Biomedical Engineering for Diagnosis and Treatment

Students in the Course of Biomedical Engineering for Diagnosis and Treatment learn the underlying science for developing new medical treatments, then use this knowledge in fundamental medical research as well as in education and research on clinical applications. We teach the following fields.

Electromagnetics for Biomedical Engineering

Electromagnetics for minimally invasive medical and welfare applications

  • Professor Shin Yabukami Professor
    Shin Yabukami
  • Associate Professor Akihiro Kuwahata Associate Professor
    Akihiro Kuwahata

Measurement and translation techniques of bio-information from human body by electromagnetic field approach are developed. We develop minimally invasive medical devices and welfare equipment by using electromagnetic phenomena.

  1. Evaluation of bacteria using magnetic nanoparticle and its application for health care and welfare devices
  2. Development of bio-magnetic sensors operating at room temperature
  3. Position sensing and translating system for minimally invasive medical and welfare applications
  4. Development of broad bandwidth thin film evaluation system for bio magnetic sensor
  • Electromagnetics for minimally invasive medical and welfare applications photo

  • Measurement of Magneto Cardiogram without magnetic shielding

    Measurement of Magneto Cardiogram without magnetic shielding

Ultrasound Enhanced Nanomedicine

Noninvasive ultrasonic treatment of non-superficial tissue

  • Professor Shin Yoshizawa Professor
    Shin Yoshizawa

Ultrasound, whose information has been widely used for medical diagnosis, is now becoming to be used for therapy by focusing its energy into a tumor. Not only the technology to focus ultrasonic energy into non-superficial tissue to be treated but also the imaging technologies to aim the tissue and to detect its change due to treatment in real time are required. Furthermore, a tissue selective ultrasonic sensitizer, which induces therapeutic effect at lower ultrasonic intensity, can markedly improve the safety and efficiency of the ultrasonic treatment.

  1. Research and development of ultrasonic focusing technology.
  2. Research on sensitization of tissue to ultrasound.
  3. Research on ultrasonic detection of changes in tissue.
  • Tissue heating enhancement with microbubbles

    Tissue heating enhancement with microbubbles

  • Students during experiments

    Students during experiments

Biomedical Engineering for Cancer

Preclinical study of early diagnostic and treatment of lymph node metastasis

  • Professor Tetsuya Kodama Professor
    Tetsuya Kodama

Most cancer cells are invasive and metastatic, and they become disseminated to distant anatomical sites by invasive-metastasis cascade. We will develop diagnosis and treatment methods of lymph node metastasis at the early stages. Our research is interdisciplinary or integrated research based on fluid dynamics, optics, molecular cell biology, oncology, and pathology. Our research subjects are as follows.

  1. Mechanisms of lymph node mediated hematogenous metastasis
  2. Lymphatic Drug Delivery System (LDDS) targeted at metastatic lymph nodes using nanoparticles
  3. Assessment of treatment for lymph node metastasis using noninvasive multimodal in vivo imaging techniques such as high-frequency ultrasound, bioluminescence, micro X-ray computerized tomography (CT) and small animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  4. Mechanisms of activation of tumor cells in distant organs after dissection of lymph nodes
  • Development of early diagnostic and treatment for lymph node metastasis requires an animal model applicable to clinical trial. We have succeeded in developing the first lymph node metastasis model in which tumour cells introduced into the lymphatic circulation by direct injection into the inguinal lymph nodes induce metastasis in the axillary lymph nodes. (A) lymph node metastasis, (B) metastasis site, (C) angiogenesis captured by high-frequency ultrasound and nanobubbles

    Development of early diagnostic and treatment for lymph node metastasis requires an animal model applicable to clinical trial. We have succeeded in developing the first lymph node metastasis model in which tumour cells introduced into the lymphatic circulation by direct injection into the inguinal lymph nodes induce metastasis in the axillary lymph nodes. (A) lymph node metastasis, (B) metastasis site, (C) angiogenesis captured by high-frequency ultrasound and nanobubbles

Advanced Dental Science and Technology

Innovation of highly advanced medical technology using high technology in bio-dental engineering

  • Professor Hiroyasu Kanetaka Professor
    Hiroyasu Kanetaka

The aim of our researches is to contribute to the creation of highly advanced medical technology using high technology in bio-dental engineering. In our research, we will develop wireless motion capture system for human body and create reformative functional biomaterials using Ni-free Ti-based shape memory alloys or biodegradable materials. We aim to clinical applications of these new technologies though multifaceted assessments for clinical usefulness.

  1. Development of wireless motion capture system for human body.
  2. Medical applications of Ni-free Ti-based shape memory alloys.
  3. Development of biodegradable biomaterials for medical use.
  • Development of deglutition evaluation system using magnetic wireless motion capture system.

    Development of deglutition evaluation system using magnetic wireless motion capture system.

  • New internalized orthopedic device for craniofacial plastic surgery using Ni-free Ti-based shape memory alloy.

    New internalized orthopedic device for craniofacial plastic surgery using Ni-free Ti-based shape memory alloy.

Biomedical Materials Processing

Development of biofunctionalization process using metallic and ceramic biomaterials

  • Professor Takayuki Narushima Professor
    Takayuki Narushima

Improvements of biofunctionalized reconstruction systems are expected in our country, which has entered the period of a “super-aging society.” Our objective is to make enhancements to hard-tissue substitution systems such as artificial hip joints and dental implants. We focus on metallic biomaterials such as titanium and Co-Cr-Mo alloys and ceramics such as calcium phosphate. We conduct a fundamental study on the process of manufacturing these materials and the control of surface and interfacial reactions under in vitro conditions on the basis of the physical chemistry. Furthermore, we carry out an application study on the development of surface modification processes and suitable materials for use in the fabrication of artificial hip joints showing improved biocompatibility with bones.

  1. Microstructural control of metallic biomaterials with focus on light elements
  2. Fabrication of biocompatible surfaces using ceramic biomaterials
  3. Control of precipitation in metallic biomaterials
  • Cross section of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) coating film fabricated by RF magnetron sputtering (a) before and (b) after 1 week implantation.

    Cross section of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) coating film fabricated by RF magnetron sputtering (a) before and (b) after 1 week implantation.

  • Relationship between ISQ and removal torque of ACP-coated and uncoated implants from the femur, 1, 2, and 4 weeks after implantation.

    Relationship between ISQ and removal torque of ACP-coated and uncoated implants from the femur, 1, 2, and 4 weeks after implantation.

Biofunctional Materials Processing

Development of biofunctional materials process for regenerative medicine and drug delivery systems

  • Professor Masaya Yamamoto Professor
    Masaya Yamamoto

Materials processing by molecularly understanding biofunctions in biological systems plays a pivotal role in designing biofunctional materials for advanced medicine, such as regenerative medicine and drug delivery systems. Our objective is to molecularly understand biofunctions in biological systems to create novel biofunctional materials as well as to pursue fundamental researches on organic-inorganic hybrids and soft materials to be applied for biological systems. Based on the fundamental findings, we design and synthesize biofunctional materials, such as hydrogels, peptides, polymeric particles, stimuli-responsive polymers, and their hybrids with inorganic materials, and investigate their applications for regenerative medicine and drug delivery systems.

  1. Biofunctional materials for the lineage specification of stem cells in regenerative medicine
  2. In vitro tissue and organ models for environmental, drug, and cancer researches
  3. Organic-inorganic hybrid nanomaterials
  4. Spectroscopic analyses for understanding tissue functions
  • Development of biofunctional materials process for regenerative medicine and drug delivery systems

    Development of biofunctional materials process for regenerative medicine and drug delivery systems