Organizations: NSF, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Collaborators: Dr. Jeff Hawks, Dr. Max Twedt, Dr. Greg Bashford, Dr. Tyler Ketchum

Dates: Summer 2013

Foci: Medical Devices, Space

The Synopsis

Astronauts have reported decreases in visual acuity after both short and long duration space missions. Studies have also revealed changes to their ocular structure, including optic nerve sheath distension and globe flattening. It is suspected that elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) induced by microgravity and spaceflight conditions is a significant factor in these changes. However, a lack of in-flight ICP monitoring techniques has made it difficult to observe ICP levels throughout space missions and determine its exact role.

The Opportunity

As part of an Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, I was given the opportunity to help measure the effects extended time in zero-gravity had on vision and the eye. I spent the summer of 2013 working on the problem under the tutelage of Dr. Jeff Hawks and Dr. Greg Bashford.

The Work

Most of my time involved either (1) performing literature reviews related to developing a methodology for measuring intracranial pressure non-invasively or (2) helping to refine a novel methodology by running data-collection experiments. Literature reviews, while necessary, definitely weren’t a burning passion of mine. However, running experiments and getting my hands dirty was!

These experiments focused on gathering the relationship between pressure-applied and fluid-velocity through a vessel placed in material of varying stiffness. In essence, I spent a lot of time creating materials of varying stiffness, setting up our testing apparatus, and slowly testing and measuring the results of changing specific variables.

Our preliminary results showed clear differences in these curves based on the stiffness of the material used (which is a proxy for intracranial pressure of the fluid around the ophthalmic artery). This was a proof-of-concept result that the methodology could be applied in the real world.

The Results

The work culminated in my presenting our results at a poster session at the 2013 International Space Station Conference in Denver, CO. As someone who enjoys presentations, this was a deeply memorable experience, and my first conference! As a then-17-year-old, I felt like a fish-out-of-water, but had a great time nonetheless.

The work was also later published in the ASME Journal of Medical Devices, June of 2015. You can read more about it in the link below!