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March 03, 2022

Astroskin › Conventions & Events › event ›


Join us on March 30th for a New Astroskin Live Event!

Register - Astroskin Live Webinar

The Astroskin Vital Signs Monitoring Platform is an advanced smart clothing used in Space and on Earth for cutting-edge research and projects. Join us live on March 30th at 11:00 am EDT, and meet our speakers to learn more about current and future projects with Astroskin.

Register to reserve your place today. Registration is Free!

Astroskin set to be used in Space by Private Astronaut Mark Pathy

Mark Pathy - Private Astronaut - Ax-1 Mission - Astroskin Astroskin will soon be getting another ride to Space, thanks to Canadian Private Astronaut Mark Pathy and the first-ever private mission to the ISS, Ax-1, organized by Axiom Space. The Ax-1 space mission is set to send a crew of four private astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) on board a SpaceX Crew Dragon. Set to launch in April 2022, Ax-1 is a 10-day mission where at least eight days will be spent inside the ISS to conduct several research experiments including research on the effects of microgravity, chronic pain, and sleep disturbances. Mark will be joined on Ax1 by fellow crew members Eytan Stibbe from Israel, Larry Connor, and Michael Lopez-Alegria from the United States.

M. Pathy, aged 52, is the CEO and founder of the investment firm MAVRIK CORP. He is recognized in Montreal, the city where he resides, to support several causes as a philanthropist. Married and father of three children, Mark Pathy decided to leverage his participation in this mission to collaborate with the Canadian Space Agencies to conduct experiments in microgravity that are a priority for children’s and universities. Mark Pathy - Montreal Investor - Philanthropist - First Private Astronaut to wear Astroskin in Space on the ISS

As a Mission Specialist, he will be taking part in a total of 12 science research projects in partnership with six Canadian universities and their investigators, including clinician-researchers at The Montreal Children’s Hospital and Child Health Research at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre and become the first private Astronaut to wear Astroskin on board the International Space Station. Pathy will be funding himself the research conducted in Space and contribute to generating results and potential applications on earth that would have taken more time to be realized under the current Canadian space program. 

Going to space involves months of planning. Canadian Private Astronaut Mark Pathy has been busy training at NASA Johnson Space Center ahead of the launch.

Pathy and his crew already took part in training exercises and will now embark on seventeen weeks of training to get ready for the mission. We look forward to following him and the Ax-1 mission in the coming weeks and months.

 

Japanese Astronaut Aki Hoshide (JAXA) Wears the Astroskin Bio-Monitor in the International Space Station

Japanese Astronaut Aki Hoshide was the 5th astronaut to wear the Astroskin Bio-Monitor system aboard the International Space Station last week. Astronauts use the Astroskin in space since 2019 to participate in various research studies, including "Vascular Aging", a project lead by University of Waterloo researchers.

Japanese astronaut Aki Hoshide inside the International Space Station

Many more astronauts are scheduled to use Astroskin in space. The system is available to all participating space agencies and research universities. The most recent Astroskin payload was launched with SpaceX's mission CRS-23 on August 29th, 2021.

Microgravity affects fluid movements in the body and heat transmission (in the absence of convection movement in microgravity). This triggers physiological phenomena impossible to monitor on the ground and tests our models of human physiology. The Astroskin Bio-Monitor system gives scientists a tool to observe these phenomena in space. It also prepares us to maintain crew health during long space missions beyond low earth orbit (LEO), to the Moon and Mars.

A Brief History of the Astroskin

Here's a list of space launches that carried Astroskin payloads:

  1. SpaceX CRS-16 (December 5th, 2018)
  2. Cygnus NG-11 (April 17th, 2019)
  3. SpaceX CRS-18 (July 25th, 2019)
  4. SpaceX CRS-19 (December 5th, 2019
  5. SpaceX CRS-20 (March 7th, 2020)
  6. Cygnus NG-14 (October 3rd, 2020)
  7. SpaceX CRS-21 (December 6th, 2020)
  8. SpaceX CRS-22 (June 3rd, 2021)
  9. SpaceX CRS-23 (August 29th, 2021)

The Astroskin Vital Signs Monitoring Platform is also used on Earth on industrial projects and scientific research

Information about Astroskin missions aboard the ISS:

https://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/Hardware/hardconfig/3065
https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/i/iss-bio-monitor-analyzer

Astroskin First Flight with Virgin Galactic and Kellie Gerardi

Washington, DC, USA (June 3rd, 2021): Virgin Galactic has announced a new contract to fly International Institute of Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) researcher Kellie Gerardi on a test flight of the company’s spaceflight system, during which Kellie will conduct experiments and test new healthcare technologies (including the Astroskin Bio-Monitor) while she's in space. 

