Astem

Astem Co., Ltd. is a specialized technology firm, established in October 1992, that develops, manufactures, and sells devices based on Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS). The company's operations are centered in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan. Its corporate philosophy is to create "a company that is supported by society in any age" by developing technologies for wellness and happiness.

The company's business model involves direct sales and rentals of its specialized equipment to a diverse client base that includes universities, research institutes, hospitals, and industrial companies such as printing and binding firms. A key part of Astem's strategy involves collaborative research and development with academic institutions. A notable collaboration with Hamamatsu University School of Medicine and Shizuoka University resulted in the 'toccare' clinical finger-mounted oxygenation monitor, a medical device designed to non-invasively measure oxygen concentration in newborns to help prevent neonatal asphyxia. Further joint research with Shizuoka University led to the development of brain NIRS technology, and the company continues to partner with institutions like Nihon University to explore new applications for measuring stress and brain vitality.

Astem's product portfolio is divided into medical and non-medical devices. The medical device line includes tissue oximeters like the 'toccare' (KN-15) and 'TOE-20', which measure regional tissue oxygen saturation (rSO2) and total hemoglobin index. For the research market, the company produces a series of Brain Activity Monitors and the 'Oxy-Pro' tissue oximeter. Additionally, it serves industrial clients with products such as an Incorrect Collating Inspection Sensor used in the printing industry. The company is led by its representative, Mitsuru Suzuki.

Keywords: Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, NIRS, tissue oximetry, brain activity monitoring, medical devices, research equipment, rSO2, hemoglobin index, blood flow measurement, non-invasive sensors, neonatal monitoring, clinical research, academic collaboration, Japanese technology, biomedical engineering, neuro-monitoring, industrial sensors, spectroscopy, medical technology, Kawasaki, Mitsuru Suzuki