A Taiwanese research team, led by Prof. Ming-Shing Young of Department of Electrical Engineering at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), has successfully developed a large-scale proactive cancer treatment system first-generation prototype which includes Frequency-Adjustable High Frequency Induction Heating Machine (HFIHM) and 3D Magnetically Guiding Endoscope System (3DMGES).
“Taiwan has excellent development conditions of medical equipments because we have outstanding medical industry and electronic industry, and if we can integrate the basics of electronic industry with medical treatment, high-quality medical equipments will be produced.”
"Biotechnology is one of the emerging industries in Taiwan that emphasizes on the research and development of new medicine and medical equipments. From the economic perspective, the possibility of Taiwan successfully developing medical equipments is greater than the possibility of Taiwan developing new medicine, because the average development time of new medicine is thirteen years and the development time of medical equipments is about seven years," said President Michael Ming-Chiao Lai in his opening address.
"Taiwan has excellent development conditions of medical equipments because we have outstanding medical industry and electronic industry, and if we can integrate the basics of electronic industry with medical treatment, high-quality medical equipments will be produced."
Two and a half years ago, President Lai has especially invited Prof. Ming-Shing Young of Department of Electrical Engineering to gather experts and scholars from different fields in the university to jointly develop medical equipments, and the team, which consists of twelve professors, has used the "5 Year, 50 Billion" fund from the Ministry of Education, Taiwan, to engage in the project.
Noteworthy to mention, the fund from the Ministry of Education is only an initial support, because two years after, the project immediately drawn the attention of the industry, such as Delta Electronics and other manufacturers, thus symbolizing a successful cross-field cooperation and industry-academia joint cooperation.
Dean Yon-Hua Tzeng of NCKU College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science mentioned, "When I was still Vice-President for Research and Development, President Lai entrusted me to review the project, and it was not after a rigorous review period that the project began implementing."
Prof. Ming-Shing Young of NCKU Department of Electrical Engineering, the project director, revealed, "Initiated and supported by President Lai, the 3D Controllable Electromagnetic Biomedical Technology Platform - Imaging, Targeting, Drug Delivery and Thermoablation for Cancers project is carried out one and a half years ago and has received sponsorship funds and technological manpower from Delta Electronics, successfully completing the first-phase core technology."
President Michael Ming-Chiao Lai of National Cheng Kung University has entrusted the project of 3D Controllable Electromagnetic Biomedical Technology Platform - Imaging, Targeting, Drug Delivery and Thermoablation for Cancers to Prof. Ming-Shing Young, who has been the President of Kun Shan University and National Chin-Yi University of Technology.
Prof. Ming-Shing Young has successfully integrated College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering, College of Planning and Design, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology and College of Medicine to form an interdisciplinary team and has completed first phase core technology.
The first-generation prototypes of Frequency-Adjustable High Frequency Induction Heating Machine (HFIHM) and 3D Magnetically Guiding Endoscope System (3DMGES) are recognized by Brookhaven National Laboratory and Aurora Imaging Technology, Inc., United States, and they have invited the team to participate in the integrated research of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission Tomography.
In addition, the team has begun cooperating with Delta Electronics, Inc. and Supertech Optoelectronics Co., Ltd. and is expecting to complete a system of small and medium animal experiments for commercial enterprises and to create a business opportunity greater than that of human clinical utility system.
According to NCKU Prof. Cheng-Chi Tai of Department of Electrical Engineering, the Frequency-Adjustable High Frequency Induction Heating Machine is a frequency-adjustable and high-frequency heating system which uses nano-magnetic particles and heating technology to raise the temperature of tumor tissues, and when the temperature reaches 41.5℃ to 46℃, the malignant cells will be destroyed while preserving normal cells.
NCKU Prof. Ching-Hsing Luo of Department of Electrical Engineering pointed out, "The position capability of 3D Magnetically Guiding Endoscope System is superior than the one-dimensional positioning of present endoscopes, because it can engage in front and rear, left and right, up and down movement as well as three-dimensional twist to accurately locate burns and shock wave lithotripsy in narrow kidney space and it can also be easily controlled to reduce operative time and patients' pain."
Prof. Ching-Hsing Luo is anticipating the production of the finished prototype of 3D Magnetically Guiding Endoscope System in the second year and the functional testing of animals in the third year, and according to the process of "Diamond Action Plan for Biotech Takeoff" launched by the Executive Yuan, he is planning to enter the next stage and to propose a project to the Department of Health to engage in clinical trials and FDA certification of 3D Magnetically Guiding Endoscope System.
The NCKU proactive cancer treatment team, led by Prof. Ming-Shing Young of Department of Electrical Engineering, includes two engineering and design integrated sub-teams from College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, College of Planning and Design and College of Engineering, one nano-magnetic particles design sub-team from College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, and two clinical application physician sub-teams from College of Medicine.
Air pollution linked to head and neck cancer risk