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JULY 18th, 2005
UCLA Researchers Usher in Molecular Electronics Age - Demonstrate
Molecular Nano Valve – Molecular Filter Based on Bistable Molecular Switch
Under funding from the National Science Foundation, researchers at the University of California
at Los Angeles have developed a nano valve that is capable of controlling the passage of molecules. A discussion of
the work is to be published in the July 19th issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. . According to
Jeffrey I. Zink, one of the researchers at the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA, "This paper demonstrates unequivocally
that the machine works. With the nano valve, we can trap and release molecules on demand. We are able to control molecules
at the nano scale." Professor Zink also indicated that the new device has the potential be used as a drug delivery system.
The device can be used to both trap and release molecules.
The lead author on the paper, Thoi Nguyen, described the nano valve’s
operation, "The valve is like a mechanical system that we can control like a water faucet. Trapping the molecule inside and
shutting the valve tightly was a challenge. The first valves we produced leaked slightly."
The nano valve uses switchable rotaxane molecules (redox-activated
bistable), which are described as moving parts that are similar in appearance to linear motors. The nano valve demonstrated
was attached to glass or porous silica, which measured 500 nanometers, and is punctuated with pores that are only a few nanometers.
Commenting on the pores, Zink said, "It's big enough to let molecules in and out, but small enough so that the switchable
rotaxane molecules can block the hole."
The nano valve is opened and shut with a power supply that is molecular
in nature itself. A single electron serves as the basis chemical energy that opens and closes the valve. A luminescent molecule
is used to indicate if a molecule has been captured.
California NanoSystems Institute director Fraser Stoddart characterized
the behavior of the nano valve in relation to silicon, "The fact that we can take a bistable molecule that behaves as a switch
in a silicon-based electronic device at the nanoscale level and fabricate it differently to work as part of a nano valve on
porous silica is something I find really satisfying about this piece of research. It shows that these little pieces of molecular
machinery are highly adaptable and resourceful, and means that we can move around in the nanoworld with the same molecular
tool kit and adapt it to different needs on demand."
Switchable rotaxanes, according to UCLA, have already been used
in molecular electronics, which the UCLA team under the direction of Stoddart, are being adapted for artificial molecular
machinery applications.
The integrated circuit age was also ushered in with a switch device,
the diode and transistor, which has formed the basis for the integrated circuit, a device which now days can easily contain
over a billion transistors connected together to form an advanced system. The same basic hierarchical technology used to design
integrated circuits, known as Electronic Design Automation (EDA), may also be fundamental to the design of molecular systems
that may one day also contain billions if not trillions of nano valves.
JULY 18th, 2005
3M Electronics is scheduled to present its development efforts in
the area of microfluidics and microinterconnect technology at the American Association for Clinical Chemistry's (AACC's) 2005
Annual Meeting and Clinical Lab Exposition in Orlando, Florida. The meeting, scheduled for July 24 to July 28 2005 will take
place at the Orange County Convention Center. There, Nate P. Kreutter, advanced product development specialist at 3M Electronics
will present on the 26th, "Polymer microfluidic devices with integrated electrodes" at 8 a.m. One of the topics of the lecture
will be on the use of polymer patterning to create electrodes that can be integrated into microfluidic channels. Other related
subjects include electrochemical analysis, electrokinetic transport and capillary electrophoresis as related to microinterconnect
technology used in microfluidic systems.
JULY 13th, 2005
Atonomics, a Point of Care company based in Denmark, has developed a biochip
technology around a technology used in the design of cellular phones. Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) technology, which forms
the basis of SAW filters in cellular phones, is also the basis for Atonomics’ biochips.
According to the company’s web site, the technology developed requires
just one drop of blood, as opposed to numerous pricks needed to perform traditional allergy analysis. The company reports
that most allergy sufferers are not aware that a simple blood test, which requires just one drop of blood, can be used to
diagnose their symptoms.
So how does the system work? The acoustic surface waveforms are extremely
sensitive to differences in DNA structure. Because of this, unique and determinable waveforms are generated for specific types
of genes. Different DNA structures or molecules have a different mass. When these collect on the surface of the sensor, the
mechanical forces, which control the electrical oscillatory nature of the SAW device, are change, resulting in distinct waveform
variations. The company reports that the disruption of acoustic surface waves as a direct result of specific DNA hybridisation
and elongation reactions can be measured with low-cost instruments within 15 minutes. Besides allergy DNA reactions, the system
can also be used to detect the delta 508 mutation of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator (CFTR) gene.
