RCBE held medical-engineering seminar with Tokyo Metropolitan Government

The Research Center for Biomedicine Engineering (RCBE) has collaborated with Tokyo Metropolitan Government to organize a series of web-based medical-engineering seminars, aiming to enhance the practical application of research outcomes and deepen collaboration with companies. The target audience for these seminars comprises approximately 700 manufacturing and sales companies of medical devices within Tokyo.

The seminar held on December 5, 2023, focused on the theme "Frontiers of Collaboration Between Academia and Medical Engineering Ventures." Guest speakers included Professor Yoshikazu Nakajima from the Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering at Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Associate Professor Masaki Tahara from the Institute of Future Interdisciplinary Research of Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Professor Masatsugu Niwayama from the Graduate School of Shizuoka University, and Professor Mikihito Kajiya from Hiroshima University Hospital. The event had 132 online participants, including 64 from manufacturing and sales companies, 18 from manufacturing companies, 2 from clinical institutions, 15 from research institutions, 8 from government/public agencies, 11 other relevant individuals, and 14 miscellaneous participants.

The seminar began with an introduction to the research center by Professor Akihiro Miyauchi of the Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering at Tokyo Medical and Dental University. Subsequently, Professor Nakajima discussed the application and expansion of AI in the field of healthcare, mechanisms accelerating its societal implementation, and Professor Tahara presented the latest research and prospects regarding the unique phenomena and principles of shape memory alloys used in the medical field, using nickel-titanium alloys as an example. Professor Niwayama shared foundational research on non-invasive and relatively simple near-infrared light-based measurement of blood dynamics in living tissues. He also discussed the development structure, processes, and efforts toward practical application. Professor Kajiya then introduced research and challenges in the field of periodontal tissue regeneration therapy using 3D implants developed with a bio 3D printer, utilizing cells, and efforts toward practical implementation.

The seminar concluded with comments from Dr. Kazuo Tanishita, Chairman of the Japan Medical Device Manufacturing Commons (Professor Emeritus at Keio University), marking the end of the event. This seminar provided a valuable opportunity to hear about academic and industry collaboration in a wide range of fields within biomedical engineering, from materials to devices, healthcare, and AI systems. It is believed that the insights gained will contribute to the future development of participating medical device manufacturing and sales companies.