TEL. 03-3353-8111
〒162-8666 8-1, Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
The Faculty of Advanced Techno-Surgery (FATS) conducts research and development
to bring about higher levels of quality in medical care. At the core of
our research is image-guided surgery (IGS) performed in our intelligent
operating theater. Since adopting intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) in March 2000, as of July 2016, we have performed IGS on 1623 patients,
and in doing so, have contributed to the spread of this modality from its
inception. Now that we are entering the age of information-guided surgery,
FATS aims to improve the quality of multidisciplinary medical care, not
only via existing modalities of intraoperative MRI and updated neuro-navigation
systems, but also through the addition of a range of innovative modalities
that can deliver seamless support in pre-, intra-, and post-surgery settings.
Examples of these techniques and procedures include MR spectroscopy, awake
craniotomy, intraoperative examination monitoring for awake surgery (IEMAS),
rapid intraoperative pathological diagnosis, intraoperative diagnosis of
malignancy using flow cytometry, photodynamic diagnosis and treatment,
touchless interface (Opect), automated tracking robotic arm (iArmS), and
higher brain function testing. We are also working to realize the integration
of these technologies in our Smart Cyber Operating Theater (SCOT) by expanding
our research and development (R&D) framework to encompass interdisciplinary
partnerships in the field of medical engineering with academia, industry,
and government.
In the field of oncology, we are striving to realize the fourth modality
of cancer therapy after surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, namely
sonodynamic therapy, combining the use of high intensity focused ultrasound
therapy and sonosensitizer. However, our emphasis is not solely on technological
development, and we are also focused on initiatives to obtain international
standard. Our faculty bring a multidisciplinary approach to all of our
processes, from basic research to clinical application and product development.
Their efforts are forging a model for our next-generation collaborative
(interdisciplinary) medical engineering research, translational research,
and commercialization of product.
(1) Surgical strategy systems in the field of neurosurgery
Surgery—and neurosurgery in particular—is host to highly complex systems
characterized by the continuous introduction of various equipment for testing,
diagnosis, and treatment. The key to successful surgery lies in leveraging
the information from these systems to optimize procedures by developing
the best surgical plans and modifying these plans in response to the surgical
process. In this research theme, students will learn how to plan for surgery
preoperatively, how to monitor progress by visualizing intraoperative information,
how to systematically and effectively modify the surgery to resolve any
identified issues, and how to develop the software and hardware to achieve
these goals. Students will be required to report on the progress of their
research in an academic presentation setting twice a year so that the teaching
staff can provide feedback and guidance on their research presentation
skills.
(2) Surgical risk management using surgery recorder and simulator systems
Surgery recorder systems for digitally recording and storing intraoperative
anesthesia management data, patient physiological data (wearable device
data), and surgical data (video data of the operative field) are essential
for streamlining and optimizing risk management in surgery. Surgery simulator
systems have the potential to be an invaluable data-gathering tool for
the analysis and assessment of unforeseen problems. In this research theme,
students will learn how to develop surgery recorder and simulator systems
to help ensure that surgeries are performed safely. Students will be required
to report on the progress of their research in an academic presentation
setting twice a year so that the teaching staff can provide feedback and
guidance on their research presentation skills.
(3) Minimally invasive neurosurgery systems based on augmented reality
In the surgical field, navigation techniques are seen as an important aid
for narrow operative field maneuvers to minimize invasiveness. The core
technology of augmented reality (AR) provides comprehensive real-time information
to assist the surgeon with a constant level of precision, consistency,
and objectivity, while eliminating the need to rely on experience and intuition
to confirm the current position of the surgical area and progress of the
surgical procedure. This research theme aims to equip students with the
skills to both develop and utilize a minimally invasive neurosurgery system
through the advanced use of AR. Students will be required to report on
the progress of their research in an academic presentation setting twice
a year so that the teaching staff can provide feedback and guidance on
their research presentation skills.
(4) Surgical assistance robotic devices
In this research theme, students will research and develop robotic surgical
lasers and new surgical devices using ultrasound and lasers in order to
provide surgeons with a “new hand” capable of realizing a level of accuracy,
resolution, and operability that exceeds that of human hands by utilizing
mechanical, electronic, informational, engineering, and computer-assisted
surgical techniques. Students will take a medical engineering approach
to their research on the conceptual design, realization, functions, and
effects of various diagnostic and therapeutic supportive devices in a number
of fields including neurosurgery, abdominal surgery, and thoracic surgery.
Students will be required to report on the progress of their research in
an academic presentation setting twice a year so that the teaching staff
can provide feedback and guidance on their research presentation skills.
(5) Robotic devices for cell sheet transplantation
In this research theme, students will conduct R&D on devices capable
of clean-environment, minimally invasive, simple in vivo transplantation
of regenerative cell tissues produced by automated cell sheet culturing
and stacking systems using temperature-responsive polymers. Specifically,
students will research and develop devices to transplant myocardial cell
and fibroblast sheets. Students will be required to report on the progress
of their research in an academic presentation setting twice a year so that
the teaching staff can provide feedback and guidance on their research
presentation skills.
(6) Regulatory science for medical devices
Japan’s medical device manufacturing industry currently faces a disconnect
in terms of its ability to develop devices and its inability to commercialize
them. In particular, the industry is facing a crisis due to its inability
to commercialize therapeutic devices, the majority of which are clinically
tested and commercialized overseas. The underlying cause of this inability
to manufacture is risk aversion by all stakeholders including the public,
developers, management, and regulatory authorities. As such, measures to
mitigate risk are essential to overcoming this situation. It is also crucial
to focus on data packaging from the development stage with an eye to regulatory
approval and commercialization and to submit proprietary scientific evidence
for safety and efficacy evaluation. In this research theme, students will
investigate the regulatory science required to develop various medical
devices. Students will be required to report on the progress of their research
in an academic presentation setting twice a year so that the teaching staff
can provide feedback and guidance on their research presentation skills.
(7) Stereotactic and functional micro-radiosurgery
In gamma knife radiosurgery, the surgeon uses gamma radiation as though
using a knife to remove brain tumors without harming the surrounding normal
brain tissue in an attempt to radically resect the tumor. The gamma knife
device contains 192 cobalt-60 (Co60) sources arranged in a concentric and
semi-circular array. The device is designed to focus the gamma radiation
on a single point to deliver a single high dose of radiation to the target
lesion. Current gamma knife technology is capable of automatically targeting
any location within the brain, including tumors located in the craniocervical
junction, with an accuracy of 0.1 mm. Using this precise radiosurgical
device, students will study the therapeutic accuracy and clinical outcomes
of stereotactic and functional micro-radiosurgery. Students will be required
to report on the progress of their research in an academic presentation
setting twice a year so that the teaching staff can provide feedback and
guidance on their research presentation skills.
Professor: Yoshihiro Muragaki, Ken Masamune
Associate Professor: Manabu Tamura, Shuji Kitahara
Assistant Professor: Taiichi Saito, Kitaro Yoshimitsu
Instructor: Kaori Kusuda, Tomoko Yamaguchi, Masayuki Nitta (on joint appointment),
Shunsuke Tsuzuki (on joint appointment)
Research Achievements Database
〒162-8666
8-1, Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
TEL +81-3-3353-8111