Medical
Cancer Detection and Diagnosis
Other Medical Research
Cancer Detection and Diagnosis
Prostate Cancer Tumor Detection
Applications: Noninvasive technique for
the detection of prostrate cancer
Project Description: Develop a near infrared
(NIR) spectral polarization imaging technique for early prostate
tumor detection based on the spectral and polarization properties
of the light scattered, absorbed and emitted from normal and
cancerous prostate tissues. Results indicate that the spectral
polarization imaging technique is a promising noninvasive
approach for imaging prostates through rectum-membrane tissues
and detecting the prostate tumors in real time without removing
tissues.
Benefits: Real-time analysis of possible
cancer sites. Increase patient comfort and safety.
White Paper: Prostate
Tumor Detection Using Near Infrared Spectral Polarization
Imaging
Detection of Skin Cancer
Applications: Non-invasive detection of
skin cancer
Project Description: Develop a polarization
imaging system to detect and diagnose skin cancer by imaging
the target area at different depths below the skin surface.
We have developed two different hand-held imaging systems,
a color (RGB) unit that works in the visible spectra and a
monochrome (B&W) unit with an extended spectral sensitivity
good up to the near infrared region.
Benefits: Real time noninvasive analysis
of possible skin cancer lesions
Photonic Pill for the Detection of Cancer
(Compact Photonic Explorers)
Applications: Non-invasive medical diagnostics
Project Description: Develop a small-scale
remotely controlled “Photonic Pill.” Inserted
into a human body, this pill would use light to measure and
interpret a variety of medical conditions, and then transmit
its findings to the health care provider.
Benefits: Increase patient comfort and safety.
Increase diagnostics capabilities.
Optical Mammography
Applications: Breast cancer diagnosis using
noninvasive optical tomography
Project Description: Develop optical imaging
systems to detect breast cancer using ultrafast lasers. Extend
existing theory and algorithms to compute and simulate the
light propagation in turbid media, such the human body, for
diagnosing cancer.
Benefits: Improve breast cancer detection
and diagnosis without the use of ionizing radiation (x-rays)
White Paper: Development
of a Three-Dimensional Optical
Breast Tomography System
Other Medical Research
Tissue Welding using Lasers (Sutureless)
Applications: Medical wound closure including
reconstructive plastic and eye surgery
Project Description: Develop a method to
rapidly seal incisions in arterial, skin and ocular tissue
using near infrared lasers. Study emission spectroscopic characteristics
of the tissue welding to determine efficacy of methods. The
advantages of laser tissue welding (LTW) over conventional
wound closure methods are: rapid wound healing, reduced surgical
time, less foreign body reaction, less tissue constriction,
immediate water-tight sealing and non-lithogenicity.
Benefits: Increase patient comfort and safety.
Easier, more effective method of sealing wounds.
White Paper: Prostate
Tumor Detection Using Near Infrared Spectral Polarization
Imaging
Novel Proteins Involved in Sterol
Homeostasis
Applications: New drugs for regulation of
cholesterol levels in patients
Project Description: Study the mechanisms
involved in regulating lipid metabolism, and maintaining sterol
homeostasis, for use in the development of new pharmaceuticals
for regulating human cholesterol levels. We are performing
basic research using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as
a model system. Utilizing green fluorescent protein (GFP)
and other techniques for characterizing the genes and proteins
studied, we aim to deepen understanding of the transcriptional
mechanisms involved in these processes and the homologies
between human and yeast metabolism.
Benefits: Enable easier regulation of cholesterol
levels for increased patient health.
Brain Activities Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy
Applications: Monitoring patients with sleep
apnea; lie detectors; learning and perception studies
Project Description: Apply near infrared
spectroscopy methods to correlate metabolism rates and human
brain activity.
Benefits: New medical and psychological
diagnostic tool
Raman Spectroscopy of Biomedical Materials
Applications: Medical, gene therapy and
bioagents
Project Description: This project will
study the Raman, emission, absorption and linear-nonlinear
photo properties of the four basic DNA nucleotides. The Raman
and emission optical features of the process of hybrids and
symbiosis of live normal Amoebae proteus (MIN) and the cells
injected with live zoochlorella and chloroplast.
Benefits: Improvements in application of
optical technology to solving medical problems
Detection of Glucose Levels Using Excitation and Difference
Raman Spectroscopy
Applications: Non-Invasive Blood Glucose
Testing For Diabetes
Project Description: Many Raman spectroscopy
techniques such as spontaneous Raman spectroscopy, coherent
anti-stokes Raman spectroscopy, and stimulated Raman gain
spectroscopy are widely used in physics, chemistry and biology
fields for investigations of vibrational modes. The purpose
of this project is to further the development of the approach
of the detection of glucose and other biological analytes
at low levels using the novel excitation and difference Raman
process.
Benefits: Safer and easier glucose level
monitoring without taking blood sample
White Paper: Detection
of Glucose Levels Using Excitation and Difference Raman Spectroscopy
at the IUSL
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