lnnovative Wearable Muscle and Movement Monitoring System for Astronauts (AstroMoWe)

FULL PROPOSAL

I.	TECHNICAL  PROPOSAL

ACTIVITY/EXPERIMENT OVERVIEW

Activity Objective
This project aims to develop wearable lightweight electromyography (EMG) sensors combined with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to monitor and analyze the movement and muscle activity of an astronaut during a multiday stay on the ISS. The development and verification of the new technology will enable the continuous measurement of the astronauťs muscle and movement activity during his daily activities. The data acquisition during pre-, in-, and post-flight will enable fort the comprehensive analysis of the movement patterns and muscle activity in a microgravity .

To achieve this, we will adapt the current technologies to be suitable for use in the ISS environment. The Astromowe unit will consist of smart textile and electronic component. The smart textile utilize dry electrodes for capturing electromyographic signals from the skin surface to eliminate the need for electrolytes and gels, facilitating the use and enhancing comfort during continuous multi-day wear. The smart textile will be integrated into the high-tech textile sleeve designed to provide stability and physiological comfort during wear. This sleeve will be easily adjustab le for quick application and removal, and it will be constructed from meta-aramid fabric to minimize skin irritation. The electronic component will be responsible for data pre-processing, and data storage. The IMU will be integrated into the electronics and will be optimized for space use, allowing for tracking of body orientation and movement in space to monitor upper and lower limbs' muscular activity. IMU data will be combined with EMG signals for a comprehensive analysis of movement patterns and muscle activity. The smart wearable electrodes, together with electronic units will be placed on the dominant and non-dominant upper arm and upper leg to measure muscle activity of the biceps and rectus femoris muscles, muscles crucial in daily movements.
Before deployment in space, the developed Astromowe device will undergo testing on Earth under various conditions, including follow-up analog missions. This will verify its functionality and accuracy. During these tests, data will be collected on muscle activity and movement patterns of astronauts to evaluate the new technology and observe changes in microgravity. The analysis will include technology assessment and comparisons of muscle activity across different activities in both space and Earth environments.

The integration of these adapted technologies will yield valuable data that can enhance our understanding of physiologicaladaptations in microgravity and support the health and performance of astronauts during challenging space missions.

Just ification for the need of space conditions
Muscle function is compromised by gravitational unloading in space affecting overall musculoskeletal health. During spaceflights, astronauts are at risk of skeletal muscle atrophy and overall deterioration of the health condition of the musculoskeletal syslem, see (Belyaev , et al, 2011; Lambrecht, et al, 2017; Lee, 2020; Parafati, 2023). Astronauts perform multi-hour exercise programs to mitigate these effects but knowing whether the performed activities are sufficient to maintain fitness and which muscles to target would optimize effectiveness. Accurate flight assessment to inform the effectiveness of daily activities and exercise programs is critical due to the lack of technology suitable for spaceflight. Changes in biomedicaland movement data, for example, changes in muscle activation levels, indicate muscle health status and can be measured rapidly and non-invasively using novel technology. Among the areas of interest are the physical activity during daily activities and the muscular performance of astronauts. Muscular activity, however, is not easily monitored in space with traditional and cumbersome electromyographic (EMG) machines.
Wearable surface EMG and IMU technology has made innovative technological progress and has research potential for routine clinical applications and a wide range of applications, such as neurophysiology , sports and art performances, biofeedback, physical therapy and rehabilitation, assessment of physical exercises, muscle strength, fatigue, posture  and  postural control, movement  analysis,  muscle coordination , motor  synergies,

modeling, and more.
NASA in cooperation with Delsys, Inc., of Boston, Massachusetts , developed the MyoMonito® EMG system. lt is a wearable four-channel device that can monitor muscle performance . Currently , the battery-powered robust device is capable of storing over 3 hours of continuous 4-channel data and has a carrying case that offers the freedom to monitor muscle performance with a portable cable-free unit. The MyoMonitor is being marketed for monitoring rehabilitative therapy , workplace injury prevention, sports medicine, ergonomics , exercise training, and motion studies. The MyoMonitor uses a two-bar single differential electrode. Due to the electrode-sk in interface in traditional EMG equipment, during rigorous muscular activity, the movement of the skin causes the electrode detection surfaces to become compromised. The MyoMonitor eliminates this problem, enabling a wide array of applications and experiments during intense muscular activity, see (Monitoring on the Move, 2000). However, the device is dimensionally large, and unsuitable for use during normal work activities and for extended periods. Fixation of the electrodes by gluing is also problematic from an operational point of v iew . More tech specifications of the system can be found in de Luca, et al   2002)
Another experiment run by NASA is MYOTONPRO, where the different body measure points of the resting human musculature (superficial muscle) and myofascial system (fascia, tendons) will be tested by crewmembers from only one body side (left or right) before, during, and after a space flight. Measurements are performed by digital palpation using the non-invasive and mobile MyotonPROTM device followed by high resolution ultrasound imaging of body skin measure points to monitor/quantify volume changes of the skin, muscle, and tendon/fascia. lnflight sessions include ground-based real-time video monitoring from each subject, which are downlinked after the first and last in-flight session for analysis. ln addition, blood draws are done pre-in-, and postflight. Pre- and postflight surface electromyography and dynamometer strength tests are performed on two lower leg muscles such as gastrocnemius or tibialis anterior followed by pre- and postflight calf volume via MRI imaging, (Muscle Tone in Space (n.d.-b)., 2024). This concept does not allow for measurement of the activity and act ivation of the muscles during a longer period and daily activities, see (Schoenrock, et al, 2024). EMG was also measured as part of the passive-mode treadmill test on ISS, but this technology does not enable EMG in the context of daily activities, see (Meigal, et al., 2022).	·
To our knowledge, no other attempts were carried out to measure EMG on the ISS.
ln conclusion, currently used EMG technologies are bulky, and do not allow for continuous monitoring of muscle activity along with movement recording during daily activities.Since all the abovementioned EMG technologies are US-based, we believe that having such a European capability will be also of the ESA interest.

