Nihon Kohden’s Dr. Takuo Aoyagi Receives 2015 IEEE Medal for Innovations in Healthcare Technology

June 24, 2015 | By Business Wire News

IRVINE, Calif.

Nihon Kohden announced today that Senior Manager Dr. Takuo Aoyagi has received the 2015 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Medal for Innovations in Healthcare Technology. The IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.

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Dr. Takuyo Aoyagi (second from left), senior manager at Nihon Kohden, receives the 2015 Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE) “Medal for Innovations in Healthcare Technology,” for changing the face of modern surgery with the invention of pulse oximetry. Considered the most important lifesaving practice during surgery by the World Health Organization, pulse oximetry is recognized as the standard of care for the assessment of oxygenation, spanning virtually every domain of medical practice. Dr. Aoyagi is joined in the picture by (left to right) IEEE President-Elect Barry Shoop, IEEE EMB President Andrew Laine and IEEE President Howard Michel. (Photo: Business Wire)

Each year, this prestigious honor 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 recognized 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, chief executive officer, 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,“ said Kazuo Ogino, Chairman of the Board, Nihon Kohden Corporation. “All of us at Nihon Kohden congratulate him on this well-deserved honor. We continue to develop innovative technologies that lead to improvements in health care quality.“

Dr. Aoyagi formally received the medal from IEEE President Howard Michel and President-Elect Barry Shoop on June 20, 2015 at the IEEE Honors Ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria, New York. To view the ceremony, please log onto https://ieeetv.ieee.org/event-showcase/2015-ieee-honors-ceremony. A full archive of the ceremony as well as footage by medal recipient is expected to be available online by June 26, 2015.

About IEEE

IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional association, is dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice on a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. Learn more at http://www.ieee.org

About Nihon Kohden Corporation

Founded in Japan in 1951, Nihon Kohden is the leading manufacturer, developer and distributor of medical electronic equipment, with subsidiaries in the U.S., Europe and Asia. The company’s corporate philosophy is to fight disease and enhance health by advanced technology in order to contribute to the world as well as create an affluent life for employees. Nihon Kohden’s products are now used in more than 120 countries, and it is the largest supplier of electroencephalography products worldwide. A pioneer in transformational healthcare technology, Nihon Kohden has envisioned, designed and produced revolutionary devices, such as pulse oximeters, arrhythmia analysis, low-invasive blood volume monitoring and wireless patient monitoring. In the U.S., the company is a trusted source for patient monitoring, sleep assessment, neurology and cardiology instrumentation solutions, and has been recognized for the highest customer satisfaction among U.S. hospitals and health systems for 34 consecutive quarters (MD Buyline). For more information, visit www.nihonkohden.com and www.nkusa.com.