Nihon Kohden’s Dr Takuo Aoyagi receives 2015 IEEE Medal for innovations in healthcare technology

Selected for his pioneering contributions to pulse oximetry, which have had a profound impact on healthcare

Dr Takuo Aoyagi, Senior Manager, Nihon Kohden has received the 2015 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Medal for innovations in healthcare technology. The IEEE is a renowned technical professional organisation dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.

Each year, this prestigious honour is awarded to an individual, a team of individuals, or multiple recipients for outstanding contributions or innovations in engineering within the fields of medicine, biology, and healthcare technology. Dr Aoyagi was selected for his pioneering contributions to pulse oximetry, which have had a profound impact on healthcare. Dr Aoyagi’s invention, first published in 1974, has driven a new era of patient safety during anesthesia and is recognised as the standard of care for the assessment of oxygenation, spanning virtually every domain of medical practice.

In 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized pulse oximetry as the most important lifesaving practice during surgery. Since then, WHO has initiated the “Global Pulse Oximetry Project” to ensure that every patient undergoing surgery is monitored with pulse oximetry.

“With the brightest minds in medical technology, Nihon Kohden has helped shape the face of the medical device market, and continues to do so. Dr Aoyagi’s accomplishment is but one example of Nihon Kohden’s legacy of innovation and the positive impact we have on healthcare delivery worldwide,” said Wilson Constantine, CEO, Nihon Kohden America.

Dr Aoyagi joined Tokyo-based Nihon Kohden Corporation in 1971 as a manager of the development department and was promoted to general manager in 1985. He has served as a senior manager of his namesake, the Aoyagi Research Laboratory since 1991. In his current capacity at Nihon Kohden Corporation, Dr Aoyagi continues to explore oxygen-monitoring technologies for the advancement of diagnosis, treatment, and improved patient safety.

“Dr Aoyagi invented one of the most important technologies for patient safety. All of us at Nihon Kohden congratulate him on this well-deserved honor. We continue to develop innovative technologies that lead to improvements in healthcare quality,” said Kazuo Ogino, Chairman of the Board, Nihon Kohden Corporation.

Dr Aoyagi formally received the medal from IEEE President Howard Michel and President-Elect Barry Shoop at the IEEE Honors Ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria, New York.