17 July 2009
NASA Scientists are developing a Star Trek-like medical scanner that can tell you how much oxygen is in your blood, your blood pH levels and work out your metabolism - all without an injection.
But unlike the scanners seen in the TV and film series Star Trek, these are the real thing, and could be used on Earth as well as by astronauts in Space.
The scanner works by sending infra-red light (part of light that you can't see) and measuring how much is reflected back from the blood vessels of the patient.
It isn't affected by the colour of the patient's skin or by how much fat they have got, so can be used on anybody.
Because it is non-invasive (doesn't go inside the patient's body), there no risk or infections from needles or injections.
The prototype was developed mainly to work in spacesuits so that doctors can see how an astronaut's health is, but there are loads of other uses for the scanner back on Earth.
For example, the scanner could be a vital part of a first-aider's kit, be installed in ambulances, or could help monitor patients who are critically ill.