Quantitative Evaluation of a Telerobotic System for Vascular Ultrasound Measurement on a Short Arm Human Centrifuge

Abstract Artificial Gravity generated by Short Arm Human Centrifuges is a promising multi-system countermeasure for physiological deconditioning during long duration space flights. To allow continuous assessment of cardiovascular hemodynamics centrifugation, telerobotic robotic system holding an ultrasound probe has been installed on Centrifuge. A feasibility study was conducted to define the use capabilities and limitations such novel method. The objective this estimate reproducibility precision remotely controlled vascular under centrifugation assessing peripheral diameter wall distension. Four repeated runs 5 min, with 2.4 g at feet level, were performed including 15 min rest between each run group eight healthy male volunteers. Vascular distention assessed common carotid artery (CCA) femoral (FA) imaging using 10 MHz linear array (Mylab1, Esaote). Ultrasound measurements consecutively performed: a) expert user in hand-held mode standing as well supine position, b) arm without baseline c) centrifugation. responses compared Inter-, intra-registration variability have examination. results show that variability, ? h , always smaller than inter-registration m turned inter-subject ( < ). Centrifugation caused no significant changes CCA but lower distension manual position p 0.05). Femoral significantly decreased hypergravity sonography good could be demonstrated. In conclusion, arterial dynamics can precisely measurement system. Potential improvements further enhance safety are discussed.