A team of Nigerian scientists has earned international recognition after securing intellectual property protection in the United Kingdom for a medical imaging device designed to improve the accuracy of optical diagnostic systems.

The innovation, the Self-Calibrating Optical Imaging Photodetector, was registered by the UK Intellectual Property Office in November 2025 under a design classification for medical and laboratory equipment. It integrates sensing, imaging and automatic calibration into a single platform, and was developed through a collaboration involving Okechukwu Erondu, Onuh Ijiga, Terver Sombo and Peverga Jubu.

Optical imaging systems are widely used in hospitals and laboratories, but maintaining accurate calibration remains a challenge, as minor alignment errors can reduce image quality and produce inconsistent results. Conventional systems often require repeated manual calibration, which can interrupt workflow and increase the risk of human error.

The device addresses these limitations through a self-calibration mechanism that enables continuous alignment during operation, with a built-in indicator allowing users to monitor and optimise alignment in real time. The design combines an elevated sensing unit, a central display and a control console into one platform, reducing optical drift and improving repeatability.

Erondu, a Professor of Radiography at Gregory University, Uturu, said the innovation was inspired by recurring calibration and alignment problems in diagnostic imaging, while Ijiga, an applied physics researcher, said advanced materials science helped improve the photodetector’s sensitivity and signal stability. The researchers said embedding calibration into the imaging architecture could improve the reliability of systems used in healthcare and research.