Michael Mewhinney                                               Sept. 28,
1999
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
(Phone:  650/604-3937, 650/604-9000)
mmewhinney@mail.arc.nasa.gov

Joe Waldygo
JW Communications, Inc., Gilbert, AZ
(Phone: 480-632-5050)
joew@jw-comm.com

RELEASE:  99-61

NASA TEAMS WITH SWEDISH FIRM TO STUDY CHANGES IN ASTRONAUTS' SPINES

       Scientists from NASA and DynaMed AB, a Swedish medical technology
company, have signed a Space Act Agreement for research and development of
a space-age compression harness to examine changes in the spines of
astronauts before and after space flight and of patients with spinal
disease.

     Under the terms of the agreement, the research will focus on
developing the technology as a diagnostic tool for the spinal canal and
other areas, including hips, knees and neck injuries. This collaboration
will benefit NASA by enabling accurate Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
spinal investigations preceding and following long-term exposure to the
reduced gravity environment of space flight.  The device also holds
potential as a preventative and therapeutic countermeasure for spinal
degeneration and back pain characteristic of long-term space flight.

       "The use of this technology will often assist in a more specific
and valid diagnosis of spinal disease, which traditionally has been
difficult during horizontal imaging," said Alan R. Hargens PhD, Senior
Scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA and Professor
of Orthopaedics at the University of California, San Diego.  Hargens is
helping direct clinical studies at the Veterans Administration and
Stanford
University Medical Centers in Palo Alto, CA, in cooperation with
Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden.

      The DynaMed compression harness is used in conjunction with Computer
Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment to provide
a more accurate diagnosis of spinal conditions by simulating the weight
and load of upright posture.  Currently, because virtually all MRI and CT
examinations occur when a patient is lying down and free from the effects
of gravity, many spinal diseases, injuries and conditions may go
undetected or be improperly diagnosed.

    "DynaMed's goal is to assist physicians in providing enhanced
diagnosis, which will offer opportunities for safer and more accurate
treatments benefiting patients to return to a pain free life," said Stan
Mikulowski, CEO of DynaMed AB.  "Health care providers should also benefit
from the technology since better diagnosis has the potential to reduce
costs of treatment."

     DynaMed AB delivers innovative, premiere, medical diagnostic imaging
technology for healthcare providers using CT and MRI technology.  The
company is privately owned and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with a
wholly owned subsidiary, DynaMed, Inc. located in the United States.  For
more information, call 310-204-5787 or visit the company's Web site at:
www.dynamedinc.com

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