국립 부경대학교

Korean researchers have solved the problem of 'preservation of the parathyroid glands', the biggest challenge in thyroid surgery

- a joint research by PKNU, Kosin Univ. & UNIST... obtained MFDS approval and a US, China patent

△ professor Ahn Ye-Chan.

Researchers in Korea have succeeded in resolving one of the biggest challenges in thyroid surgery, the preservation of the parathyroid glands.

Pukyong National University (President Jang Young-Soo) announced that a research team led by professor Ahn Ye-Chan from the department of biomedical engineering developed a technology to preserve the parathyroid gland during thyroid surgery and completed FMDS approval as well as international patent registration.

Thyroid cancer, which is the most common cancer in Korea, has a high survival rate, but patients who have undergone thyroid surgery often experience symptoms such as numbness in the hands and feet, abnormal sensations around the mouth, chest tightness, or body convulsions in the hands or face.

These symptoms are the most common and serious complication of thyroid surgery and are caused by hypofunction of the parathyroid gland. Since the size of the parathyroid gland is very small, it is difficult to distinguish it with the naked eye from the surrounding adipose tissue and even if the parathyroid gland is found, preserving blood flow to this tiny organ is not easy even for experienced surgeons, so it has been considered the biggest challenge in thyroid surgery.

To solve this problem, professor Ahn Ye-Chan at Pukyong National University developed a 'technology to detect invisible parathyroid glands using near-infrared autofluorescence imaging to preserve parathyroid glands during thyroid surgery' in collaboration with professor Lee Kang-Dae from the department of otorhinolaryngology at Kosin University Gospel Hospital and professor Bae Seong-Cheol from the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Kim Yi-Geun at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST).

Based on high sensitivity and low noise performance, near-infrared imaging equipment using this technology detects very weak parathyroid autofluorescence signals without turning off the lights. Since the surgeon can check the position of the parathyroid gland in real time during surgery, the organ can be preserved accordingly.

From February to the 4th of this month, the research team obtained approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for the manufacture and sale of near-infrared imaging equipment using this technology while registering four patents on this source technology in succession in the US and one in China.

Professor Ahn Ye-Chan at Pukyong National University, explained that, "by registering this technology as a patent in the US and China for solving one of the biggest challenges in thyroid surgery, we secured an opportunity to enter the global market. I expect that it will attract a lot of attention especially in the Chinese market where the number of thyroid surgeries is rapidly increasing."