Vision for Space Exploration calls for a return to the moon in the next decade. NASA is planning for extended human presence on the lunar surface with both scientific and commercial objectives. Significant astronaut activity will be conducted in a spacesuit or EVA (extravehicular activity) suit. The suit becomes the astronauts personal habitat, supplying O2, removing CO2 and maintaining appropriate temperature. During lunar surface exploration, the astronaut must have continuous real-time feedback to assure that all consumables (O2, cooling water, power) last until they can return safely to their quarters. The consumption rate of these resources depends upon the metabolic rate of the astronaut during EVA tasks and the suits ability to manage thermal loads. Previously, we developed a multi-purpose, noninvasive sensor based on near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Two of these sensor systems were delivered to the NASA Johnson Space Center Exercise Physiology Lab.

This project describes development of novel new algorithms for our NIRS platform for real-time assessment of metabolic rate (measured as the rate of oxygen consumption, VO2) and muscle temperature. This capability is intended to be incorporated into biosensors, which will be part of a smart system to advise astronauts during lunar surface activities to ensure they do not run out of consumables prior to their return to the habitat.

The following specific aims are proposed:

1. Develop and validate algorithms to accurately calculate VO2 from NIRS spectra collected from muscle;

2. Develop and validate algorithms to simultaneously calculate muscle temperature; and

3. Support incorporation of the sensor algorithms into the EVA suit testing program.

The proposed biosensor system has built-in redundancy, through easy application to both limbs, and will provide system redundancy in the measurement of heart rate and temperature to further assure astronaut safety. The planned technology is expected to result in wearable sensors for terrestrial doctors and their patients to track and optimize exercise to help manage weight and fitness.

 

Research Impact/Earth Benefits: 0

 

Task Progress: New project for FY2008.

 

Bibliography Type: Description: (Last Updated: 06/14/2010) Show Cumulative Bibliography Listing
 
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