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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 667 records · Page 37
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1975

Acquisition of quantitative physiological data and computerized image reconstruction using a single scan TV system

Single scan operation of television X-ray fluoroscopic systems allow both analog and digital reconstruction of tomographic sections from single plan images. This type of system combined with a minimum of statistical processing showed excellent capabilities for delineating small changes in differential X-ray attenuation. Patient dose reduction is significant when compared to normal operation or film recording. Flat screen, low light level systems were both rugged and light in weight, making them applicable for a variety of special purposes. Three dimensional information was available from the tomographic methods and the recorded data was sufficient when used with appropriate computer display devices to give representative 3D images.

Baily, N. A.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Clinical applications of a quantitative analysis of regional lift ventricular wall motion

Observations were summarized which may have clinical application. These were obtained from a quantitative analysis of wall motion that was used to detect both hypokinesis and tardokinesis in left ventricular cineangiograms. The method was based on statistical comparisons with normal values for regional wall motion derived from the cineangiograms of patients who were found not to have heart disease.

Leighton, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Computer analysis of femoral angiograms for evaluation of atherosclerosis in post-infarct males-clinical correlates

Femoral artery atheromatous lesions were studied and their changes as a measure of therapeutic effectiveness were assessed. The incidence of coronary risk factors in 100 patients was determined. Abnormal cholesterol was present in 42 percent, abnormal triglycerides in 66 percent, abnormal intravenous glucose tolerance test in 52 percent, judged from a K value of .9 or less by the technique of Wahlbert. A history of high blood pressure was present in 32 percent. Smoking was one of the most common factors.

Sanmarco, M. E.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The Stanford-Ames portable echocardioscope: A case study in technology transfer

A battery powered echocardioscope is described which was clinically validated on both normal subjects and patients. Its single hand held transducer provides a one dimensional image of the moving cardiac anatomy in real time. Its major advantages over existing ultrasonoscopes are its simplicity, portability, dc operation, and potentially lower production costs. Its versatility and diagnostic value were demonstrated by experienced echocardiographers.

Schmidt, G.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Study of aerospace technology utilization in the civilian biomedical field

The treatment of patients with acute pulmonary or cardiovascular diseases is used to demonstrate the benefits to be derived from a more extensive application of NASA technology in public health care. Significant and rather universal problems faced by the medical profession and supporting services are identified. The required technology and specifications for its development and evaluation are delineated. Institutional relationships and collaboration needed to accomplish technology transfer are developed.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1976

Development of automated analytical capability for the early detection of diabetes mellitus

The total profile of volatile metabolites in urine of patients with diabetes mellitus was studied. Because of the drastic abnormalities in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins connected with diabetes it was expected that apart from acetone further characteristic abnormalities occur in the profiles if volatile urinary metabolites in cases of diabetes mellitus. Quantitative and qualitative changes were found in these urines as compared to the urines of normal subjects.

Zlatkis, A.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Anti-Ig autoantibody and complement-mediated destruction of neoplastic cells

Some immune response are effected through immunoglobulins (Ig), of which five classes have been recognized, namely, IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM. Auto-antibodies associated with rheumatoid arthritis, termed rheumatoid factors (RF) react with antigenic determinants on IgG heavy chains. RF has predominant but not complete IgM specificity. This auto-antibody response was not detected in treated patients with primary brain tumors (where tissue is sequestered from the immune system by an intact bloodbrain barrier) or with multiple myeloma where humoral immunity is usually impaired. In addition, the prevalence of RF is not increased with solid tumors prior to initiation of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. It is proposed that RF is related to prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy of tumors anatomically accessible to immunologic tissues capable of antibody responses. A primary IgG response occurs, antigen-antibody complexes form, complexed IgG becomes immunologic, and an RF response results.

Towmey, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Voice controlled adaptive manipulator and mobility systems for the severely handicapped

Efforts by NASA and the VA to apply available teleoperator/robot technology to rehabilitate amputees and spinal cord injured patients having severe loss of motor, manipulative, and sensory capabilities in the lower and/or upper extremities are summarized. Techniques developed include the control of a wheelchair by voice control or tongue chinswitch. The voice recognition computer and its operation are also described.

Heer, E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Application of firefly luciferase assay for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to antimicrobial drug sensitivity testing

The development of a rapid method for determining microbial susceptibilities to antibiotics using the firefly luciferase assay for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is documented. The reduction of bacterial ATP by an antimicrobial agent was determined to be a valid measure of drug effect in most cases. The effect of 12 antibiotics on 8 different bacterial species gave a 94 percent correlation with the standard Kirby-Buer-Agar disc diffusion method. A 93 percent correlation was obtained when the ATP assay method was applied directly to 50 urine specimens from patients with urinary tract infections. Urine samples were centrifuged first to that bacterial pellets could be suspended in broth. No primary isolation or subculturing was required. Mixed cultures in which one species was predominant gave accurate results for the most abundant organism. Since the method is based on an increase in bacterial ATP with time, the presence of leukocytes did not interfere with the interpretation of results. Both the incubation procedure and the ATP assays are compatible with automation.

Picciolo, G. L.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Hypertension screening

An attempt was made to measure the response to an announcement of hypertension screening at the Goddard Space Center, to compare the results to those of previous statistics. Education and patient awareness of the problem were stressed.

