NASA High-Res Version OCT Device：eyeMO®(※1)

NASA Deep Space Mission
Monitoring papilledema in astronauts during space flight with SS-OCT

In March 2019, we signed a development contract with TRISH (Translational Research Institute for Space Health) for a Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography (SS-OCT), with all development costs fully funded by NASA through TRISH. The SS-OCT is a third-generation Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) device that utilizes a high-speed swept-source light source. Currently, the commercial OCT devices used on the International Space Station (ISS) are not portable and include complex systems and features unnecessary for diagnosing or monitoring the anatomical effects of spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS). These devices are also large and lack radiation resistance, making them unsuitable for use during deep-space missions to the Moon or Mars.

This joint development initiative was driven by research reports indicating that approximately 69% of astronauts who have experienced long-duration spaceflight suffer from neuro-ocular syndrome, which can lead to visual impairment or even blindness (as of January 2020). These findings highlighted a growing need for real-time retinal monitoring during space missions, leading to the signing of this development contract.

※TRISH (Translational Research Institute for Space Health) is a consortium that provides funding for innovative technologies aimed at protecting and maintaining the mental and physical health of astronauts during NASA's deep space missions, through a cooperative agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).It is led by Baylor College of Medicine, with California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as core members.

SS-OCT: Monitoring of Papilledema in Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS)

Spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) refers to a series of ocular changes that astronauts may experience during long-duration space missions, including visual impairment, morphological changes in the posterior segment of the eye, and optic disc edema. Our group is developing a Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography (SS-OCT) using optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology. This prototype is designed to meet five key criteria set by NASA: the ability to monitor optic disc edema, compact size, radiation resistance, low power consumption, and user-friendly operation. The device aims to enable in-flight imaging of astronauts' retinas and is being developed as a next-generation OCT system for use by NASA.

NASA/TRISH SS-OCT Project (Phase 1) Development Progress Meeting

Possibility of observing optic disc edema caused by spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) demonstrated for the first time in the world

(※1)　"eyeMO®" is a product name for the Patient-Based Ophthalmology Suite (PBOS).