Deploying and testing an expandable surgical chamber in microgravity
Markham, S.M.; Rock, J.A.
Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine 60(1): 76-79
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0095-6562 PMID: 2923601 Document Number: 339805
Prolonged spaceflights will increase the possibility of injury to flight crews and mission personnel. These injuries are anticipated to include foreign body injury, mechanical injury, and burns. Surgical repair of these injuries must take into consideration problems of contamination of the injury as well as contamination of the Space Station or transport vehicle environment. Use of a portable expandable surgical chamber is felt to be the most efficient and effective means of providing necessary surgical care in a Space Station environment. A first prototype expandable surgical chamber has been developed and tested in zero gravity. A second prototype has now been developed and will be tested.