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Artificial
Heart - The technology used in space
shuttle fuel pumps led to the development
of a miniaturized ventricular assist pump
by NASA and renowned heart surgeon Dr. Michael
DeBakey. The tiny pump -- 2-inches long,
1-inch in diameter and weighing less than
four ounces -- is currently undergoing European
clinical trials where it has been successfully
implanted into more than 20 people.
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Automotive
Insulation- Materials from the space
shuttle thermal protection system are used
on NASCAR racing cars to protect drivers
from the extreme heat generated
by the engines.
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Balance
Evaluation Systems - Devices built to
measure the equilibrium of space shuttle
astronauts when they return from space are
widely used by major medical centers to diagnose
and treat patients suffering head injury,
stroke, chronic dizziness and central nervous
system disorders.
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Bioreactor -
Developed for space shuttle medical research,
this rotating cell culture apparatus simulates
some aspects of the space environment, or microgravity,
on the ground. Tissue samples grown in the
bioreactor are being used to design therapeutic
drugs and antibodies. Some scientists believe
the bioreactor will routinely produce human
tissue for research and transplantation.
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Diagnostic
Instrument - NASA technology was used to create a compact laboratory instrument for hospitals
and doctor offices that more quickly analyzes blood, accomplishing in 30 seconds
what once took 20 minutes.
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Gas
Detector - A gas leak detection system, originally developed to monitor the
shuttle's hydrogen propulsion system, is being used by the Ford Motor Company
in the production of a natural gas-powered car.
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Infrared
Camera - A sensitive infrared hand-held camera that observes the blazing plumes from
the Shuttle also is capable of scanning for fires. During the brush fires that
ravaged Malibu, CA in 1996, the camera was used to point
out hot spots for firefighters.
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Infrared
Thermometer - Infrared sensors developed to remotely measure the temperature of distant
stars and planets, led to the development of the hand-held optical sensor thermometer.
Placed inside the ear canal, the thermometer provides an accurate reading in
two seconds or less.
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Jewelry
Design - Jewelers no longer have to worry about inhaling dangerous asbestos
fibers from the blocks they use as soldering bases. space shuttle heat shield
tiles offer jewelers a safer soldering base with temperature resistance far beyond
the 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit generated by the jeweler's
torch.
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Land
Mine Removal Device - The same rocket fuel that helps launch the space shuttle
is now being used to save lives— by destroying land mines. A flare device, using
leftover fuel donated by NASA, is placed next to the uncovered land mine and
is ignited from a safe distance using a battery-triggered electric match. The
explosive burns away, disabling the mine and
rendering it harmless.
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Lifesaving
Light - Special lighting technology developed for plant growth experiments
on space shuttle missions is being studied to treat brain tumors in children.
Doctors at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee are working with light
emitting diodes in a treatment called photodynamic therapy, a form of chemotherapy,
to kill cancerous tumors.
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Prosthesis
Material - Responding to a request from the orthopedic appliance industry,
NASA recommended that the foam insulation used to protect the shuttle's external
tank replace the heavy, fragile plaster used to produce master molds for prosthetics.
The new material is light, virtually indestructible
and easy to ship and store.
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Rescue
Tool - Rescue squads have a new extrication tool to help remove accident
victims from wrecked vehicles. The hand-held device requires no auxiliary power
systems or cumbersome hoses and is 70 percent cheaper than previous rescue equipment.
The cutter uses a miniature version of the explosive charges that separate devices
on the shuttle.
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Vehicle
Tracking System - Tracking information originally used onboard Space Shuttle missions now helps
track vehicles on Earth. This commercial spinoff allows vehicles to transmit
a signal back to a home base. Municipalities today use the software to track
and reassign emergency and public works vehicles. It also is used by vehicle
fleet operations, such as taxis, armored cars and vehicles carrying hazardous
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Video
Stabilization Software - Image-processing technology used to analyze Space Shuttle launch video and
to study meteorological images also helps law enforcement agencies improve crime-solving
video. The technology removes defects due to image jitter, image rotation and
image zoom in video sequences. The technology also may be useful for medical
imaging, scientific
applications and home video.
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