Summary: Hyperfine, in collaboration with the Medical University of South Carolina, will use the Swoop Portable MR Imaging system to scan astronauts’ brains before and after the Polaris Dawn mission to study changes in intracranial volume and understand the effects of spaceflight.
Key Takeaways:
- Hyperfine and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) are collaborating to use the Swoop Portable MR Imaging system to study astronaut brain changes before and after spaceflight.
- The research will focus on assessing intracranial volume changes and spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), a condition affecting vision and brain pressure.
- Brain scans will be taken at critical time points, including within hours of the astronauts’ return from the Polaris Dawn mission, providing valuable data on how spaceflight impacts brain health.
Hyperfine announces a collaboration with the Medical University of South Carolina to assess the brains of astronauts before and after embarking on the Polaris Dawn mission.
Use of Swoop Portable MR Imaging System
Researchers will use the Swoop Portable MR Imaging system at a SpaceX facility in Florida to capture detailed brain images of astronauts within hours of their return from the Polaris Dawn mission. The goal is to assess intracranial volume changes after spaceflight by analyzing brain and cerebrospinal fluid volumes. These will be the earliest post-return brain scans ever taken of astronauts.
“This research will help us understand how human physiology adapts to spaceflight and zero-gravity environments,” said Donna Roberts, MD, MS, principal investigator from the Medical University of South Carolina. “Using brain images acquired with the Swoop system, we aim to gain valuable insights into the etiology of spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS)—a condition in which astronauts experience changes in vision, alterations to the retina, and in some cases, swelling of the optic disc and increased intracranial pressure.”
Scan Timeline and Objectives
The Swoop system will acquire MR brain images of the four Polaris Dawn crewmembers at critical points before and after spaceflight—seven days before launch, within hours of return, and one day after return. These images will provide data to help researchers determine whether intracranial venous congestion occurs during spaceflight or during the brain’s re-adaptation to Earth.
“At Hyperfine, Inc., we are dedicated to enhancing brain health, and this research has the potential to advance neurological research,” says Maria Sainz, president and CEO of Hyperfine. “This collaboration showcases the versatility and robustness of our system and the potential of our groundbreaking technology to go into nearly any professional healthcare setting.”
