Joseph Izatt, PhD, the Michael J. Fitzpatrick Professor of Engineering and Professor of Ophthalmology has been elected to National Academy of Inventors.
Izatt’s research focuses on the application of optical technologies for non-invasive, high-resolution imaging and sensing in living biological tissues. He is considered one of the leading experts on optical coherence tomography (OCT), a medical imaging technique that allows researchers to peer beneath the surface of tissue to diagnose and treat diseases. Izatt’s lab creates systems for use in noninvasive medical diagnostics, in-vivo tomographic microscopes, and high-throughput three-dimensional small animal imaging systems for genomics studies.
Izatt worked closely with Dr. Cynthia Toth of Duke’s Department of Ophthalmology to develop the first use of a research hand-held spectral domain OCT system for infant examination and the first intra-operative OCT-guided ophthalmic surgical system.
"I am very honored to be inducted as a Fellow in the NAI. In our field of biomedical engineering, patenting and licensing technologies is an important means by which our basic and translational research can directly impact society,” said Izatt. “Together with many of my students, trainees, clinical, and industrial collaborators, I am proud to have patented over 60 medical imaging technologies, the majority of which are licensed to companies bringing new patient care technologies to market around the world."
A version of this story was originally published on the Duke Pratt School of Engineering website.