TRANSFER OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY TO THE FIELD OF MEDICINE

In the context of its technology transfer programme, the European Spac e Agency (ESA) has decided to examine in greater detail the medical ap plications of space technological developments. There are several sect ors in which space technologies have already been successfully used in biomedical apparatuses, in Europe and in North America. The ESA has t herefore set up a team designed, among other things, to promote exchan ges between the space industry and the world of medicine. Encouraging results have already been obtained and the medical sector shows an inc reasing interest in this initiative, particularly in the fields of sur gery, anaesthesia, radiology and telemedicine. The ESA therefore envis ages the creation of a non-profit association to extend the actions wh ich it has carried out experimentally over the last two years to the w hole of Europe and to all medical disciplines.