Department of Medical Equipment Engineering, Clinical Collaboration Unit,
Faculty of Radiological Technology, Fujita Health University

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Introduction

The "Department of Medical Equipment Engineering", part of the Clinical Collaboration Unit of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, promotes collaboration between the Department of Radiology of the Faculty of Medical Sciences and the Department of Radiology of the University Hospital, with faculty members with scientific and engineering backgrounds and extensive clinical experience working together to promote clinical, research and educational activities. This collaboration covers topics from basic medical equipment to real-time medical care. Our research focuses on diagnostic equipment, from the use of existing equipment to the development of new measurement principles, with the aim of developing radiologists with both clinical and research skills.

 

Members

Faculty members

Radiological Technology

Undergraduate students

ASADA Lab: 5 students; MATSUBARA Lab: 4 students; KUNITOMO Lab: 4 students; HIRANO Lab: 5 students

Research Theme

・Research on dosimetry and dose assessment for patients

Dosimetry using a human equivalent phantom and nanoDot dosimeter

In recent years, it has been reported that medical exposure in Japan is higher than in other countries. The ICRP has recommended the application of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) as an indicator for optimizing radiation protection. The ICRP recommends the application of the DRLs as an indicator for optimizing radiation protection.
The DRLs were first published in Japan in 2015 and revised in 2020. In preparation for the next revision, we will conduct a nationwide dose survey in general radiography and mammography to clarify the current status of doses received by patients. We are also studying the evaluation and measurement techniques (nanoDot dosimeter) for the entrance surface dose of DRL in general radiography and the glandular dose in mammography. (Yasuki Asada)

･Study of malfunctions in cardiac implantable electronic devices caused by medical radiation
･ Medical physics particularly based on nuclear physics

Cardiac devices under irradiation experiments using linear accelerators

It is an open question whether a cancer patient with an implanted pacemaker should avoid radiation therapy. Another question is whether a glucose-meter of a diabetic should be removed every CT scanning. Although safety is an important priority, it sometimes disturbs appropriate medical treatment. We study a borderline between safety and failure of medical devices if diagnostic and therapeutic radiations are irradiated, for smooth medical treatment without risk and inconvenience. We also study soft error caused by neutrons because this is one of malfunctions occurred in an implanted pacemaker. (Hiroaki Matsubara)

･Study on physical image quality assessment method of flat panel detectors (FPDs)
･Studies on optimization of exposure dose based on image quality of digital radiography and angiography

Digital radiography involves radiation exposure, so it is necessary to minimize radiation exposure while still providing useful imaging information for diagnosis and treatment. Our research focuses on elucidating the image characteristics of flat panel detectors (FPDs) used in digital radiography systems (including mammography) and angiography systems to provide better medical images. By elucidating the characteristics of digital imaging systems, we are working to improve examination techniques and optimize image quality and radiation exposure. (Hiroshi Kunitomo)

･Study on techniques for measuring human physiological characteristics
･Study on techniques for early diagnosis of atherosclerosis

Early detection system for atherosclerosis

Humans have highly sophisticated and complex systems for maintaining vital activities such as circulation, respiration, digestion and temperature regulation, which are controlled and processed unconsciously. However, modern state-of-the-art medical technology has not yet been able to reveal the full extent of these complex systems. Unravelling this complex system can lead to an understanding of the mechanisms of disease, quantitative diagnosis of disease and the development of medical devices that can help to establish new treatments for disease. Our laboratory conducts research on the modelling of complex human systems and new engineering technologies useful for medical applications through medical-engineering collaborations, academic-industrial collaborations, and industry-academic collaborations. (Harutoyo Hirano)

Academic Activities

Manuscripts

2024

  •  Ziqiang Xu, Reiji Anai, Harutoyo Hirano, Zu Soh and Toshio Tsuji. Noninvasive Characterization of Peripheral Sympathetic Activation across Sensory Stimuli Using a Peripheral Arterial Stiffness Index. Frontiers in Physiology, section Computational Physiology and Medicine. 2024; 14: 1294239
  • Ziqiang Xu, Zu Soh, Yuta Kurota, Yuya Kimura, Harutoyo Hirano, Takafumi Sasaoka, Atsuo Yoshino and Toshio Tsuji. Neuroimaging-based evidence for sympathetic correlation between brain activity and peripheral vasomotion during pain anticipation. Scientific Reports. 2024; 14, Article number: 3383

