Artificial Gravity generated by Short Arm Human Centrifuges is a promising multi-system countermeasure for physiological deconditioning during long duration space flights. To allow a continuous assessment of cardiovascular hemodynamics during centrifugation, a telerobotic robotic system holding an ultrasound probe has been installed on a Short Arm Human Centrifuge. A feasibility study was conducted to define the use capabilities and limitations of such a novel method. The objective of this study is to estimate the reproducibility and precision of remotely controlled vascular ultrasound assessment under centrifugation by assessing peripheral vascular diameter and wall distension. Four repeated centrifugation runs of 5 min, with 2.4 g at feet level, were performed including a 15 min rest between each run for a group of eight healthy male volunteers. Vascular diameter and distention were assessed for the common carotid artery (CCA) and the femoral artery (FA) by ultrasound imaging using a 10 MHz linear array probe (Mylab1, Esaote). Ultrasound measurements were consecutively performed: a) by an expert user in hand-held mode in standing as well as supine position, b) using the telerobotic arm without centrifugation as baseline and c) using the telerobotic arm during centrifugation. Vascular responses were compared between baseline and under centrifugation. Inter-, intra-registration and group variability have been assessed for hand-held and remotely controlled examination. The results show that intra-registration variability, σ_h , was always smaller than inter-registration variability, σ_m, that is in turned smaller than the inter-subject variability σ_g (σ_h < σ_m < σ_g). Centrifugation caused no significant changes in CCA diameter but a lower carotid distension compared to manual and robotic ultrasound in supine position (p < 0.05). Femoral diameter was significantly decreased in hypergravity compared to robotic sonography without centrifugation. A good reproducibility and precision of the remotely controlled vascular ultrasound assessment under centrifugation could be demonstrated. In conclusion, arterial wall dynamics can be precisely assessed for the CCA and femoral artery during centrifugation using a telerobotic ultrasound measurement system. Potential improvements to further enhance reproducibility and safety of the system are discussed.

短臂人体离心机产生的人工重力是长期航天过程中生理失能的有前途的多系统对策。为了在离心过程中连续评估心血管血液动力学，已在短臂人体离心机上安装了装有超声波探头的远程机器人系统。进行了可行性研究，以定义这种新方法的使用能力和局限性。这项研究的目的是通过评估外周血管直径和壁膨胀来评估离心作用下远程控制血管超声评估的可重复性和准确性。进行了四次重复的5分钟的离心操作，每英尺的高度为2.4 g，其中包括一组八名健康男性志愿者在每次运行之间的15分钟休息时间。使用10 MHz线性阵列探针（Mylab1，Esaote）通过超声成像评估颈总动脉（CCA）和股动脉（FA）的血管直径和扩张。超声测量连续进行：a）专业用户以手持模式站立和仰卧，b）使用不离心的远距离机械臂作为基线，以及c）在离心过程中使用远距离机械臂。比较基线和离心下的血管反应。已对手提式和远程检查进行了注册间，注册内和组变异性的评估。结果表明，注册内变异性 b）使用不离心的远距机械臂作为基线，以及c）离心期间使用远距机械臂。比较基线和离心下的血管反应。已对手提式和远程检查进行了注册间，注册内和组变异性的评估。结果表明，注册内变异性 b）使用不离心的远距机械臂作为基线，以及c）离心期间使用远距机械臂。比较基线和离心下的血管反应。已对手提式和远程检查进行了注册间，注册内和组变异性的评估。结果表明，注册内变异性σ _ħ  ，总是比登记间的变异，更小的σ_米，也就是在导通比，受试者间变异性较小σ_克（σ _ħ  <  σ_米 <  σ_克）。与仰卧位手动和机器人超声检查相比，离心不会导致CCA直径发生明显变化，但颈动脉扩张程度较低（p <0.05）。与不进行离心的机器人超声检查相比，超重力下股骨直径显着减小。可以证明在离心作用下远程控制血管超声评估具有良好的可重复性和准确性。总之，可以使用远距超音波超声测量系统在离心过程中精确评估CCA和股动脉的动脉壁动力学。讨论了进一步提高系统可重复性和安全性的潜在改进措施。