Overview:
NASA’s Human Research Program (HRP) is seeking an accurate and comfortable wearable(/s) to measure activity (including heart rate) and sleep metrics of astronauts in the International Space Station (ISS). Solutions that can measure light levels are of high interest to validate and provide additional insights on astronaut sleep quality. Ideal solutions will be able to accurately and reliably record the required metrics without causing any discomfort during the astronaut’s day to day operations.
Constraints:
Overall Wearable Requirements
- All devices for monitoring and capturing the sleep, heart rate/cardiovascular, and light data must be wearable and unobtrusive
- If the device is wrist worn it should include a watch face or clock and should provide multiple styles of replaceable bands for comfort
- Any device should be lightweight
Sleep Monitor Requirements
- Provide sleep duration, wake time after sleep onset, sleep latency, sleep efficiency
- Validated against polysomnography (PSG)
- Provide data at least at the resolution of one minute
- Provide raw data output and sleep analysis software with non-proprietary data options
- Can indicate that the device is being worn.
- Utilize a rechargeable battery with infrequent, fast re-charges
- Ideally provide fast wireless (e.g., Bluetooth) communication
- Any accelerometry features should be 3-axis accelerometer (MEMS preferred) and ideally validated for use at a location other than the wrist
- Solutions that emit minimal light are preferred
- Provide validated sleep stage information
Heart Rate/Cardiovascular Requirements
- Collect and record beat by beat heart rate (to be sure there is the capability to post-process the data to determine the type of rhythm abnormality)
- Detect heart arrhythmia characteristics
Light Sensor Requirements
(can be a separate device/unit from actigraphy/HR)
- Provide absolute light levels with a broad dynamic range, including at least spectral channels of approximately 445, 480, 555, 680nm and overall spectrum
- Validated against gold standard measure (i.e., spectrophotometer)
- Provide data at least at the resolution of one minute
- Provide raw data output and sleep analysis software with non-proprietary data options enabling analysis freedom (e.g., model circadian phase)
- Utilize a rechargeable battery with infrequent, fast re-charges
- Ideally provide fast wireless (e.g., Bluetooth) communication
- Provide Melanopic lux as an output
- Associated software should be able to model circadian phase based on data captured
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Photo by Artur Łuczka on Unsplash