2023

  • R. W. Fearick, P. von Neumann-Cosel, S. Bacca, J. Birkhan, F. Bonaiti, I. Brandherm, G. Hagen, Hiroaki Matsubara, W. Nazarewicz, N. Pietralla, V. Yu. Ponomarev, P.-G. Reinhard, X. Roca-Maza, A. Richter, A. Schwenk, J. Simonis, and A. Tamii. Electric dipole polarizability of 40Ca. Phys. Rev. Research 2023; 5: L022044.
  • Hiroaki Matsubara. Neutron dose from a 6-MV X-ray beam in radiotherapy. Radiol Phys Technol. 2023 Jun; 16(2): 186-194.
  • Tetsuo Noro, Satoshi Sakaguchi, Tomotsugu Wakasa, Masanori Dozono, Hiroyuki Fujioka, Kunihiro Fujita, Kichiji Hatanaka, Takashi Ishida, Chihiro Iwamoto, Shoichiro Kawase, Yuki Kubota, Yukie Maeda, Hiroaki Matsubara, Kenjiro Miki, Shinsuke Ota, Valerii Panin, Harutaka Sakaguchi, Akane Sakaue, Yasuhiro Sakemi, Masaki Sasano, Kimiko Sekiguchi, Yohei Shimizu, Hiroyuki Takeda, Yuji Tameshige, Atsushi Tamii, Satoru Terashima, Tomohiro Uesaka, Zai-Hong Yang, Yusuke Yasuda, Hidetomo P Yoshida, Juzo Zenihiro. Experimental study of (p, 2p) reactions at 197 MeV on 12C, 16O, 40,48Ca, and 90Zr nuclei leading to low-lying states of residual nuclei. Prog. Theor. Exp. Phys. 2023;  093D01.
  • Genta Tabuchi, Akira Furui, Seiji Hama, Akiko Yanagawa, Koji Shimonaga, Ziqiang Xu, Zu Soh, Harutoyo Hirano & Toshio Tsuji. Motor-cognitive functions required for driving in post-stroke individuals identified via machine-learning analysis. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation. 2023; 20: Article number: 139

2022

  • Hiroaki Matsubara. Comment on "Particle therapy using protons or carbon ions for cancer patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED): a retrospective multi-institutional study". Jpn J Radiol. 2022 May; 40(5): 542-543.
  • Kan H, Tsuchiya T, Yamada M, Kunitomo H, Kasai H, Shibamoto Y. Delineation of prostatic calcification using quantitative susceptibility mapping: Spatial accuracy for magnetic resonance-only radiotherapy planning. J Appl Clin Med Phys. 2022 Feb;23(2):e13469. doi: 10.1002/acm2.13469. Epub 2021 Nov 2. PMID: 34726833; PMCID: PMC8833270.
  • Kan H, Uchida Y, Ueki Y, Arai N, Tsubokura S, Kunitomo H, Kasai H, Aoyama K, Matsukawa N, Shibamoto Y. R2* relaxometry analysis for mapping of white matter alteration in Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment. Neuroimage Clin. 2022;33:102938. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.102938. Epub 2022 Jan 4. PMID: 34998126; PMCID: PMC8741619.
  • Ryuki Shigemasu, Yuki Teraoka, Satoshi Ota, Harutoyo Hirano, Keita Yasutomi, Shoji Kawahito, Masato Futagawa. Development of a Current Injection—Type Impedance Measurement System for Monitoring Soil Water Content and Ion Concentration. Sensors. 2022; 22(9): 3509.
  • Seiya Tanaka, Satoshi Ota, Harutoyo Hirano, Masato Futagawa, Yasushi Takemura. Evaluation of Harmonic Signals Derived From Multiple Spatially Separated Samples for Magnetic Particle Imaging. IEEE Transactions on Magnetics. 2022; 58(8): 1-5, Art no. 6501005.

