Q&A: 1st-ever X-ray of an astronaut in space used technology developed in Waterloo region

The first-ever X-ray taken of an astronaut in space used new technology developed in Waterloo region.

Startup KA Imaging's new X-ray detector was part of a mission to study Earth's polar regions from space. It is being used to track the effects of space travel on astronauts. 

The X-ray detector creates clear images of X-rays and can measure an astronaut's bone density while in space. Chief technology officer of KA Imaging, Karim Karim, joined CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's The Morning Edition with host Craig Norris to discuss how the new technology will impact the future of space travel and healthcare. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Audio of the interview can be found at the bottom of this article.

Craig Norris: Tell us more about the technology and how it works. 

Karim Karim: This tech was developed in the region. We started the company more than a decade ago. It has a lot of applications. Most of the applications are on Earth, primarily in health care, but also in security. The health care applications include usage in the intensive care units where this type of technology reduces the need for follow up CT scans. 

So it's really good for efficient healthcare and better patient outcomes. At the same time it has this really unique feature of quantitative X-ray imaging. It lets you measure things in the body like bone density

Craig Norris: Why are X-rays needed in space?

Karim Karim: There are well-known studies that show in low gravity or zero gravity environments, astronauts lose their bone mass and bone density. This is a problem because oftentimes when you see them come back to Earth, they have even trouble climbing out of the shuttle. That's because things have changed. So monitoring bone density is very important. It can allow for the correct exercise regiment or potentially pharmaceutical intervention.

Craig Norris: Why were X-rays not able to be taken in space before?

Karim Karim: I think the main reason people didn't do X-rays in space in the past is because of the weight associated with X-ray machines. The X-ray sources and the detectors were really heavy. What we've done is we've brought a very lightweight system to the market. 

We've also got a very unique capability that no other X-ray has. We're the only one where you can get a bone density measurement with the X-ray. Now mind you, this is research, but we can do it. So this is the reason why we were selected.

Craig Norris: In what ways does this X-ray machine differ from a machine used in the hospital?

Karim Karim: When everyone thinks of X-rays, they think of a room, they think of a giant X-ray source, they see these wall stands. This is very different,  all you've got in your hand is a plate and you've got a source that you can carry in your hand. The total weight of something like this would be probably in the 25-pound range but that is still too heavy.