Kellie Gerardi - Virgin Galactic - Astroskin

(Credits: Greentag89, Wikipedia)

The purpose of the research mission is to demonstrate and advance novel scientific research benefits and applications that the spaceflight system provides for human-tended payloads.

The mission will also demonstrate the potential of conducting human research in suborbital flight, building on the research and knowledge gained from a number of Kellie’s reduced gravity flight campaigns performed here on Earth, including with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). 

Virgin Galactic will be able to provide new benefits to the space science research community in the form of repeatability, affordability and quality of the weightless environment which have historically been barriers for many wanting to conduct human spaceflight research.

During the spaceflight, following the shutdown of the rocket motor, Kellie will unbuckle from her seat and undertake the actions necessary to complete each experiment during several minutes of weightlessness. Virgin Galactic will provide training and preparation so that she is fully equipped to carry out her job as mission specialist on this flight and provide on-site pre-flight support for each of the payload experiments.

Working with IIAS, NRC and CSA, Kellie has already operated each payload in reduced gravity flights and will be bringing that unique payload specialist experience to the research mission. The payloads will include bio-monitoring instrumentation, including the Astroskin Bio-Monitor wearable sensors system, developed by Hexoskin with the support of the Canadian Space Agency, that will measure the biological effects of launch, weightlessness, re-entry, and landing on spaceflight participants.

The Astroskin Bio-Monitor has been in operation in the International Space Station since 2019 and is used by space agencies (CSA, NASA, ESA), to monitor astronauts' vital signs in orbit. The Astroskin is also used on Earth by researchers of 5 continents for clinical research applications.

“This historic flight will demonstrate the role private space companies can play to advance our knowledge of human physiology in space, to prepare for future missions to the Moon and beyond” said Pierre-Alexandre Fournier, CEO and co-founder of Hexoskin. “Many private space companies are planning to use the Astroskin system for astronaut training and during spaceflight, because it’s already in operation in the International Space Station.”

For more information about Hexoskin's involvement in this test flight or the Astroskin wearable vital signs sensor system, please contact us by email (contact@hexoskin.com) or by phone at 1-888-887-2044.

New Payload to Launch with SpaceX Mission CRS-22

If the weather permits, Hexoskin is set to launch its 8th Astroskin payload in collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency on June 3rd aboard another SpaceX rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX Mission CRS-22 is the second launch of phase 2 of SpaceX's Commercial Resupply Service (CRS) contract. This is the 6th time SpaceX transports Astroskin equipment to the International Space Station, the 2 other payloads have been launched by Northrop Grumman's Cygnus rockets.

Microgravity affects fluid movements in the body and heat transmission (in the absence of convection movement in microgravity). This triggers physiological phenomena impossible to monitor on the ground and tests our models of human physiology. The Astroskin Bio-Monitor system gives scientists a tool to observe these phenomena in space. It also prepares us to maintain crew health during long space missions beyond low earth orbit (LEO), to the Moon and Mars.

A Brief History of the Astroskin

Astronauts from space agencies (NASA, CSA, ESA) have used the Astroskin system aboard the International Space Station since January 2019.

Here's a list of space launches that carried Astroskin payloads:

  1. SpaceX CRS-16 (December 5th, 2018)
  2. Cygnus NG-11 (April 17th, 2019)
  3. SpaceX CRS-18 (July 25th, 2019)
  4. SpaceX CRS-19 (December 5th, 2019
  5. SpaceX CRS-20 (March 7th, 2020)
  6. Cygnus NG-14 (October 3rd, 2020)
  7. SpaceX CRS-21 (December 6th, 2020)
  8. SpaceX CRS-22 (June 3rd, 2021)

The Astroskin Vital Signs Monitoring Platform is also used on Earth on industrial projects and scientific research

Information about Astroskin missions aboard the ISS:

https://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/Hardware/hardconfig/3065
https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/i/iss-bio-monitor-analyzer

