GE HealthCare's Vivid iq Ultrasound System Launches to International Space Station

(Source: Medical Device Innovation Network)

GE Healthcare’s Vivid iq Ultrasound System Sent to International Space Station (ISS). The Vivid iq replaces the older GE Healthcare ultrasound system on the ISS and will be used for astronaut health assessments and research aimed at improving patient health on Earth and in space.

Vivid iq includes imaging functions and quantification tools for examining body systems such as cardiovascular, abdominal, and musculoskeletal health. The system, with a form factor similar to a laptop, is an upgraded version of GE Healthcare's Vivid q, which was launched to the International Space Station in 2011.

The system from this American imaging giant, carried aboard SpaceX's resupply spacecraft, arrived at the International Space Station on September 18. It will play a crucial role in the health evaluation of all astronauts and will also be used for space research investigations focused on physical analysis, such as venous blood flow and cardiac function during long-term space missions.

The flight research in the Vivid iq program will be led by NASA's Human Research Program. GE Healthcare stated that the ultrasound research conducted on the International Space Station will focus on improving astronauts' health in space. The evaluation study aims to develop health measures and diagnostic protocols for spaceflight, while also exploring ways to enhance scanning capabilities and procedures to benefit patients on Earth.

Philip Rackliffe, President and CEO of GE Healthcare’s Advanced Visualization Solutions, said: “The journey of Vivid iq to the International Space Station marks more than just a technological milestone.

"This is a bold affirmation of our vision to make confident clinical decisions in the most extreme environments through precise, portable, and purposeful technology."

GE Healthcare's Vivid iq is not the first medical device to enter the International Space Station. As part of NASA's support for advancements in space manufacturing technology, a research proposal by Auxilium Biotechnologies was approved by NASA in April 2022. This means the U.S.-based company can initiate a proof-of-concept demonstration of its 3D bioprinter on the International Space Station.

Auxilium's technology demonstration took place in February 2025, during which the company's Auxilium Microfabrication Platform (AMP-1) bioprinter simultaneously constructed eight implantable medical devices for peripheral nerve repair on the International Space Station within two hours.

Despite still being in its infancy, NASA is confident in the manufacturing of space medical devices, believing that it has broad development prospects. The weightless environment in space provides opportunities for carrying out manufacturing tasks that are extremely complex or even potentially impossible to complete on Earth.