Atonomics goes on to estimate that about 11 million patients take allergy
tests and the market is worth about $245 million. The company projects that if the 150 million Type 1 allergy sufferers took
allergy tests, the total market would exceed $3 billion.
JULY 11th, 2005
The announcement out of UC Berkeley of the construction of a nanofluidic
transistor offers further evidence that the analysis of cells and their associated DNA will become more systematic in the
future. As well it also portends the coming of bioelectronic systems, which could integrate living cells, DNA and silicon
electronic technology to work together to form hybrid thinking machines, also referred to as molecular processors.
The nanofluidic transistor constructed, also referred to as unipolar
ionic field-effect transistor, similar in name to a semiconductor MOSFET(metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor),
shut off potassium ion flow through water - analogous to a MOSFET shutting off electron flow. The tiny device structure consisted
of a 35 nanometer high channel between two silicon dioxide plates. However, unlike present day MOSFETs, which can shut off
current flow with a 1 volt potential, it took a voltage of 75 volts to close the channel to the passage of the potassium ions
– a voltage that would make it difficult to integrate a dense system-on-a-chip of integrated nanotubes to enable the
mass-scale separation of negative and positive ions.
The system eventually has the potential to act as a virtual
valve, fundamental to a larger integrated system, which would screen for specific diseases. The Berkeley team visualizes
a disease screening device that is based on a nanotube coated with antigens. When antibodies that are specific to a
specific disease flow through the antigen lined nanotube, the antigen and antibody would attract, resulting in the blocking
the flow of liquid through the tube and changing the electrical current – indicating the presence of a specific disease.
The work at Berkeley has been supported by the National Cancer Institute
as a way to devise a test that can detect the presence of prostrate cancer. However it is also seen as the first step towards
integration of silicon with floating molecules, enabling a decisively different way to perform mathematically intensive computations.
JULY 11th, 2005
QinetiQ has reported that new European Union legislation related
to vibration in vehicles called the “'Control of vibration at work regulations 2005 is scheduled to become law. The
law seeks to minimize the effect of vehicle vibration on back injuries. Specifically pointed out by QinetiQ was that military
off-road vehicles would be effected as well as construction, mining and agricultural vehicles. According to QinetiQ's Centre
for Human Sciences MD, Neville Salkeld, "Up until now, UK daily exposure to WBV levels in vehicles has been subject to guidelines
only, but from 6 July new legislation will introduce daily 'action' and 'limit' values to vibration exposure. The Health &
Safety Executive will police the new law and ensure that employers undertake risk assessments and take measures to eliminate
or minimise employees' daily exposure."
QinetiQ also points out that the new regulations will also apply
to workers who use vibration intensive tools. These include the obvious, such as chainsaws and power hammers. According to
QinetiQ, the overuse of these tools can lend themselves to a number of painful and unusual medical conditions, not to mention
the possibility of increased insurance costs and disability payments.
JULY 8th, 2005
As the lead partner of a regional consortium, the University of
Washington was awarded a $15.4 million grant to develop an advanced, portable medical diagnostic system that can be used to
quickly diagnose diseases anywhere a health worker can walk to. From the list of companies involved in the project, which
includes Nanogen, the silicon microarray company, Micronics, the lab-on-a-card company, and PATH, a non-profit health strategy
company, the road points to a device that combines the latest miniaturized microfluidic analysis and sampling technology with
the latest genetic clinical analysis technology.
Commenting on the group was Paul Yager, lead investigator on
the project and Vice Chair and Professor at the University of Washington’s Department of Bioengineering, "This is a
formidable group. Each partner brings vital skills and experience to the mix. I believe this combination is what led to our
being selected from such a wide range of applicants and it's what will make our efforts successful.”
The award is one of 43 research projects that have been funded through
the $436 million Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative. The initiative is specifically focused to improve health care
and provide treatment for the diseases of the poor, the majority of diseases. That market is considered under served because
of market dynamics and differences in cost of living in different geographic areas.
The target size for the final working system is expected to fit
in a pocket, or about the size of a handheld computer.
JULY 1st, 2005
Acacia Research Corporation (Nasdaq:ACTG) (NASDAQ:CBMX) reported
that it has received commitments from a select group of institutional investors to purchase $2.9 million of its Acacia Research-CombiMatrix
common stock. Dr. Amit Kumar, President and CEO of CombiMatrix, with the announcement, suggested that the funding would be
used for the company’s entry into the molecular diagnostic market and the further development of its CustomArray products.
"This financing further strengthens our balance sheet and provides additional capital to fund our entry into the molecular
diagnostics market, which began with our recent formation of CombiMatrix Molecular Diagnostics. The financing will also support
our long-term strategy of adding new innovative products for the research and development markets with our CustomArray(TM)
product line."
