Professor David Delpy
Vice Provost, University College London

11th December 2003
2pm S021 (Social Studies)

OPTICAL MONITORING AND IMAGING IN MEDICINE

Professor Delpy was head of the Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering at UCL, one of the largest and most successful departments of its type in the country, from 1992-1999. He is currently one of the four Vice Provosts at UCL, with a particular responsibility for the Maths & Physical Sciences, Engineering and Built Environment Faculties. His research interests have continued to lie in the field of physiological monitoring, and especially in the development of techniques for the non invasive monitoring of tissue oxygenation and metabolism.

ABSTRACT

The use of optical techniques for the diagnosis of disease and the monitoring of patients is as old as medicine, although before the mid 1800's, the data was of a qualitative and observational nature. Optical methods were put on a more scientific and objective basis following the development in the first half of the 20th century of instrumentation enabling quantitative measurement of spectral content and light intensity. However, the most dramatic changes have taken place over the last thirty years, driven by the parallel technical developments in lasers, optical fibres and semiconductors. It is now possible to use optical techniques (often in a non-invasive manner) to provide accurate and localised measurements of parameters such as blood oxygenation, volume and flow, tissue metabolism, biochemical makeup and structure. The talk will highlight some of the numerous techniques that are currently being worked on in the Biomedical Optics Research group at UCL.

---

For further information on any of these seminars please contact Dr Mike Chappell 24309, mjc@eng.warwick.ac.uk.

Professor David Delpy