Hexoskin Talks Space Medicine at the Healthcare without Boundaries Colloquium

Biomedical researcher Héloïse Auger will talk about Hexoskin's work in space medicine, Astroskin wearable sensors, and artificial intelligence for automated diagnostics at the Healthcare without Boundaries Colloquium this week on June 1-2. Registration is available on Eventbrite: Healthcare without Boundaries Colloquium

Hexoskin has been collaborating with the Canadian Space Agency since 2011 on the development of medical technologies that can be used for human spaceflight. Devices that can record health data passively, like the Astroskin, create an opportunity to develop autonomous medical systems using clinical rules and artificial intelligence to support long-term space missions beyond low Earth orbit.

Astrokin wearable sensors worn by Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques in the International Space Station, January 2019
Are you working on a research project that requires monitoring cardiorespiratory activity in real-life settings? Contact us to discuss your objectives and see how Astroskin or Hexoskin could be useful! 

Astroskin Live Demo

Astroskin Live Demo - Register

Join us on March 24, 2021 for the Astroskin Live Demo

Hexoskin will provide a demonstration of the capabilities of the Astroskin, an advanced wearable technology designed to continuously monitor the five vital signs.

We will cover the following topics:
  • Astroskin Vital Signs Monitoring Platform
  • Demo of the Astroskin Apps & Dashboard
  • Current & Future Applications
  • Q&A

Register your place today!

September 16, 2020

Astroskin › Conventions & Events › space ›


Hexoskin at the Virtual MedTech Conference: Sessions Explore Everything from Outer Space to the Hospital of the Future

Hexoskin's CEO Pierre-Alexandre Fournier joined astronaut David Saint-Jacques and other panelists this week to discuss innovation in space medicine at the Virtual MedTech Conference.

After 20 years of continuous human presence on the International Space Station, countries from around the world are getting ready to send humans farther into our solar system, beyond Earth's orbit. Technologies required to support long-duration missions, such as to Mars and back to the moon, will be critical to the next 50 years of space exploration.

The Canadian Space Agency, numerous innovative Canadian medical technology companies and the National Research Council of Canada, are performing key research to develop and incorporate novel medical devices solutions for long-duration human spaceflight.

Cutting-edge microgravity research and space-relevant clinical expertise are critical to ensure an autonomous crew health care system. Canadian scientists, clinicians and specialists have developed and demonstrated new devices for remote clinical care including point of care diagnostics and real-time astronaut monitoring.

Among these innovations, Hexoskin has launched the wearable Astroskin Bio-Monitor system to the International Space Station in 2018 to monitor astronaut's vital signs. The system is used since for medical research in micro-gravity but also for research on Earth by a wide community of clinicians working in universities and research centers around the world.

The video of the MedTech Conference panel has been published and is available on the conference platform for attendees here: https://medtechvirtual2020.pathable.co/meetings/virtual/v98noBALBh3R4Xa5e

To learn more on Astroskin Vital Signs Monitoring Platform, Download Astroskin Product Specifications or contact us.

Advancing space medicine knowledge aboard the ISS. Another space mission for Astroskin / Bio-Monitor!

Earlier this month, European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano conducted validation tests on-orbit and wore the Astroskin garment and headband connected to the data unit for his first 72-hour monitoring experience.

Luca Parmitano also conducted maintenance operations for the Astroskin / Bio-Monitor that was deployed on the ISS orbiting lab, last December by Canadian Astronaut David Saint-Jacques.

Although the ISS is equipped with health and life sciences research tools, the existing instrumentation for continuous and simultaneous recording of several physiological parameters was lacking. To address this issue, the Canadian Space Agency's Bio-Monitor Commissioning activity uses the Astroskin / Bio-Monitor system; a complete vital signs monitoring platform coupled with a wearable garment capable of monitoring relevant physiological parameters in a non-invasive and non-interfering way during a normal day in space. 

The physiological parameters which can be monitored consist of blood pressure, peripheral blood oxygen saturation, 3-lead ECG, respiration, skin temperature, and activity, will help push further our understanding of Vascular aging and Human Physiology in space. 

Venturing into the environment of space, microgravity can have negative effects on the human body. 
When astronauts return to Earth, their carotid arteries, which carry blood to the head and neck, appear to have aged 20 to 30 years. Artery walls become stiffer and thicker in space, the same as when people grow older on Earth.

