Electron Tube Division

Solid State Division

Systems Division

Laser Group

Optical Communication Group

Central Research Laboratory

Tsukuba Research Laboratory

Sports Photonics Laboratory

PET Center

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Energy, Resources And Environment

Health

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Health

Opto-technology plays an important role in the field of health as well, and is widely used in the instruments that are used in ordinary health checkups. If we could use light to detect illnesses at the early stage, and to open up new roads in medical care … Light is commanding higher and higher expectations in the field of health care. Moreover, advances are being made in analyzing genetic information, and we may see a day before too much longer when medical care is tailored to the individual based on genetic diagnoses and on the genetic information for that particular person. Our opto-technology is making a contribution in the field of biomedical research, where the riddles of genes and other tissues are being solved.

Photomultiplier tubes

Blood testing

Blood testing involves tests such as blood cell counts, identifying irregularly shaped cells and viruses using reagents, and gauging the efficacy of drug treatment. Devices such as photomultiplier tubes, photodiodes, and xenon flash lamps are used in conducting these tests.

Photomultiplier tubes

X-ray CT testing

Using x-ray tubes and photodetectors, we can capture x-ray images of areas inside the human body as sectionally split (slice) images, and we can identify the shapes of various sites, small lesions, and other items of interest. Components such as Si photodiodes are used in this kind of testing.

Si photodiodes

Photomultiplier tubes

PET testing

PET (Positron Emission Tomography) is a process in which positive electrons, or positrons, are given off and a computerized tomography image of the body is created. This makes it possible to check biological functions such as metabolic activities, including the blood flow and glucose, in real time. This gives us a powerful tool in researching complex functions of the brain and in early-stage discovery of cancer, dementia, and other illnesses. Photomultiplier tubes are used in the detector part of the PET system.

Photomultiplier tubes

Laser cancer treatment system

The photochemical reaction that takes place between laser light and photosensitive pharmaceuticals is used to selectively destroy only cancerous tissues. There is extremely little damage to normal tissues, and because the internal organs can be preserved, the quality of life can be maintained. Our PDT EDL-2 excimer laser is used as the device in this treatment method.

PDT EDL-2 excimer laser

CCD area image sensors

DNA analysis

Our genes are the design map that govern all of our life activities. The DNA sequencer is a device that automatically analyzes the base sequences of the DNA that contains this genetic information. Our photomultiplier tubes, deuterium lamps, CCD area image sensors, and other devices are used here.

CCD area image sensors

Image analysis systems

Image analysis technology plays an important role in life science research. We are now able to produce images showing the state of changes in intra-cellular calcium ion concentration levels, as well as chronological changes in active oxygen using dynamic analysis of protein in the cells and chemiluminescence, and to confirm these visually. The AQUACOSMOS series by Hamamatsu Photonics, our digital CCD cameras, and other products are being used as image analysis systems in biological fields, supporting a wide range of imaging from luminescence all the way to faint-light fluorescence images.

AQUACOSMOS

Functional Drug Screening System (FDSS)

New pharmaceuticals development

High-speed, automated screening is now possible using the fluorescence produced by pharmaceuticals, and this is contributing to the development of new pharmaceuticals. Our Functional Drug Screening System (FDSS) is playing an active role in these efforts.

Functional Drug Screening System (FDSS)

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