the first ae in nasa stands for
aeronautics and a commitment to
developing the world's most advanced
efficient aircraft
key to the success of this effort today
is computer modeling the ability to
evaluate a number of factors before
committing to a particular configuration
recently engineers at nasa's lewis
research center have been using these
same modeling techniques to improve the
design and durability of artificial
joints
joint replacement surgery is performed
almost every day at places like the
university hospitals of cleveland
here orthopedic surgeon dr bernard
stolberg holds a widely used artificial
knee
the problem is that implants like these
currently have to be replaced every 10
to 15 years these parts can come loose
they can wear
and there's a very intimate relationship
between the implant and the bone that
is just beginning to be explored
nasa researchers are using their
computer codes to come up with a design
that will stay securely in the bone for
a longer period of time
these techniques also make it possible
to custom design artificial joints
according to aerospace engineer dale
hopkins rather than fitting the patient
to the implant the implant is fitted to
the patient
another medical development involves
ultrasound
originally used to detect structural
flaws in aircraft at nasa's langley
research center this technology is now
enhancing the treatment of fire related
injuries
each year 2 million americans suffer
serious burns 200 000 need
hospitalization
assessing whether a burn is second or
third degree is crucial in determining
proper treatment according to dr anthony
marmaru at the medical college of
virginia
the faster we can make that assessment
the easier it is going to be in terms of
the healing process
ultrasound used in nasa aeronautics
research has been modified to make rapid
accurate assessments of burn thickness
this procedure enables doctors to
distinguish between a second-degree burn
that can heal naturally and the third
degree requiring surgical skin grafting
so again front surface
and a very diffuse back surface and
that's what we see when we have a very
deep burn once left a time in a doctor's
eye and experience burn assessment can
now be highly accurate and instantaneous
comparing this ultrasound technique with
other medical procedures langley's dr
john cantrell we have been
exactly on the money 100 of the time
improving the assessment of burns and
the design of artificial joints
nasa aeronautics technology enhancing
medical science
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