Non-invasive Biochemical Imaging of Human Tissues Using Spin-lock Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Overview

Illuminatio Medical Technology Limited (IMT) is dedicated to diagnostic medical imaging, aiming to provide high-quality medical imaging products globally. Our technology enables non-invasive diagnosis of early biochemical symptoms of various human diseases and monitoring the effectiveness of disease treatments. It has a wide range of applications in global healthcare market. This technology has been licensed by CUHK academic-led start-up Illuminatio Medical Technology Limited.

Commercialisation opportunities

Software SalesTechnology License Agreement

Problem addressed

The alteration of macromolecule content within tissues serves as an early indication of many prevalent diseases worldwide. Conventional anatomical imaging cannot detect these symptoms. Our technology facilitates non-invasive quantitative imaging of macromolecule content in human tissues, enabling early detection of diseases and presenting enhanced prospects for successful intervention. Additionally, our technology boasts the capability to monitor the efficacy of treatments.

Innovation

We invented novel spin-lock MRI technology to achieve non-invasive and quantitative imaging of macromolecule content within human tissues. This technique holds great potential for early disease detection and monitoring treatment effectiveness, offering a valuable tool for personalized medicine and advancing our understanding of various diseases at the molecular level.
Our technology runs on standard clinical MRI scanners, does not need any extra hardware, does not need to inject any contrast agent, and has a convenient workflow.
Our technology incldues AI-based post-processing for automatic quantification and clinical assessment.

Key impact

Our technology offers a cost-effective solution for advanced clinical diagnosis. It is a software that can be installed on standard clinical MRI system. It does not need extra hardware and has rapid scan time, ensuring an efficient and convenient workflow.
Our technology can be used to probe the biochemical properties of tissues in general. It offers a promising avenue for early detection of many major diseases worldwide, such as fibrosis and osteoarthritis. Early detection plays a crucial role in increasing the chances of effectively curing these diseases.
Our technology is non-invasive, has no ionized radiation, and does not require injection of any contrast agent. It can be used for screening and treatment monitoring which requires repeated exams.

Award

Gold medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva in 2022
Gold medal in 13th International Invention Fair in the Middle East in 2023

Application

Non-invasive early diagnosis of fibrosis
Non-invasive early diagnosis of osteoarthritis and disc degeneration
Non-invasive imaging of myelin and diagnosis of degenerative neuro diseases

Patent

US Patent 10,557,906
US Patent 10,598,751
US Patent 11,137,463
US Patent 11,280,867
US Patent 18/204,385

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

Founded in 1963, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a forward-looking comprehensive research university with a global vision and a mission to combine tradition with modernity, and to bring together China and the West. CUHK teachers and students hail from all around the world. Four Nobel laureates are associated with the university, and it is the only tertiary institution in Hong Kong with recipients of the Nobel Prize, Turing Award, Fields Medal and Veblen Prize sitting as faculty in residence. CUHK graduates are connected worldwide through an extensive alumni network. CUHK undertakes a wide range of research programmes in many subject areas, and strives to provide scope for all academic staff to undertake consultancy and collaborative projects with industry.

Enquiry