Technology Innovation

Personalised Tourniquet System for Spaceflight (PTSS): Concept and Development

The Personalised Tourniquet System for Spaceflight (PTSS) is a cutting-edge technology designed to deliver Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) applications in space. Developed through collaboration between Northumbria University, Western Clinical Engineering Ltd, Delfi Medical Innovations Inc, and Kayser Space Ltd, supported by ESA, NASA, and the Canadian Space Agency, and funded by the UK Space Agency, Axiom Space, Aurelia Institute and Boryung, the PTSS represents a new class of space health technology: compact, low-resource, yet physiologically powerful.

BFR training involves applying controlled pressure around a limb to partially restrict arterial blood flow during exercise, stimulating musculoskeletal and cardiovascular adaptation even under low mechanical loading. This makes it ideal for spaceflight, where equipment volume and resistance loading are constrained.

From Laboratory to Orbit

Following extensive ground-based testing, the PTSS was selected for in-flight technology demonstration on the SpaceX FRAM2 mission in 2025. Its objectives included validating operational safety, usability in microgravity, and physiological efficacy. The project is part of a broader international effort to identify scalable, adaptable countermeasures suitable for long-duration lunar and Martian missions.

Translations From Space to Terrestrial Health

Beyond spaceflight, the PTSS holds transformative potential for clinical rehabilitation and performance training on Earth. Its ability to elicit strong physiological responses under low load is particularly valuable for injured patients, older adults, and individuals with mobility limitations. The PTSS thus exemplifies the lab’s commitment to dual-use innovation, delivering benefits both in orbit and on Earth.