Our goal is to develop a device that is compact, comfortable to wear, and capable of tracking continuously EMG and movement activity. By continuously monitoring these parameters in space, we will be able to define recommended movement activity, exercise types, exercise intensity, rehabilitation protocols, training regimens, and device-based stimulation to help maintain optimal physical fitness. This technology could also be adapted for sports training and rehabilitation on Earth. Our team has been developing EMG sensors to monitor physical activity in ICE conditions, under a grant from the Technological Agency of the Czech Republic. The second generation of the prototype has been already tested in the ICE environment during several analog space missions. We believe, that our current technology can be adapted to be functional on the ISS to monitor the muscular (EMG) activity of astronauts.
The development of an EMG monitoring device on the ISS cannot be considered successful until is flight-proven and operated in the space conditions of the ISS.

Earth benefits
The benefits resulting from the development of systems designed for humankind on Earth include:
A new technology for measuring electromyography (EMG) and movement activity.
lnnovative methods for processing EMG and inertial measurement unit (IMU) data.
The application of acquired knowledge (hardware, software, and data processing) to optimize work and leisure environments, fitness routines, and rehabilitation exercises, especially during preparations for space flights, stays in confined spaces such as polar bases, isolated facilities, homes for the elderly, and long-term care in medical environments.
The use of this knowledge (hardware, software, and data processing) to assess the condition of athletes and workers in physically demanding professions, leading to improved training optimization.
The integration of this knowledge (hardware, software , and data processing) into the educat ion of students, particularly in physical education, for optimizing exercise routines.
The development o.f new smart textiles for athletes, police officers, military personnel, firefighters, and others.
Data measured by textile electrodes can be utilized not only for monitoring tl'le health status of astronauts but

I

FACULTV
OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERINC CTU IN PRAGUE

Appendix 5 to ESA CIP/5-50100/24/NUEH
Proposal Page 3

also for studying human physiology in microgravity conditions. This research can enhance our understanding of the human body and support the development of medical technologies for use on Earth.
ln sports, textile electrodes can analyze muscle load, allowing for the timely detection of overexertion or improper muscle engagement.
Textile-based electrodes and hardware can also be used to monitor occupational workloads, facilitating the analysis of muscle strain in workers performing physically demanding tasks and helping to prevent overuse syndromes or injuries.
A significant advantage of these textile elements is their seamless integration into everyday clothing, enhancing user comfort without imposing any restrictions on movement.
Specific science benefits after mission:
knowledge on behaviour and muscle changes before, during and after the flight based on the data, knowledge on movement activity by measuring the activity of the upper and lower body segments before, during and after the flight based on the data,
Specific benefits from development:
modification of HW parts for space application,
SW modifications for offline recording and data processing, new textile with electrodes.
For a consortium involved in a space project, Space Flight Heritage offers several key benefits. For both universities and companies, participation in human space exploration offers increased credibility and competitiveness, marketing advantages about new products and knowledge,establishing new collaborations, and accelerating the development of new products and research.
The consortium will also gain expertise in the development of technologies for human species exploration as part of ESA activities.
Economicalbenefits:
The project implementation will expand the production portfolio with innovative, high-value products, leading to increased sales, profits, and export volumes. The outputs are expected to have applications beyond the aerospace industry, including limb monitoring for activities like running, skiing, physiotherapy, and the obesity market. Additionally , the project will allow to create and retain highly skilled experts in the Czech academia and industry.

Space benefits Technological  benefits: European System
Developed specifically for the European Space Agency (ESA), this system utilizes unique technologies to ensure strategie independence from foreign supplies for space missions, supporting innovative research and development in Europe.
Non-lnvasive Solution
This system will allow for continuous non-invasive monitoring of muscle and movement activity, enhancing user comfort and minimizing risks for long-term use.
Wearable Technology	.
Designed as a wearable system and integrated into clothing will ensure high mobility without restricting movement-crucial for astronauts in confined spaces.
Autonomous Operation
No constant supervision or manual adjustments are envisaged , making it ideal for where a user's time is limited.
Performance Metrics
lt evaluates the accuracy, reliability, and comfort of EMG and IMU devices in extreme environments , providing insights into their capabilities.
Health Monitoring Systems
Wearable devices will allow for real-time health monitoring, allowing ongoing assessments of astronaut health, with potential applications in terrestrial healthcare.
Smart Textiles
lnnovative smart textiles will be developed through collaboration between textile and electronics specialists , incorporating high-performance fibers and conductive threads .
Textile Electrodes
Integrated textile electrodes offer enhanced comfort and could enable continuous health monitoring for astronauts, ensuring fitness in low-access medical environments without hindering movement.