In a significant achievement for Indian medical research, an assistant professor from Tamil Nadu has been honoured with a prestigious national award for his groundbreaking innovation in imaging technology.
National Recognition at AROICON 2025
Dr. S Senthilkumar, who serves as an assistant professor of radiological physics at Madurai Medical College, received the best paper award at the 45th annual national conference of the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India. The conference, known as AROICON 2025, was held in Kolkata, bringing together leading experts in the field.
A Novel Solution for Medical Imaging
The award-winning work centres on a novel X-ray-visible photographic printing technology developed by Dr. Senthilkumar. This innovation allows printed images to remain invisible under normal light but become clearly visible when exposed to X-rays. The technology represents a clever solution to a persistent challenge in complex medical procedures.
The practical application of this technology is vast. It has been successfully tested across multiple medical platforms, including standard X-ray machines, advanced CT scanners, and specialised cardiac catheterisation laboratories. Following these successful validations, the innovation has been formally filed for a patent, securing its intellectual property.
Impact on Critical Medical Procedures
This development is not merely a technical curiosity; it addresses a critical need in modern medicine. The technology promises to enhance precision in medical imaging and radiotherapy planning, areas where accuracy is paramount for patient safety and treatment efficacy.
One of the most impactful applications is in procedures like high-dose-rate liver brachytherapy implants. In such treatments, the exact placement of catheters and needles is crucial for delivering radiation directly to tumours while sparing healthy tissue. Dr. Senthilkumar's invention provides a new method to verify and guide this placement with greater accuracy, potentially improving outcomes for cancer patients.
The recognition at AROICON 2025 highlights the importance of such indigenous research and development. It underscores how innovations emerging from India's medical colleges can contribute meaningfully to global advancements in healthcare technology, solving real-world problems faced by clinicians every day.
