NASA technology designed to monitor astronaut health during long-duration space missions is now being adapted for heart failure management on Earth. Developed by two NASA engineers over 20 years ago, this technology is set to launch as a commercial product in late 2024, offering new possibilities for remote heart health monitoring.
Dr. Rainee Simons, a senior microwave communications engineer, and Dr. Félix Miranda, deputy chief of the Communications and Intelligent Systems Division, applied their expertise in radio frequency circuits to create a small, implantable sensor system. Originally designed for astronauts, the device can track heart health and transmit data wirelessly to a handheld device, providing real-time information about a person’s condition. The sensor is battery-free and can be implanted without major surgery, similar to a stent placement.
“This sensor can be inserted near the heart or aorta, just like a stent, making the procedure minimally invasive and easy for patients to use,” Simons explained.
After NASA patented the invention, heart surgeon Dr. Anthony Nunez and engineer Harry Rowland founded Endotronix in 2007 to commercialize the technology. Now part of Edwards Lifesciences, Endotronix developed the Cordella Pulmonary Artery (PA) Sensor System, which enables remote monitoring of heart failure patients. The system provides physicians with real-time data, helping to manage treatment and reduce hospitalizations.
The Cordella PA Sensor System has shown promising results in clinical trials, with many patients reporting improved quality of life. In June 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted premarket approval for the system, paving the way for its use in home-based heart failure management.
Dr. Miranda expressed pride in the technology’s impact, noting that its origins in NASA’s research align with the agency’s mission to benefit humanity. “It’s gratifying to know that a device developed for space exploration could help people worldwide live healthier lives,” he said.
The technology represents a significant step forward in both space exploration and healthcare, bridging the gap between the challenges of spaceflight and critical medical needs on Earth.
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