Application of Computer-Assisted Technologies to Optimization of Medical Care Measures in Piloted Space Exploration Missions

Abstract

The system of medical care used in the Russian segment of the International Space Station in space missions is directed to support space crews in orbital flights. The system gives the priority to the telemedicine rather than medical procedures performed by the crew autonomously. The long-term experience showed effectiveness of the existing system for medical support of orbital flights; however, travels beyond the low-Earth’s orbit add substantial limitations calling for reconsideration of approaches to the crew medical care. Among the special features of these missions will be increasing time of autonomy. There is a high probability that crews will have to make medical decisions by themselves and computer-assisted systems are likely to be a proper tool of health care. The software of medical inventory control and practice guidance developed in the Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP) enhances quality of the day-to-day use of medical resources at the Russian Orbital Segment and can serve as a prototype of a medical decision support system within the intelligent circuit aboard future piloted spacecraft.