Foulke, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Evaluation of the electromechanical properties of the cardiovascular system after prolonged weightlessness

Devices and techniques for measuring and analyzing systolic time intervals and quantitative phonocardiograms were initiated during Apollo 17. The data show that the systolic time interval from Apollo 17 crewmen remained elevated longer postflight than the response criteria of heart rate, blood pressure, and percent change in leg volume all of which had returned to preflight levels by the second day postflight. Although the systolic time interval values were only slightly outside the preflight fiducial limits, this finding suggested that: the analysis of systolic time intervals may help to identify the mechanisms of postflight orthostatic intolerance by virtue of measuring ventricular function more directly and, the noninvasive technique may prove useful in determining the extent and duration of cardiovascular instability after long duration space flight. The systolic time intervals obtained on the Apollo 17 crewmen during lower body negative pressure were similar to those noted in patients with significant heart disease.

Bergman, S. A., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The user's view of commercially available medical technology

The potential user of new medical equipment for imaging the cardiovascular system is often faced with the problem of deciding whether or not to accept a new piece of equipment or a new technological concept into the practice of cardiology. Considerations for acquiring new medical technology are discussed in some detail. Acquisition of new technology should depend on whether the equipment provides more and relevant clinical data, is for research or for limited use, is properly engineered for patient use, presents information in easily storable and retrievable form, is tested and validated clinically, is fabricated by a reliable manufacturer, is cost effective, and may be readily replaced by a new technology.

Harrison, D. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Perception of binary acoustic events associated with the first heart sound

The resolving power of the auditory apparatus permits discrete vibrations associated with cardiac activity to be perceived as one or more events. Irrespective of the vibratory combinations recorded by conventional phonocardiography, in normal adults and in most adult patients auscultators tend to discriminate only two discrete events associated with the first heart sound S1. It is stressed that the heart sound S4 may be present when a binary acoustic event associated with S1 occurs in the sequence 'low pitched sound preceding high pitched sound', i.e., its components are perceived by auscultation as 'dull-sharp'. The question of S4 audibility arises in those individuals, normal and diseased, in whom the major components of S1 ought to be, at least clinically, at their customary high pitch and indeed on the PCG appear as high frequency oscillations. It is revealed that the apparent audibility of recorded S4 is not related to P-R interval, P-S4 interval, or relative amplitude of S4. The significant S4-LFC (low frequency component of S1) differences can be related to acoustic modification of the early component of S1.

Spodick, D. H.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Computerized X-ray reconstruction tomography in stereometric analysis of cardiovascular dynamics

A computerized technique is proposed for obtaining cross-sectional images of the dynamic spatial distribution of X-ray attenuation covering the entire anatomic extent of the thorax and its contents in living dogs with a resolution of 1 mm and at time intervals of 1/60 sec. Use is made of an X-ray imaging chain which is a new high-performance video-fluoroscopic system, unique in its design and construction and called SSDSR for single source dynamic spatial reconstructor. This dynamic spatial reconstruction system is shown to provide the temporally and spatially coherent multiple cross sections required to obtain the full three-dimensional anatomic and simultaneous hemodynamic information necessary for detailed quantitative analyses of regional cardiopulmonary and vascular functions in both basic investigations of animals and clinical diagnostic applications to patients. Numerous photographs supplement the text.

Robb, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Effect of hypovolemia, infusion, and oral rehydration on plasma electrolytes, ADH, renin activity, and +G/z/ tolerance

Effects on plasma volume, electrolyte shifts, and +G(z) tolerance induced by: (1) blood withdrawal; (2) blood infusion; and (3) oral fluid intake, were determined at 0.5 G/min in centrifugation tests of six ambulatory male patients, aged 21 to 27 yrs. Hypovolemia induced by withdrawal of 400 ml blood, blood infusion followed by repeated centrifugation, effects of consuming an isotonic drink (0.9% NaCl) to achieve oral rehydration, and donning of red adaptation goggles were studied for effects on acceleration tolerance, pre-acceleration and post-acceleration plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma vasopressin levels. No significant changes in post-acceleration PRA compared to pre-acceleration PRA were found, and administration of oral rehydration is found as effective as blood replacement in counteracting hypovolemic effects.

Greenleaf, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Dip-molded t-shaped cannula

Cannula, fabricated out of polyetherurethane, has been designed for long-term service. Improved cannula is T-shaped to collect blood from both directions, thus replacing two conventional cannulas that are usually required and eliminating need for large surgical wound. It is fabricated by using dip-molding process that can be adapted to other elastomeric objects having complex shapes. Dimensions of cannula were chosen to optimize its blood-flow properties and to reduce danger of excessive clotting, making it suitable for continuous service up to 21 days in vein or artery of patient.

Broyles, H. F.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Body/bone-marrow differential-temperature sensor

Differential-temperature sensor developed to compare bone-marrow and body temperature in leukemia patients uses single stable amplifier to monitor temperature difference recorded by thermocouples. Errors are reduced by referencing temperatures to each other, not to separate calibration points.

Anselmo, V. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Positively charged membrane for urea dialysis

Positively charged, porous membrane dividing two chamber dialysis machine allows urease decomposition within system while preventing return flow of ammonium ions to patient.

Mueller, W. A.↗