Advanced Medical Instrumentation Program
The DOE Biological and Environmental Research Advanced Medical Instrumentation (AMI) program supports basic biomedical engineering research. Using the unique resources and expertise of the DOE national laboratories, as well as synergies with universities and other organizations, AMI research develops innovative medical technologies. While the most recent AMI projects focus on biomedical imaging (see Spinach Protein Offers New Hope for the Blind), other research areas in medical sensors, medical photonics, and smart medical instruments also are supported. The following projects, listed with lead institutions, are funded for FY2002. (www.er.doe.gov/production/ober/msd_bio_eng2.html)
- Enabling the Blind to See: Elias Greenbaum (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL). Goal: Develop a small optical sensor device to improve the vision of patients with macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.
- Monitoring the Human Circulation at a Distance: M.Nance Ericson (ORNL). Goal: Develop technology to assess circulation in real time using an implantable sensory device and remote monitoring.
- Using Astronomy to Diagnose Eye Diseases and Correct Human Vision: Scot Olivier (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, LLNL). Goal: Use adaptive optics from astronomy to correct high-order aberrations in the eye and provide high-resolution imaging looking both into and out of the eye.
- Imaging Brain Function Without Anesthesia: Thomas Ernst (Brookhaven National Laboratory). Goal: Develop novel positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies to image the awake animal brain in natural physiological conditions.
- Imaging the Moving Patient: Andrew Weisenberger (Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility). Goal: Develop technologies, especially an optical tracking system, to permit the use of restraint-free PET and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in unanesthetized subjects.
- Optical Sensors for the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis: Basil Swanson (Los Alamos National Laboratory). Goal: Develop a compact multielement sensor device for use in the field to diagnose tuberculosis and other pathogens.
- Using Astronomy to Improve Medical Imaging: Klaus Ziock (LLNL). Goal: Develop an X-ray detection system for high-resolution imaging of small animals using radioactive tracer techniques.
- Development of Long-Term Implantable Biosensors for Diagnostics: Thomas Thundat (ORNL). Goal: Develop a technique for detecting molecules (e.g., prostate-specific antigens in cancer testing) using lasers that can detect biochemical reactions on microscopic cantilevers (see Bio-Science News).
- Precise Eradication of Cancer with Radiotherapy: Christine Hartman-Siantar (LLNL). Goal: Use the improved computational program Peregrine to direct high doses of radiation to cancer and avoid damage to normal tissue.
- Radioisotope Production Using Compact Laser Accelerators: W. P. Leemans (LBNL). Goal: Investigate the production and application of radioisotopes using new, rapidly evolving technology.
The electronic form of the newsletter may be cited in the following style:
Human Genome Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Human Genome News (v12n1-2).
