Zero-G TENS Suit

1. Describe what problem the technology solves: From prolonged periods of weightlessness during space travel, substantial muscle and bone loss has been well documented. The TENS suit provides micro-electric charges to all major muscle groups in the body, causing isometric contractions which can significantly reduce or eliminate muscle and bone loss due to weightlessness. 2. Describe what is new and better than existing technologies: Astronauts today are required to perform 2 hrs of physical exercise daily to attempt to reduce the amount of muscle and bone loss from weightlessness. Electro-stim therapy has been studied for its efficacy in reducing or eliminating muscle loss in post-operative and comatose patients for more than 40 years. Similar FDA approved suits are commercially available for athletic performance. 3. Experiment goal: Building on a Gravity Loading Countermeasure Skinsuit (GLCS) tested in 2010 (1) that induced loading on the body to mimic standing showing that the GLCS requires less than 10 mmHg (1.3 kPa) of compression, and NIH studies(2), this new experiment seeks to prove that by providing continual muscle stimulation similar to what one would get on Earth, the suit can significantly reduce or eliminate this time requirement, allowing the astronaut to be more productive in spacecraft maintenance and scientific research. It will also assist with recovery upon return to gravity. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TEST The suit is essentially a skin suit, sized for each astronaut. Electrical pads are stitched into the fabric of the suit at all major muscle group origin and insertion points. Each of these pads is wired back to the battery pack which is programable and controls the groupings, frequency, and rate of charge for each shock. The Suit can be controlled by a smart watch. Different zones can be (de)activated as desired, arms, legs, upper, lower, back, or abs, etc.. The charge can be set per individual with a base line of five-second sustained muscular contractions about 400 times/day. The charges should be low enough not to create unwanted electrical/magnetic disturbance which could interfere with delicate experiments or other equipment, but strong enough to create the isometric contraction necessary for muscle hypertrophy. Since the suit can be worn several hours a day, every day, the shock may not need to be as strong as those used in standard physical therapy or hospital situations on Earth. As with other wearable technology today, the suit is washable in the onboard Shower Bag and dried in the Cycle Dryer (previous submissions). A daily schedule of zone contractions will be created for each individual. The subjects will be separated into three groups of four each: Mild, Medium, and Strong contractions. We can calculate the expected levels of muscle atrophy from inactivity compared to previous study data. The suit's contraction location and cycles are managed by the control unit. The wearer can control the location, frequency, and intensity of the contractions as they go about their day. A protocol schedule will need to be followed such that the entire body's muscle groups are exercised every day and no groups are over or under stimulated. The contraction sequence can be incorporated into the astronaut's daily work schedule to preclude interference with other activities or experiments. If this experiment is successful in demonstrating the feasibility of automated, muscular activation wearables for avoiding muscle mass atrophy, can be used on a daily basis much the same as other fitness equipment for long duration space flight. Notes: 1. Waldie & Newman 2011; 2. PMCID: PMC7840343 PMID:33537223 3. HERO GAP SM-201, MA-201