Site: Biophotonics Information Laboratories, Ltd. (BIL)
Yamagata Prefecture Advanced Technology R&D Center
2-2-1 Matsuei
Yamagata 990-2473, Japan

Date Visited: 15 October 1998

WTEC Attendees: O.R. Zaborsky

Hosts:

• Dr. Masaichi Shinoda, Executive Director, President
• Hideo Sekiguchi, General Manager, Technical Administration

BACKGROUND

The mission of the Biophotonics Information Laboratories, Ltd. (BIL) is to understand the various states of life through information gleaned from biophotonics, the study of light-biological interactions. BIL is an element of the "Life Support Technology Plan" of Yamagata Prefecture and is intended to develop the Tohoku region as a center of excellence in science and technology.

The project's objective is the development of life support technologies through technologies for non-invasively measuring the functions and structures of living systems at high speed using light. Expected results include the following:

• Defining the characteristics of biophoton phenomena of cancer cells.
• Studying the active oxygen generating mechanisms of leukocytes. When completed, the applications are expected to include treatments of patients with diseases caused by insufficient active oxygen generation.
• Measurement of light scattering through coherent detection imaging technology based on optical heterodyne technology. Optical computer tomography (CT) images of hard tissue (teeth and bones) have been obtained that can then be used in medical diagnostics. With the hand as the model biological system, optical images have revealed structural details about the joints, bones and some of the blood vessels. A high-quality image has been achieved in terms of resolution and contrast.

BIL was founded in March 1993 by 13 firms and several Yamagata Prefecture organizations and foundations. It is a 6-year joint research project terminating in 1999, with a planned fund of ¥3.45 billion of which 70% is invested by the Japan Key Technology Center (JKTC) and 30% by participating companies.

Management at the time of this WTEC visit included Michio Fujisaki, CEO (Fujitsu), Dr. Masaichi Shinoda, Executive Director and President (Fujitsu Ltd.) and Mr. Hideo Sekiguchi, General Manager, Technical Administration. Strong motivation for this project came from Professor Humio Inaba, Tohoku Institute of Technology, also a Director. Senior technical staff includes K.P. Chan, B. Devaraj, M. Kobayashi, and J. Miyazaki.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

BIL's research is focused on biophotonic phenomena that include the following:

• Biophoton emission-spontaneous ultra weak light emission emanating from all living cells, the result of ongoing biological processes.
• Biological fluorescence-the absorption of light at a certain wavelength with a re-emittance at a longer wavelength.
• Optical absorption-specific light absorption characteristic of structure and chemical composition. Differences in absorption can be used to determine the states of living systems.
• Optical scattering-scattering of light in various directions caused by the complex and heterogeneous nature of biological systems. Information provided by scattered and reflected light can be used to identify structural differences.

Research and development work has been focused on the following:

• Sensing and imaging technology for ultra weak light emitted from biological substances in the visible or near infrared region. In particular, the focus has been on the characteristics of light emitting sources and their modeling, light detection, spectroscopy, and imaging. Research on hardware has covered InGaAs photodiode light receptive elements, polychrometers, acoustic optical tuning filters, and signal processing technologies such as photon statistics and correlations.
• Optical heterodyne technology and coherent detection imaging technology for the measurement of the functions and structures of living systems. Research in this category includes performance improvement and functional enhancement, relation between measuring wavelength and biological functions, computer tomography imaging technology and applications. Solid state variable wavelength lasers have been included as a generic technology component.

BIL consists of three laboratories with 21 researchers. The three laboratories are as follows:

1. Biophoton Laboratory
2. Device Development Laboratory
3. Bio-Imaging Laboratory

In addition, BIL is advised by three committees:

1. Technical Evaluation Committee, which convened at the start of the project and at the end of year 2 and within JKTC
2. Technical Advisory Committee, which convenes annually and consists of experts in relevant technology fields
3. Technical subcommittees, which convene when required and consist of technical specialists from participating organizations

COMPANIES SUPPORTING BIL

The companies supporting BIL are the following:

• Fujitsu, Ltd.
• Yamagata Technopolis Foundation
• Shimadzu Corporation
• NEC Corporation
• Fuji Film Co., Ltd.
• The Tohoku Intelligent Cosmos Promotion Council
• Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc.
• Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
• Fujikura, Ltd.
• The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
• Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
• Toshiba Corporation
• Indeco, Inc.
• Kawasaki Electric Corporation
• Kojinkai Hospital
• Tohoku Electronic Industrial Co., Ltd.
• Topcon Yamagata Co., Ltd.
• The Yamagata Bank, Ltd.
• Yonezawa Hamari Chemicals, Ltd.

OBSERVATIONS

BIL is dedicated to biophotonics, one of two such organizations formed by JKTC.

BIL's focus on optical imaging of tissues seems to have been well placed, and results are quite impressive in that fine details not available by magnetic resonance imaging can be seen (e.g., structural details of the joint region, bones and blood vessels).

BIL, while relatively small in terms of personnel, has achieved good results in technology developments in the biomedical imaging field and also in publications. The results and data described in the visit have been published and presented at some leading U.S. meetings (e.g., Gordon Conference).

The motivation for establishing BIL came from a leading local university professor, Humio Inaba, who also has been instrumental in providing key researchers to this effort (e.g., Dr. Kimpui Chan, Dr. B. Devaraj).

The application of biophotonics to biomedicine is receiving highest priority, but applications are also being pursued in agriculture, an area of local interest (farmers).

Economic development is a major objective of this project, more than other JKTC projects in the biotech area visited. BIL is part of a larger industrial park, the Yamagata Prefecture Advanced Technology R&D Center.