2021

  • Sakai K.,Yamada Y.,Yoshida K.,Yoshinaga S.,Sato K.,Ogata H.,Iwasaki T.,Kudo S.,Asada Y., Kawaguchi I., Haeno H., Sasaki M.; Conclusions and suggestions on low-dose and low-dose rate radiation risk estimation methodology, J. Radiat. Prot. Res. Volume 46, Issue 1, Pages 14 – 23 March 2021
  • Matsunaga Y., Haba T.,Kobayashi M.,Suzuki S.,Asada Y.,Chida K.; Fetal radiation dose of four tube voltages in abdominal CT examinations during pregnancy: A phantom study, J. Appl .Clin. Med. Phys. Open Access Volume22, Issue2, Pages178 – 184 February 2021
  • Hiroaki Matsubara, Takatomo Ezura, Hashimoto Yaichiro, Karasawa Kumiko, Teiji Nishio, Masato Tsuneda. Study of feasible and safe condition for total body irradiation (TBI) using cardiac implantable electronic devices(CIEDs). J Radiat Res. 2021; 62: 1006-1014.
  • K. Inaba, Y. Sasamoto, T. Kawabata, M. Fujiwara, Y. Funaki, K. Hatanaka, K. Itoh, M. Itoh, K. Kawase, H. Matsubara, Y. Maeda, K. Suda, S. Sakaguchi, Y. Shimizu, A. Tamii, Y. Tameshige, M. Uchida, T. Uesaka, T. Yamada, H. P. Yoshida: Search for α condensed states in 13C using α inelastic scattering. Progress of Theoretical and Experimental Physics. 2021; 093D01. Hiroaki Matsubara, Atsushi Tamii. Quenching of isovector and isoscalar spin-M1 excitation strengths in N=Z nuclei. Front. Astron. Space Sci. 2021; 667058.
  • Toshiki Ohno, Toshinori Soejima, Yukio Sekiguchi, Takayuki Hashimoto, Izumi Koike, Hiroaki Matsubara, Kazuhiko Nakamura, Kazunori Nitta, Shigeo Takahashi, Kayoko Tsujino, Masaru Wakatsuki and Eisaku Yodeni. JASTRO/JCS Guidelines for radiotherapy in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices. J Radiat Res. 2021; 62: 172-184.
  • Shinohara N, Akiyama S, Ito T, Okada S, Chiba Y, Negishi T, Hirofuji Y, Kunitomo H. Examination of the Quality Control Items for Digital Breast Tomosynthesis System in Japan. Nihon Hoshasen Gijutsu Gakkai Zasshi. 2021; 77(5): 478-486. Japanese. doi: 10.6009/jjrt.2021_JSRT_77.5.478. PMID: 34011791.
  • Kawashima H, Ichikawa K, Kunitomo H. Relationship between Radiation Quality and Image Quality in Digital Chest Radiography: Validation Study Using Human Soft Tissue-equivalent Phantom. Nihon Hoshasen Gijutsu Gakkai Zasshi. 2021; 77(3): 255-262. Japanese. doi: 10.6009/jjrt.2021_JSRT_77.3.255. PMID: 33746173.
  • Seiichi Ohkawara, Kentaro Miura, Harutoyo Hirano, Satoshi Ota, Masato Futagawa. Evaluation of a Hydrogen Signal Detection Method Using a Compact NMR Sensor for the Measurement of Ion Concentrations in Culture Medium. IEEJ Transactions on Sensors and Micromachines. 2021; 141(11): 367-372.
  • Satoshi Ota, Seiichi Ohkawara, Harutoyo Hirano, Masato Futagawa, Yasushi Takemura. Empirical and simulated evaluations of easy-axis dynamics of magnetic nanoparticles based on their magnetization response in alternating magnetic field. Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials. 2021; 539: Article number 168354.
  • Satoshi Kamiya, Ryuji Nakamura, Noboru Saeki, Takashi Kondo, Hirotsugu Miyoshi, Soushi Narasaki, Atsushi Morio, Masashi Kawamoto, Harutoyo Hirano, Toshio Tsuji, Yasuo M. Tsutsumi. Prediction of blood pressure change during surgical incision under opioid analgesia using sympathetic response evoking threshold. Scientific Reports. 2021; 11: Article number 9558. Toshifumi Muneyasu, Harutoyo Hirano, Akira Furui, Zu Soh, Ryuji Nakamura, Noboru Saeki, Yoshiyuki Okada, Masashi Kawamoto, Masao Yoshizumi, Atsuo Yoshino, Takafumi Sasaoka, Shigeto Yamawaki, Toshio Tsuji. Cardiorespiratory synchronisation and systolic blood pressure correlation of peripheral arterial stiffness during endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy. Scientific Reports. 2021; 11: Article number 5966.
  • Toshio Tsuji, Fumiya Arikuni, Takafumi Sasaoka, Shin Suyama, Takashi Akiyoshi, Zu Soh, Harutoyo Hirano, Ryuji Nakamura, Noboru Saeki, Masashi Kawamoto, Masao Yoshizumi, Atsuo Yoshino, Shigeto Yamawaki. Peripheral arterial stiffness during electrocutaneous stimulation is positively correlated with pain-related brain activity and subjective pain intensity: an fMRI study. Scientific Reports. 2021; 11: Article number 4425.

