Healthcare devices sent to orbit for space testing

In a microgravity environment, changes in the body's fluid distribution and abnormal blood circulation may significantly slow down the wound healing process, Xu said, noting that one of the devices uses plasma technology to promote tissue regeneration and accelerate healing while reducing the chances of wound contamination.

Gu Ying, a CAS academician and director of the Future Medical Center, said that another noninvasive device uses ultraviolet therapy to simulate sunlight and help astronauts maintain their vitamin D levels, thereby preventing deficiency disorders.

In addition, it supports calcium metabolism for better bone health in a microgravity environment, Gu said.

Also aboard the experimental spacecraft is a microfluidic cell analyzer that can diagnose viral and bacterial infections within one minute using just a single drop of blood. The other devices help monitor vital health parameters, such as pulse and blood pressure, or offer high-quality plant protein.

The project team is developing more space healthcare devices for diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation purposes, with the key features being "compact and easy to use".

Xu, the executive director, said that data collected through the experiments will benefit medical research on Earth. "We've found that stem cells are highly active in space, which is beneficial for delaying organ aging and can support stroke rehabilitation. Maybe one day, diseases that cannot be cured on Earth will be eliminated in space," he said.

In the future, space travelers will be trained to use these devices, and they will also have access to consultations with artificial intelligence-powered medical experts, he said.

Xu said that he foresees a time when medical spacecraft will serve as mobile hospitals for astronauts aboard space stations and travelers on board commercial spaceships, and medical facilities will be built on other planets and the moon.

He added that some domestic commercial aerospace companies, as well as universities in the United Kingdom and Russia, have contacted him for cooperation on future projects.

Contact the writers at chenmeiling@chinadaily.com.cn