“You can take extremely healthy, fit astronauts and put them in an environment that restricts their ability to do daily exercise, and they run the risk of developing insulin resistance that on Earth could lead to Type II diabetes,” said principal investigator Richard L. Hughson of Schlegel-University of Waterloo in Ontario

Now operational the Astroskin Bio-Monitor system is available for the next five years to conduct Health research in Space for all participating countries to the International Space Station.

 


Source:
NASA. 2019. ISS Daily Summary Report - 8/14/2019
NASA. 2019. ISS Daily Summary Report - 8/13/2019

 


About Hexoskin
Since 2006, Hexoskin’s mission is to develop sensors and health data infrastructure to generate clinical grade real-world evidence. The Astroskin demonstrates once again Hexoskin’s leadership in providing the industry leading sensors, software, and AI to push further our understanding of human physiology on earth and in space.

Everest & Back in 14 days by Roxanne Vogel - An endurance Lab Project using Astroskin

Roxanne Vogel, Mountaineer and Nutrition & Performance Research Manager at Gu Energy Labs, became the first person to complete a lightning ascent of Mount EverestOn a normal climb, the journey would take nearly two months, but Vogel completed the round trip in just 14 days.

The Hexoskin team wants to congrats Roxanne for completing this amazing challenge and reaching the top of the world!

Astroskin: a non-invasive method to collect novel data above 7000 m continuously and in real-time to study the effects of altitude.

Roxanne turned the experience into a science project to study the effects of a rapid ascent on the human body. For this journey, the Astroskin Shirt presented itself as an important measurement tool to study the Montaineer vital signs during the ascent. «It was a non-invasive method to collect novel data above 7000 m continuously and in real-time so that I could not only monitor my physiology for safety reasons but also gather information about how the human body adapts to high altitude hypoxia in such a short amount of time. This is the first time the world will see continuous data of this nature for the variables Astroskin measures! I needed something I could put on, press start, and forget about that didn’t take up much space or weight to carry, and Astroskin was the perfect solution.

The Astroskin Shirt is comfortable to wear and the set up is very user-friendly. I put it on and basically forgot it was there, except when I had to change batteries. It made my life as a scientist on the mountain so much easier than if I were to attempt to collect similar variables at distinct data points, which would only provide a “snapshot” of the data, not a complete picture. Overall, it was a great experience using the Astroskin», said Roxanne Vogel, Mountaineer and Nutrition & Performance Research Manager at Gu Energy Labs.


A 14 days Mount Everest Lightning Ascent that Pushes the Limits 
of Mountaineering

Roxanne left Berkeley on May 10 for the 14 days Mount Everest Lightning Ascent and complete her sixth summit climb out of the world’s seven highest mountains. Vogel spent four months training with coaches and three months training for the changes in altitude. 

Roxanne Vogel reached the summit on May 22 at 11:45 a.m and arrived back in the San Francisco at 11 p.m. Friday. Her next adventure is in Antarctica, where she will endeavor to complete her seven-summit goal by the end of the year.

«My friend and hero Lydia Bradey and I summited Mount Everest (8848 meters/29,029 ft), the first climbing members to reach it from the Tibet side this season, just as the rope-fixers finished putting up the final 500 vertical feet of lines. They hugged and high-fived us as they descended, leaving us alone with our two Sherpas, Mingma Tshering and Pasang Tendi, on the summit, an incredible and almost non-existent experience. 

We climbed from Camp 2 at 7700 meters, departing late by Everest standards at 1:45 AM, to give the rope fixers time to finish their work. No one else climbed from the north side that day. We were so fortunate to have the mountain all to ourselves. Hard to believe, still processing.»


Source: 
https://guenergy.com/roxy-on-everest/


Congrats to Roxanne Vogel for reaching the top of the world! #Astroskin @Hexoskin

 

 

About Hexoskin
Since 2006, Hexoskin’s mission is to develop sensors and health data infrastructure to generate clinical grade real-world evidence. The Astroskin demonstrates once again Hexoskin’s leadership in providing the industry leading sensors, software, and AI to push further our understanding of human physiology on earth and in space. To learn more on Astroskin Vital Signs Monitoring Platform download Astroskin Product Specifications document. 
Contact our team to order Astroskin.