2020

  • Asada Y.,Kondo Y.,Kobayashi M.,Kobayashi K.,Ichikawa T.,Matsunaga Y.; Proposed diagnostic reference levels for general radiography and mammography in Japan, J. Radiol. Prot. Volume 40, Issue 3, Pages 867 – 876 September 2020
  • Tetsuo Noro, Tomotsugu Wakasa, Takashi Ishida, Hidetomo P Yoshida, Masahiro Dozono, Hisako Fujimura, Kunihiro Fujita, Kichiji Hatanaka, Takatsugu Ishikawa, Masatoshi Itoh, Junichiro Kamiya, Takahiro Kawabata, Yoshikazu Maeda, Hiroaki Matsubara, Masanobu Nakamura, Harutaka Sakaguchi, Yasuhiro Sakemi, Yohei Shimizu, Hiroyuki Takeda, Yuji Tameshige, Atsushi Tamii, Keisuke Tamura, Satoru Terashima, Makoto Uchida, Yusuke Yasuda, Masaru Yosoi; Experimental study of (p, 2p) reactions at 392 MeV on 12C, 16O, 40Ca and 208Pb nuclei leading to low-lying states of residual nuclei. Progress of Theoretical and Experimental Physics, 2020; 2020(9): 093D02.
  • T.L. Tang, T. Uesaka, S. Kawase, D. Beaumel, M. Dozono, T. Fujii, N. Fukuda, T. Fukunaga, A. Galindo-Uribarri, S.H. Hwang, N. Inabe, D. Kameda, T. Kawahara, W. Kim, K. Kisamori, M. Kobayashi, T. Kubo, Y. Kubota, K. Kusaka, C.S. Lee, Y. Maeda, H. Matsubara, S. Michimasa, H. Miya, T. Noro, A. Obertelli, K. Ogata, S. Ota, E. Padilla-Rodal, S. Sakaguchi, H. Sakai, M. Sasano, S. Shimoura, S. S. Stepanyan, H. Suzuki, M. Takaki, H. Takeda, H. Tokieda, T. Wakasa, T. Wakui, K. Yako, Y. Yanagisawa, J. Yasuda, R. Yokoyama, K. Yoshida, K. Yoshida, and J. Zenihiro; How different is the core of 25F from 24Og.s.? Phys. Rev. Lett. 2020; 124: 212502.
  • Kan H, Uchida Y, Arai N, Takizawa M, Miyati T, Kunitomo H, Kasai H, Shibamoto Y. Decreasing iron susceptibility with temperature in quantitative susceptibility mapping: A phantom study. Magn Reson Imaging. 2020 Nov; 73:55-61. doi: 10.1016/j.mri.2020.08.012. Epub 2020 Aug 24. PMID: 32853756.
  • Kan H, Uchida Y, Arai N, Ueki Y, Aoki T, Kasai H, Kunitomo H, Hirose Y, Matsukawa N, Shibamoto Y. Simultaneous voxel-based magnetic susceptibility and morphometry analysis using magnetization-prepared spoiled turbo multiple gradient echo. NMR Biomed. 2020 May; 33(5): e4272. doi: 10.1002/nbm.4272. Epub 2020 Feb 11. PMID: 32043682.
  • Kunitomo H, Ichikawa K. Signal-to-noise ratio improvements using anti-scatter grids with different object thicknesses and tube voltages. Phys Med. 2020 May; 73: 105-110. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2020.04.014. Epub 2020 Apr 27. PMID: 32353690.
  • Arai N, Kan H, Ogawa M, Uchida Y, Takizawa M, Omori K, Miyati T, Kasai H, Kunitomo H, Shibamoto Y. Visualization of Nigrosome 1 from the Viewpoint of Anatomic Structure. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2020 Jan; 41(1): 86-91. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A6338. Epub 2019 Dec 5. PMID: 31806600; PMCID: PMC6975307.
  • Hiroaki Matsubara, Takatomo Ezura, Hashimoto Yaichiro, Karasawa Kumiko, Teiji Nishio, Masato Tsuneda; Prediction of radiation‐induced malfunction for cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). Med Phys. 2020; 47(4): 1489-1498.
  • Seiji Hama, Kazumasa Yoshimura, Akiko Yanagawa, Koji Shimonaga, Akira Furui, Zu Soh, Shinya Nishino, Harutoyo Hirano, Shigeto Yamawaki, Toshio Tsuji. Relationships between motor and cognitive functions and subsequent post-stroke mood disorders revealed by machine learning analysis. Scientific Reports. 2020; 10: Article number 19571.
  • Toshio Tsuji, Tomonori Nobukawa, Akihisa Mito, Harutoyo Hirano, Zu Soh, Ryota Inokuchi, Etsunori Fujita, Yumi Ogura, Shigehiko Kaneko, Ryuji Nakamura, Noboru Saeki, Masashi Kawamoto, Masao Yoshizumi. Recurrent probabilistic neural network-based short-term prediction for acute hypotension and ventricular fibrillation. Scientific Reports. 2020; 10: Article number 11970.

