Beat to BEAT - Non-Invasive Investigation of Cardiac Function on the International Space Station

Urs-Vito Albrecht, Martin Drobczyk, Christian Strowik, André Lübken, Jan Beringer, Jochen Rust, Ulf Kulau

Abstract: This paper describes the protocol of the microgravity experiment BEAT (Ballistocardiography for Extraterrestrial Applications and Long-Term Missions). The current study makes use of signal acquisition of cardiac parameters with a high-precision Ballistocardiography (BCG)/Seismocardiography (SCG) measurement system, which is integrated in a smart shirt (SmartTex). The goal is to evaluate the feasibility of this concept for continuous wearable monitoring and wireless data transfer. BEAT is part of the “Wireless Compose-2” (WICO2) project deployed on the International Space Station (ISS) that will provide wireless network infrastructure for scientific, localization and medical experiments.