Scientific Committee

Abstract

Each year, about 140 million babies are born worldwide, including nearly 15 million premature infants. Among all newborns, 10–15% require neonatal intensive care for continuous monitoring and life support. Preterm infants are particularly vulnerable to brain injury due to immature cardiorespiratory control, hemodynamic instability, and impaired cerebral autoregulation. Although cranial ultrasonography and MRI have improved visualization of structural abnormalities, they remain limited in predicting functional outcomes. Continuous bedside monitoring of cerebral hemodynamics is essential for early detection and intervention, thereby reducing long-term neurological disability and healthcare costs.

Dr. Guoqiang Yu’s research focuses on developing advanced near-infrared diffuse optical technologies for noninvasive assessment of cerebral blood flow and metabolism, emphasizing clinical translation and commercialization. His team has pioneered eight patented medical imaging systems, including: speckle contrast diffuse correlation tomography (scDCT  TM for deep brain hemodynamic imaging (U.S. Patent #9,861,319), time-resolved laser speckle contrast imaging (TR-LSCI TM) for depth-resolved cerebral blood flow mapping (U.S. Patent Application #18/473,051), Wearable diffuse speckle contrast flow-oximetry (DSCFO TM) for wireless cerebral monitoring (U.S. Patent #10,842,422), and wearable fluorescence loupe (FLoupe TM) for intraoperative tumor detection (U.S. Patent #11,813,118). These systems have been rigorously validated using head-mimicking phantoms and in vivo studies involving rodents, neonatal piglets, and human neonates. Notably, FLoupe TM and TR-LSCI TM, supported by NIH SBIR/STTR programs and licensed to industry partners, are advancing through FDA regulatory and commercialization pathways.

This presentation will highlight a suite of affordable, portable optical imaging technologies enabling noninvasive diagnosis and longitudinal monitoring of neonatal brain injuries such as intraventricular hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, intermittent hypoxia, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. By providing real-time quantitative imaging of cerebral blood flow and oxygenation, these innovations aim to enhance personalized care in pediatric rehabilitation and developmental disorders, supporting clinical decision-making even in remote or resource-limited settings.

Audience take away from presentation:

• Understanding of emerging optical imaging technologies: Attendees will learn how advanced near-infrared diffuse optical methods, such as scDCT, TR-LSCI, and DSCFO, enable noninvasive and continuous monitoring of cerebral blood flow and oxygenation in neonates.
• Insights into clinical translation and commercialization: The presentation will illustrate the process of transforming laboratory optical prototypes into clinically viable medical devices, highlighting pathways through NIH SBIR/STTR funding, FDA regulatory strategy, and industry licensing.
• Application to neonatal and pediatric care: Clinicians and biomedical engineers will gain knowledge on integrating these affordable optical systems for bedside monitoring and early detection of neonatal brain injuries, improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.
• Research and teaching opportunities: Faculty and researchers can apply these imaging principles to expand studies in neurovascular physiology, biomedical optics, or medical device design, and incorporate them into teaching modules on translational engineering.
• Broader design and innovation impact: The presented systems demonstrate scalable, user-friendly solutions that can enhance real-time data accuracy, simplify device design, and inspire next-generation imaging innovations for pediatric and adult healthcare applications.