Conference

2022

  • Hiroshi Kunitomo, “Physical Image Quality Evaluation in Digital Radiography”, The 78th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Radiological Technology, PACIFICO YOKOHAMA and On demand meeting, Apr 2022.
  • Harutoyo Hirano, Haruki Goto, Satoshi Ota, Masato Futagawa, Yu Hashimoto, Haruki Hashimoto, Shinji Kishimoto, Nozomu Oda, Masato Kajikawa, Tatsuya Maruhashi, and Yukihito Higashi, “Convolutional Neural Network-Based Assessment Method for Atherosclerosis Using Earlobe Crease Images”, Proceedings of 2022 44th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society, p. 2882, Glasgow, UK, July 2022.
  • Seiya Tanaka, Harutoyo Hirano, Masato Futagawa, Yasushi Takemura, Satoshi Ota, “Evaluation of harmonic signals derived from separately located multiple samples for magnetic particle imaging”, The 15th Joint MMM-INTERMAG Conference, IPB-17, New Orleans, LA/ondemand, Jan 2022.
  • Keita Honda, Kosuke Shimizu, Harutoyo Hirano, Masato Futagawa, Yasushi Takemura, Satoshi Ota, “Investigation of magnetic relaxation of intratumor magnetic nanoparticles for hyperthermia”, The 15th Joint MMM-INTERMAG Conference, IPE-21, New Orleans, LA/ondemand, Jan 2022.
  • Kentaro Miura, Seiichi Ohkawara, Harutoyo Hirano, Satoshi Ota, Masato Futagawa, “Examination of a Hydrogen Ion Micro-signal Detection Method Using a Compact Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Sensor for Monitor Supply and Drainage Solutions”, 2022 IEEJ Annual Meeting, 3-161, Online, March 2022.
  • Seiya Tanaka, Harutoyo Hirano, Masato Futagawa, Yasushi Takemura, and Satoshi Ota, “Two-dimensional imaging of magnetic nanoparticles under pulsed magnetic field”, Magnetics meeting of IEEJ Fundamentals and Materials (Society A)，MAG-22-005, Kanazawa/Online, Jan 2022.

