Maki SHOJIRO (牧 昌次郎)

Offer Organization: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, System Name: Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory), Fund Type: -, Overall Grant Amount: - (direct: 4800000, indirect: 1440000)
For the purpose of evaluating pulmonary aspiration, we have developed a technology to inspect food residue in the piriform sinus noninvasively and easily. When fluorescence food is remained in the piriform sinus, it can be detected by an optical probe attached to the skin for measuring fluorescence emitted from the food. Selection of fluorescence agent emitting near-infrared light with high penetration depth, development of an instrument having high sensitivity to near-infrared fluorescence as well as an optical probe, preliminary experiments using phantoms, and measurements for healthy elderly subjects were conducted.
It was confirmed that fluorescence from the depth of about 25 mm was detectable, and fluorescence from fluorescence food remained in the piriform sinus of healthy elderly subjects were detected. Consequently, we have established the fundamental technology for inspecting food residue in the piriform sinus noninvasively and easily.