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Space Sleeping Bag to Solve Astronauts' Squashed Eyeball Disorder

posted by martyb on Friday December 10 2021, @01:21AM   Printer-friendly
from the that-sucks! dept.

takyon writes:

Space sleeping bag to solve astronauts' squashed eyeball disorder

Scientists have developed a hi-tech sleeping bag that could prevent the vision problems that some astronauts experience while living in space.

In zero-gravity, fluids float into the head and squash the eyeball over time. It's regarded as one of the riskiest medical problems affecting astronauts, with some experts concerned it could compromise missions to Mars. The sleeping bag sucks fluid out of the head and towards the feet, countering the pressure build-up.

[...] The sleeping bag, developed with outdoor equipment manufacturer REI, fits around the person's waist, enclosing their lower body within a solid frame.

A suction device, that works on the same principle as a vacuum cleaner, creates a pressure difference that draws fluid down towards the feet. This prevents it from building up in the brain and applying damaging pressure to the eyeball.

Several questions need to be answered before the sleeping bag technology is used routinely, including the optimal amount of time astronauts should spend in the sleeping bag each day.

Journal Reference:
Christopher M. Hearon, Katrin A. Dias, Gautam Babu, et al. Nightly Lower Body Negative Pressure and Choroid Engorgement in Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome, JAMA Ophthalmology (DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2021.5200)

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 0, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 10 2021, @01:47AM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 10 2021, @01:47AM (#1203480)

    Just make sure that belt around their waist is real secure!

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  • (Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 10 2021, @01:57AM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 10 2021, @01:57AM (#1203483)
    I'd be more concerned with certain boily fluids being released with a suction device from the waist down. Sounds like a big penis pump - like the one Trump uses that made his penis look like a Mario Bros mushroom.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 10 2021, @02:08AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 10 2021, @02:08AM (#1203488)

      I'd be more concerned with certain boily fluids being released...

      Well, as long as they're released outside, cleanup won't be an issue, no lingering odors, or unsightly spots on the walls