April 21, 2025
Keio University
Air Water Inc.
Professor Masaya Nakamura of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University (President: Kohei Itoh), Project Professor Yasuhiro Koike of the Keio Frontier Research & Education Collaborative Square (K-FRECS) at Shin-Kawasaki (Director of the Keio Photonics Research Institute (KPRI)), and Air Water Inc. (Chairman and CEO: Kikuo Toyoda; hereinafter "Air Water") jointly announced in April 2023 the successful development of the world's first injection needle-thin disposable endoscope applying GI-POF (Graded-Index Plastic Optical Fiber) technology. Since then, Keio University and Air Water have collaborated to improve the performance of the optical lens to enhance the image quality of the GI-POF ultra-thin endoscope. The results have been jointly presented at medical and optical conferences and exhibitions both in Japan and internationally. Currently, preparations have begun for improving mass production quality and obtaining regulatory approval under the PMD Act as a new arthroscope for the field of orthopedic surgery. Furthermore, following the 2023 announcement, applied research on the ultra-thin endoscope has been initiated not only for the initially intended observation of intra-articular spaces but also in various other medical fields, including otology and innovative photodynamic cancer therapy. Its needle-thin size is expected to reduce patient pain and infection risk, leading to the provision of more efficient medical care and, ultimately, contributing to the optimization of medical costs.
For the full press release, please see below.