David Saint-Jacques explains how the Bio-Monitor smart shirt system keeps an eye on astronauts' vital signs in space

Uploaded on May 29, 2019

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David Saint-Jacques explains how the Bio-Monitor smart shirt system keeps an eye on astronauts' vital signs in space

2019-05-29 - CSA astronaut David Saint-Jacques explains how the Bio-Monitor, a Canadian smart shirt system, measures and records astronauts' vital signs on the International Space Station. The sleek, all-in-one garment is used to collect scientific data that is easily sent down to Earth. (Credits: Canadian Space Agency, NASA)

David Saint-Jacques: Hello, I’m David Saint-Jacques, Canadian Space Agency astronaut. Welcome aboard the International Space Station!

The Station is an orbiting laboratory where we conduct hundreds of science experiments and constantly test new technologies. Our research advances space exploration, helps astronauts, and improves life on Earth.

For health experiments, we use many types of complex equipment, like heart monitors and activity sensors.

Sometimes they can be tricky to put on, interfere with our movements and take up a lot of our time.

Good news: the Canadian Space Agency is leading the way to simplify the process.

The Bio-Monitor system is a one-stop-shop for tracking what’s going on with our bodies, and it’s the only tool of its kind in space. And I’m the first one to test it! 

The shirt has sensors that keep a close eye on our vital signs around the clock. They measure things like:

• heart rate,

• breathing,

• blood pressure,

• skin temperature,

• physical activity—

• even the amount of oxygen in our blood.

All that data can be quickly sent back to scientists on Earth.

And the benefits aren’t limited to space.

Similar technology could eventually be used to monitor patients in remote communities, or athletes, or workers in dangerous environments.

The Bio-Monitor is a remarkable new Canadian technology – with an 80s twist.

Bye bye!

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