The Butterfly iQ Catches a Ride on the SpaceX Dragon to Space
On June 3, the SpaceX Dragon cargo resupply mission will deliver a Butterfly iQ to the International Space Station. Developed by Butterfly Network (BFLY), this handheld ultrasound device aims to enhance astronaut healthcare by allowing self-monitoring for conditions like kidney stones and blood clots. The Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) supports user demonstrations in space, emphasizing the technology's portability and reliability. Butterfly Network seeks to democratize medical imaging globally, providing accessible ultrasound solutions for various healthcare settings.
- Butterfly iQ enhances astronaut self-monitoring capabilities during space missions.
- Potential game-changer for medical imaging in extreme environments.
- Aligned with NASA's goal of improving healthcare for astronauts on deep space missions.
- Broad applicability of Butterfly's technology for remote healthcare solutions.
- None.
Headed for the International Space Station on June 3, the 22nd SpaceX Dragon cargo resupply payload will include a Butterfly iQ, the world's first handheld, single-probe whole-body ultrasound system using semiconductor technology. This tool was developed by Butterfly Network, Inc. (NYSE: BFLY), an innovative digital health company that is working to democratize medical imaging and contribute to the aspiration of global health equity. The Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) is supporting the product’s first user demo in space.
(Photo: Business Wire)
The institute invests in cutting-edge terrestrial healthcare technologies that can protect astronaut health and performance. Recognizing the valuable information delivered by Butterfly iQ, a potential game-changer for space health, the institute is supporting a research team from KBR, based in Houston, Texas, that will evaluate how the Butterfly iQ performs in the hands of the astronauts in space. The TRISH team hopes to demonstrate the portability, ease-of-use, and durability of Butterfly’s technology in extreme environments.
“NASA is returning to the Moon and our astronauts will need to be more self-reliant when it comes to medical care. TRISH is investing in innovations that enable healthcare to be provided in new ways,” said Dorit Donoviel, Ph.D., Director of TRISH. “On deep space missions, tools such as the Butterfly iQ will help the astronauts monitor themselves for concerns such as kidney stones, fluid in the lungs, blood clots, and swelling of the optic nerve.”
Once delivered to the space station, astronauts will provide feedback on the ease of using the device, the quality of the produced ultrasound images, and the efficiency of image acquisition.
“We’re thrilled that TRISH has identified the potential of Butterfly iQ to advance care delivery in remote—and extremely remote—care settings. We are confident that the iQ’s combination of diagnostic power, portability, reliability and ease of use will prove a useful addition to the medical toolkit of the International Space Station,” said Todd Fruchterman, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Butterfly Network. “It is an honor to know that a Butterfly device will help NASA safeguard the health of its incredible astronauts by providing actionable diagnostic insights.”
Butterfly’s technology will continue to make an impact in a wide variety of care settings, providing valuable information to help make clinical decisions earlier in a patient’s treatment – in the hospital, in medical transport on the way to the hospital, in the clinic, and ultimately, subject to appropriate regulatory authorization, in the home.
About Butterfly Network
Founded by Dr. Jonathan Rothberg in 2011 and recently listed on the New York Stock Exchange through a business combination with Longview Acquisition Corp., Butterfly Network created the world's only handheld, single-probe whole-body ultrasound system using semiconductor technology, the Butterfly iQ. Its mission is to democratize medical imaging and contribute to the aspiration of global health equity by making high-quality ultrasound affordable, easy-to-use, globally accessible, and intelligently connected—including for the 4.7 billion people around the world lacking access to ultrasound. Through its proprietary Ultrasound-on-Chip™ technology, Butterfly is paving the way for earlier detection and remote management of health conditions around the world. The Butterfly iQ+ can be purchased online today by healthcare practitioners in the United States, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Butterfly iQ is a prescription device intended for trained and qualified healthcare professionals only.
For more information, visit www.butterflynetwork.com.
About the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH)
Led by Baylor College of Medicine’s Center for Space Medicine, TRISH is a consortium which includes partners Caltech and MIT. NASA recently awarded the institute a six-year extension to further its work delivering disruptive solutions that mitigate biomedical risks for human space exploration while advancing terrestrial health technologies. Learn more about TRISH at bcm.edu/spacehealth and follow them on Facebook (@BCMTRISH), Twitter (@BCMSpaceHealth) and Instagram (@bcm_spacehealth).
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