Utilizing imaging technologies the company has accumulated over the years, Canon carries out the research and development of advanced medical imaging devices that contribute to reducing the burden placed on patients and hospitals involved in advanced medical treatment.
Thorough Examinations Made Convenient at Your Local Clinic
Medical devices (or modalities) capable of producing tomograms or 3-D images of a patient's organs in a noninvasive fashion are playing an essential role on the healthcare front.
Today's modalities normally rely on technologies such as X-ray computed tomography (CT), and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), which are both cumbersome and expensive. And given concerns over exposure to X-rays and other potential effects on the human body, such equipment must be set up in specially controlled areas within medical facilities, demanding special consideration when determining floor plans.
Taking full advantage of imaging technologies perfected over many decades, Canon, in an effort to contribute to cutting-edge medical treatments, is working to develop totally new modalities that have a compact design and low price, are radiation-free and pose no threat to human health, and are painless.
Conceptual View of Photoacoustic Imaging System
Collaboration between Industry and Academia: Research and Development with Kyoto University
The CK Project is an undertaking between Canon and Kyoto University aimed at achieving advances in medical-imaging research and development. The project was launched in 2006 as part of the Creation of Innovation Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research Areas program sponsored by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The ten-year project targets practical applications for research, beginning with fundamental research.
At present, a team of over 200 members comprising Canon engineers and Kyoto University researchers in the fields of medicine, engineering, pharmaceuticals and IT work together to tackle advanced, wide-ranging challenges in the research and development of diagnostic solutions utilizing medical imaging.
In 2011, the Clinical Research Center for Medical Equipment Development, established within the grounds of the Kyoto University Hospital, opened its doors. The CK Project is making use of the facility to accelerate its clinical research.
Photoacoustic Imaging for Detection of Extremely Early-Stage Lesions
Photoacoustic imaging, one of the themes of the CK Project, utilizes the photoacoustic effect whereby tissue in the body emits ultrasound waves as a result of its absorption of light energy and its subsequent thermal expansion. It uses near-infrared laser as the light source and new sensors to detect the generated ultrasound waves. Blood vessels can be seen without the need for a contrast medium.
Canon initially aims to apply this technology in mammographies for breast cancer detection. This can remove all concern over exposure to radiation during examinations and lessen the burden on the patient. Meanwhile, modalities developed using photoacoustic imaging will also be smaller and less expensive than those in use today.
This photoacoustic imaging device is capable of detecting cancer with a smaller tumor size than can currently be detected, enabling the detection of the type of early-stage lesions that are difficult to identify.
Medical Imaging Technology with an Eye to the World
The rapid advancement of information technology has ushered in an era of change in healthcare. As the wave of technological innovation spreads through advances in computer science, manufacturers have an opportunity to introduce new modalities to the market. Meanwhile, the market for medical imaging solutions retains significant growth potential, especially given societal factors such as intensifying demand for better quality of life (QOL) and the combination of low birth rates and an ageing population in Japan and other countries.
Of course Japan is not the only healthcare market. The market not only extends to Asia, but also encompasses the rest of the world. While continuing to work on industry-academia collaborations with Kyoto University and other centers of learning in Japan, Canon intends to promote the spread of open innovation throughout the world.
