Study on Tactile/Touch Feeling Sensor

Features

Tactile sense and the sense of touch are multiple combinations of fundamental sensations, such as smooth and rough, soft and hard, dry and wet, and hot and cold sensations. These sensations are described with the information on force, distortion, temperature, stickiness and oscillation.
A tactile sensor corresponding to several types of human skin sensory receptors and an active tactile sensor system that is an integrated sensor structure imitating human haptic motions have been developed. These sensor systems allowed measurement of "Kansei" words that are extremely vague tactile feelings, and roughness, softness and temperature sensations. However, tactile sense or the sense of touch also includes other sensations and combinations of them. Therefore, to develop a sensor, it is important to define how the sensations and physical information relating to the sensations are obtained and what relationships exist between them.
In this research, the relationships between sensations, including fundamental sensations that have already been obtained and other sensations, and the relevant physical information are being investigated. Additionally, on the basis of the knowledge through the investigation, an advanced sensor system that allows obtaining haptic information is being developed.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

The research is beneficial not only to life science but also to manufacturing fields.

Drug Development for Fundamental Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Features

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with a large unmet medical need. Recently, our pilot clinical study suggested the possibility that 1-year oral administration of decocted nobiletin-rich Citrus reticulata peel could be of benefit for improving the cognition of patients with AD, with the following pharmacological features: 1) this Kampo medicine includes a large amount of nobiletin that can rescue the memory impairment and prevents hippocampal amyloid beta accumulation in APP-Tg mice, as originally reported by us, and 2) the medicine reversed impaired learning and memory to a greater degree than nobiletin in animal, to which sinensetin, another constituent contributes in large part.
Research plan: We thus try to identify endogenous molecules that can bind selectively to nobiletin and sinensetin in hippocampal neurons, and to further synthesize novel compounds that are capable of more potently improving learning and memory impairment in animals than both natural compounds.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Our research goal is discovery of the drugs for fundamental treatment of AD. I hope to conduct collaborative research with a willing company for a practical application of this technology in industry.

Biomarker Development and Preemptive Therapy of Alzheimer's Disease

Features

Over the past 20 years, our understanding of molecular pathology of dementia and AD has dramatically deepened, and new biomarkers including amyloid PET and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid42/tau as well as therapeutic strategies have been developed. However, clinical trials of disease-modifying drugs in mild to moderate AD were unsuccessful or were halted due to serious adverse drug effects.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

These results strongly suggest that disease-modifying therapies should be started much earlier before a widespread neuron death will occur. We hope that early detection and prevention with preemptive therapy may lead to a success of fighting AD.

Prevention and amelioration of late-onset hypogonadism by food ingredients

Features

Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) is induced by age-related decline of testosterone synthesis, which leads to decrease muscle and sexual nature as well as mental symptoms such as depression. Now great attention is focused on prevention and amelioration of LOH via ingestion of foods and supplements.

We developed screening system of functional ingredients from food extracts for anti-LOH using testis-derived cells, and clarified that vitamins, nutraceuticals, and edible plant extracts have potentiating activities for the production of testosterone.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Project “The Mirror Magical”: Remote and Non-Contact Extraction of Biological Information

Features

We engage in development of a cyber-medical system, “The Mirror Magical” for taking a medical check-up anytime and anywhere by use of information and communication technology (ICT). We only have to stand still in front of the mirror to check our autonomic nervous function related to baroreflex on the basis of video signals capable of remote and non-contact measurement. Demonstration experiments have been held to verify the validity of the system in estimation of blood pressure variability and the effects of physical exercise.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

We can conduct effective collaborative research using the system not only in medical and welfare fields but also for application to smartphones, automobiles, emotion recognition robots, security cameras, sports broadcast and so on.

Biometric Monitor and Therapeutic Apparatus System Mounted Inside Mouth

Features

We propose the biometric monitor and therapeutic apparatus system with telemedicine, especially for the elderly and patients with chronic diseases. This system is consisted of the sensor probes gathering biometric information and daily living activities, the signal processing units with wireless telecommunication with telemedicine center, and the therapeutic operation units with drug delivery into the mouth.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

This system is embedded in usual dental prosthesis, such as denture or mouthpiece, so that this system can be installed into the mouth with no sense of discomfort. The system provides the necessary means of health support in an aging society, especially for the elderly who live alone and the hospital inpatients.

Visualization of Biological Microstructure with High Frequency Ultrasound and Photoacoustic Imaging

Features

"Features"
High-resolution imaging of biological tissue is non-invasively obtained with high frequency ultrasound. We have developed some ultrasound microscope systems which realized the resolution of 15-micron with 100 MHz and resolution to visualize a single cell with GHz range ultrasound. Ultrasonic imaging provides not only tissue morphology but also information on tissue elasticity. Recently, we have developed a real-time three-dimensional photoacoustic imaging system for visualization of subcutaneous micro vasculature and oxygen saturation.
"Targeted Application(s)/Industry"
High frequency ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging is repeatedly and non-invasively applied for early diagnosis of atherosclerosis, skin aging and tissue metabolism. They are useful for efficacy assessment of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. High frequency ultrasound is also applied in the industrial areas where thickness measurement of opaque film or bilayer thin coating with the precision of 0.1 micron is required.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry