Introduction to the Clinical Decision Support (CDS) Concept of Operations (ConOps) and Candidate Requirements

What are the CDS ConOps and Candidate Requirements?

ExMC’s Clinical Decision Support (CDS) Concept of Operations (ConOps) and Candidate Requirements is a set of information for a deep-space exploration mission where astronauts may have to provide Earth-independent medical care to a crewmember. CDS is a software tool that acts as an assistant to diagnose, treat, and prevent medical conditions.  A spaceflight CDS system must provide real-time, on-board support to enable increased crew independence for managing anticipated and unanticipated medical conditions. In addition, a CDS system will increase Earth-independence by increasing the crew’s ability to appropriately respond to medical events.  The intent of the ConOps and candidate requirements are to provide a starting point for missions with similar constraints that may be customized to suit a particular mission needing a CDS system.

How do I view the CDS ConOps and Candidate Requirements?

To access the CDS model, click on the link below. Some content (such as tables) may take a few seconds to load because of the amount of information being displayed.

Exploration Medical Capability Clinical Decision Support

Below are descriptions of terms that may help you understand content in the Clinical Decision Support Model:

• Concept of Operations (ConOps): The vision for the system, including needs, goals, and objectives, as well as some representative scenarios that show how the system is intended to function.
• System Model with Requirements and Traces: A model that contains the functional requirements for that medical system, and the traces of those requirements to higher-level system or vehicle requirements and to NASA standards (such as NASA Standards 3001). NASA Standard 3001 Vol. 1 Rev. A and Vol. 2 Rev. B were the versions of these documents used to define higher-level requirements.

What was the process for generating the content in the CDS model?

Our systems engineering team followed integration approaches that are documented in the NASA Systems Engineering Handbook, NASA Systems Engineering Processes and Requirements, and the Human Systems Integration Practitioner’s Guide. We work directly with subject matter experts, such as health care providers, to generate the content. All content was reviewed and approved by our ExMC Control Board.

Our systems engineering team has authored several papers and given several presentations outlining our approach:

• Systems Engineering for Space Exploration Medical Capabilities.
  (Mindock, J., et. al. 2017, in AIAA SPACE and Astronautics Forum and Exposition.)
• Using a Model-Based Systems Engineering Approach for Exploration Medical System Development
  (Hanson, A., et al., 2017, in 68th International Astronautical Congress)
• A model-based systems engineering approach to exploration medical system development.
  (Hanson, A., et al. 2019, in 2019 IEEE Aerospace Conference.)
• Enabling space exploration medical system development using a tool ecosystem.
  (Amador, J. R., et al. 2020, in 2020 IEEE Aerospace Conference.)
• Presenting Model-Based Systems Engineering Information to Non-Modelers.
  (Cohen, J. R., et al. 2021, in 2021 IEEE Aerospace Conference.)
• Using MBSE on a working project.
  (McGuire, K. & Cohen, J., 2020, NASA Engineering and Safety Center Academy Lecture Series.)
• A Model-Based Systems Engineering Journey to Developing a Concept of Operations (ConOps)
  (Cohen, J., et al. 2022, in 2022 IEEE Aerospace Conference.)

For questions, please contact Dr. Ben Easter at benjamin.easter@nasa.gov.

______

Disclaimer of Liability: With respect to materials (documents, photographs, charts, audio recordings, video recordings, tools, products, or services) on or available through download from this website, neither the U.S. Government, NASA, nor any of its employees or contractors make any representations or warranties, express, implied, or statutory, as to the validity, accuracy, completeness, or fitness for a particular purpose; nor assume any liability resulting from the use of such materials and shall in no way be liable for any costs, expenses, claims, or demands arising out of the use of such materials.

Disclaimer of Endorsement: Neither the U.S. Government nor NASA endorse or recommend any commercial products, processes, or services. Reference to or appearance of any specific commercial products, processes, or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, in NASA materials does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the U.S. Government or NASA. The views and opinions of authors expressed on NASA Web sites or in materials available through download from this site do not necessarily state or reflect those of the U.S. Government or NASA, and they may not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.