2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

New Comprehensive Physical Therapy Based on Lymphedema Imaging Diagnosis: Overcoming the Chasm with AI Technology

Research Project

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Project/Area Number	20H04052
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Review Section	Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
Research Institution	Okayama University
Principal Investigator	Shinaoka Akira 岡山大学, 医歯薬学域, 教授 (90724500)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	中原龍一岡山大学, 大学病院, 助教 (30509477) 大塚愛二岡山大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科, 特命教授 (50168986) 木股敬裕岡山大学, 医歯薬学域, 教授 (50392345) 山田潔岡山大学, 医歯薬学域, 准教授 (10319965)
Project Period (FY)	2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
Keywords	リンパ浮腫 / 婦人科癌 / リンパ管造影
Outline of Final Research Achievements	This study revealed the whole anatomy of the lower limb lymphatic system. It was previously believed that there was only one lymphatic system in the lower limbs, but it has been proven that there are two major systems, and more specifically, four systems. Additionally, it was also discovered that the lymphatic system in the lower abdomen is independent of the lower limbs. Furthermore, success was achieved in developing an imaging device that can visualize this anatomy. Existing devices could only observe small areas, but the new imaging device combines a wide-angle camera with a light source capable of illuminating a wide area, enabling real-time imaging of the entire system. Additionally, work has begun on developing an AI algorithm that colors the overall images captured. At present, by taking images repeatedly at different angles, the learning efficiency of the algorithm has been improved.
Free Research Field	形成外科学
Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements	成果は、リンパ浮腫画像診断におけるリンパ管造影法の検査手技の標準化や、画像診断法の確立に役立っている。装置の開発により全体像を観察できることで、画像所見の理解が容易になった。