The mission of the Biophotonics Information Laboratories, Ltd. (BIL) is to understand the various states of life through information gleaned from biophotonics, the study of light-biological interactions. BIL is an element of the "Life Support Technology Plan" of Yamagata Prefecture and is intended to develop the Tohoku region as a center of excellence in science and technology.
The project's objective is the development of life support technologies through technologies for non-invasively measuring the functions and structures of living systems at high speed using light. Expected results include the following:
Studying the active oxygen generating mechanisms of leukocytes. When completed, the applications are expected to include treatments of patients with diseases caused by insufficient active oxygen generation.
Measurement of light scattering through coherent detection imaging technology based on optical heterodyne technology.
Optical computer tomography (CT) images of hard tissue (teeth and bones) have been obtained that can then be used in medical diagnostics. With the hand as the model biological system, optical images have revealed structural details about the joints, bones and some of the blood vessels. A high-quality image has been achieved in terms of resolution and contrast.
BIL was founded in March 1993 by 13 firms and several Yamagata Prefecture organizations and foundations. It is a 6-year joint research project terminating in 1999, with a planned fund of ¥3.45 billion of which 70% is invested by the Japan Key Technology Center (JKTC) and 30% by participating companies.