NASA health monitors could help trauma patients on Earth

A non-invasive electronic monitor, now under development for measuring body chemistry in astronauts, is being touted as a future alternative to needles for the rest of us on terra firma. Called the Venus prototype, the technology uses infrared light to measure blood and tissue oxygen content, pH level and metabolic rate via sensors placed on the skin.

Though Venus is intended to alert astronauts of oxygen deficiencies, the developer, a University of Massachusetts Medical School researcher, expects the devices to become standard equipment for first responders and military medics to send data to hospitals in trauma situations.

For more on how Venus works and its future applications:
- check out this Healthcare IT News piece