Creating the Future of Treatment and Diagnosis with Optical Technology
"New medical technologies can save many future lives." This is the phrase that inspired me to engage in medical-engineering collaborative research. In modern clinical settings, a variety of medical devices have been introduced, and they have become an indispensable part of healthcare. Our laboratory utilizes optical and electrical measurement technologies to conduct research and development of medical devices aimed at creating new treatments and diagnoses, as well as enhancing the precision and safety of therapies.
For example, for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, we are developing a new therapeutic approach using a special property of light called an "optical vortex." An optical vortex is light with a helical wavefront, and unlike conventional light, it can exert a rotational force (torque) on an object. By leveraging this property, we envision its application in treatment and diagnosis by acting on Lewy bodies that abnormally accumulate in the brain. Furthermore, regarding photodynamic therapy (PDT) used in cancer treatment, we are analyzing the therapeutic effects of light irradiation from both experimental and mathematical modeling perspectives. We believe that by experimentally evaluating light propagation and cellular conditions in cancerous tissue and constructing a mathematical model to predict therapeutic effects based on the obtained data, it will be possible to design safer and more effective treatments.
We are also advancing research to estimate blood pressure non-invasively by utilizing pulse waves obtained from video (imaging photoplethysmography). Subtle color changes in the face reflect the influence of blood flow associated with heartbeats, from which pulse waves can be extracted. This method estimates blood pressure from the waveform of the obtained pulse wave and is expected to be used in medical settings where contact should be minimized, such as in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). We are also working on developing an algorithm to detect early signs of abnormalities using the obtained waveforms. Additionally, in emergency medicine, we are developing a technology to support the safe operation of hemostatic balloon catheters by measuring the state of blood vessels and blood flow in real time using the transmission and reflection properties of light. This will help reduce the risk of vascular damage due to over-inflation and support safe hemostatic procedures.
In this way, we aim to realize new medical technologies that support treatment and diagnosis through the power of engineering, specifically "light" and "electricity." We intend to continue collaborating with various specialized fields, bridging our research outcomes to clinical practice, and taking on the challenge of creating technologies that will support the future of medicine.