2021

  • Takuma Yamada, Harutoyo Hirano, Satoshi Ota, and Masato Futagawa, “Effort to Realize Two-Dimensional Imaging of Soil Moisture Contents Using Machine Learning”, Chemical Sensor Meeting of IEEJ Sensors and Micromachines (Socierty E), CHS-21-032, Saitama/Online, Dec 2021.
  • S. Tanaka, H. Hirano, M. Futagawa, Y. Takemura, S. Ota, “Imaging technique of magnetic nanoparticles using pulse magnetic field”, 45th Annual Meeting of MAGNETICS in Japan, 31aA-12, Online, Aug 2021. 
  • Kentaro Miura, Seiichi Ohkawara , Harutoyo Hirano , Satoshi Ota , Masato Futagawa, “Examination of a Ion Micro-signal Detection Method Using a Compact Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Sensor to Monitor Supply and Drainage Solutions”，Annual Meeting of IEEJ Sensor and Micromachines Society, CHS-21-020, Online July 2021. ． 
  • Haruki Sato, Kisho Sakamoto, Satoshi Ota, Harutoyo Hirano, and Masato Futagawa, “Study of a Soil Water Content Measurement Method by Heat Using a heat Thermoelectric Module”，Annual Meeting of IEEJ Sensor and Micromachines Society, CHS-21-021, Online July 2021.

2020

  • H. Matsubara et al., “Numerical study of linear relationship between neutron dose and risk to cardiac implantable electronic devices in radiotherapy“，The 119th Scientific Meeting of the Japan Society of Medical Physics, Online, Apr 2020.
  • Kisho Sakamoto*,Satoshi Ota, Harutoyo Hirano, and Masato Futagawa, “Development of Soil Moisture Content Measurement System Using ThermoElectric Cooler (TEC)”, The 37th SENSOR SYMPOSIUM, 26A3-SS2-6, Online, Oct 2020.
  • Ryuki Shigemasu, Yuki Teraoka, Satoshi Ota, Harutoyo Hirano, Keita Yasutomi, Shoji Kawahito and Masato Futagawa, “Development of a feedback type circuit system to measure a soil water content and an ion concentration using transient response characteristics of soil”，Annual Meeting of IEEJ Sensor and Micromachines Society, MSS-20-023, Online, July 2020.
  • Shunsuke Saitoh, Keichi Tanimura, Keisuke Uemura, Satoshi Ota, Harutoyo Hirano, Masato Futagawa, “Verification of a Drift Suppression Effect by a Stripe-gate pH Sensor in Various pH Solutions”，Annual Meeting of IEEJ Sensor and Micromachines Society, CHS-20-016, Online, July 2020.
  • Kisho Sakamoto, Haruki Satou, Satoshi Ota, Harutoyo Hirano, Masato Futagawa, “Study of a Heat-Detecting Method Soil Moisture Content Measurement Method using a Thermoelectric (TE) Module”, 2020 IEEJ Annual Meeting, 3-161, Online, Mar 2020.
  • Toshiki Sakagawa, Akira Furui, Harutoyo Hirano, Takashi Akiyoshi, Takafumi Sasaoka, Zu Soh, Yoshiyuki Okada, Atsuo Yoshino, Ryuji Nakamura, Noboru Saeki, Masao Yoshizumi, Masashi Kawamoto, Shigeto Yamawaki, Toshio Tsuji, “Non-invasive Estimation of Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity Based on Peripheral Arterial Stiffness”，The 2020 IEICE General Conference, D-7-7, p. 59, Higashi-Hiroshima, Mar 2020.

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