Project Title:

NON-INVASIVE, IN VIVO BUBBLE SIZING INSTRUMENT

Creare Incorporated
P.O. Box 71
Hanover. NH 03755

93-1  12.01   3800    __      AMOUNT REQUESTED $69,612

NON-INVASIVE, IN VIVO BUBBLE SIZING INSTRUMENT

Abstract:

Decompression sickness (DCS) presents a risk of serious injury or
death and affects the operational readiness and capabilities of
NASA military and civilian astronauts, aviators and divers and
other individuals who are exposed to moderate environmental
pressure transients. During this project, Creare will develop a
non-invasive instrument capable of measuring the number and size of
vascular and extravascular bubbles before and during DCS. The
instrument will be capable of detecting and sizing bubbles in
extravascular tissue and the microcirculation as well as large
vessels. This instrument will help to prevent and minimize the
occurrence of DCS associated with in-flight pressure changes. It
will allow enhanced observation of DCS precursors and help to
establish better operational criteria. In addition, the instrument
can be used to monitor individuals for the onset of DCS precursors.
During Phase I, a prototype bubble sizing instrument will be
developed and tested. During Phase II, the instrument will be
optimized for in vitro application and will be tested on living
tissues.

An operational bubble sizing instrument will provide NASA and the
medical community with a valuable new tool for studying the
mechanisms of DCS. This tool will allow for less restrictive and
safer decompression tables to be formulated for military and
civilian aviators and divers. Non-invasive bubble monitoring direct
application in a range of physiological monitoring situations such
as open heart surgery and "non-invasive" cardiac catheterizations.

decompression sickness, bubbles, acoustics