JUNE 30th, 2005
STMicroelectronics’ and Acacia’s Microlaboratory
Agreement Signals Chip Industry 's Advance Into the Forefront of Medical Technology
STMicroelectronics, which first introduced its genetic Polymerase
Chain Reaction (PCR) MEMS-based silicon chip in 2002, has furthered its involvement with the biotechnology market
through a co-development agreement with CombiMatrix Group, a unit of Acacia Research Corporation (NASDAQ: CBMX) (NASDAQ:ACTG).
The agreement, which will received financial support from STMicroelectronics, will seek to integrate CombiMatrix’s ElectroChemical
Detection Technology (ECD), with STMicroelectronics In-Check Lab-on-Chip platform for applications in the point-of-care diagnostics
market.
One of the goals of the project is to develop a feature rich and
more sensitive technology than current fluorescent/optical detection technology.
JUNE 22nd, 2005
The Life Sciences Greenhouse of Central Pennsylvania (LSGPA) has
made an investment of $250,000 for the development of biological and chemical sensors. Hanson Technologies Inc. received the
funding, which is expected to be matched by other investors. Ben Franklin Technology Partners recently approved over $129,00
in funding for Hanson to develop its sensor technology.
Hanson is involved in the development of tests for Mad Cow disease.
According to Chairman and CEO, William Hanson, "There is a growing sentiment among consumers and health officials that the
United States should test as many cattle as possible to allow unfettered access to export markets and that transition can
only occur when the next generation of BSE diagnostic equipment, like what we are developing, is introduced. We are very excited
about the investment by the Life Sciences Greenhouse and believe it will be critical to the refinement of our patented and
licensed technology." According to Hanson in 2004 alone there were over 11 million Mad Cow tests performed.
Hanson, which has developed a definitive test for the determination
of mad cow disease (BSE Prion Detection), also indicates that other applications for its sensor technology include milk antibiotics
testing and infectious disease testing.
JUNE 21st, 2005
Psivida has announced the issuance of another patent. This patent,
a Korean patent, refers to the electronic based properties of BioSilicon, the company's silicon based tissue repair scaffolds.
BioSilicon scaffolds give a directed path for tissue to attach itself to and grow.
One of the applications Psivida refers to the use of Micro-electro-mechanical
devices to assist in the implant process and for hip and knee prostheses applications. One use of MEMS devices is to measure
bone strength and strain. Hip replacement operations require significant post-operative monitoring to ensure that the replacement
procedure doesn't result in complications.
pSivida Managing Director, Gavin Rezos summarized the market
briefly, "The global market for products enhancing bone growth and fusion is growing rapidly and this trend is likely to continue
as the requirement for specialist management of a variety of orthopedic conditions increases."
The patent was assigned Korean Patent Number 488643.
JUNE 20th, 2005
Analogic Reports Healthy Medical Sales in Quarterly Report
Analogic Corporation (NASDAQ: ALOG) with its fiscal third quarter
report, for the period ended April 30, 2005 indicated that sales of its advanced medical subsystems, which include Data Acquisition
Systems (DASs) for Computed Tomography (CT), and power systems for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), have continued to grow.
The company also reported strength in the sale of its system products, which include medical and security CT systems.
The company's President, John Wood, also commented on the direction
of its medical imaging focus as well as its component and integrated circuit product lines, "We are also confident of our
direction in medical imaging," Wood said. "During the quarter we generated considerable customer enthusiasm for the first
prototypes of a new generation of compact, modular, liquid-cooled radio frequency amplifiers for MRI. Subsequent to the quarter,
we also delivered the first prototypes of a compact, proprietary Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) for a new
generation of CT data acquisition systems. Our medical subsystems business is very strong and growing."
Mr. Wood also noted that some product sales were below expectations,
"The results from operations, excluding the effect of the asset writedowns, were a modest improvement over the prior year's
third quarter. As we had anticipated, sales of Camtronics cardiac information management equipment were below original expectations
as a result of its revenue recognition issues earlier in the year. Fortunately, those issues are being resolved and there
are clear indications that the new management at Camtronics is affecting a turnaround of the business. Sales of Digital Radiography
(DR) systems through our ANEXA subsidiary and DR subsystems through our Anrad subsidiary were also lower than originally expected.
In addition, shipments of patient monitors were less than expected due to an OEM customer's decision to discontinue marketing
one of the models that we developed and manufactured for them."
JUNE 17th, 2005
Affymetrix Reports New GeneChip Scanner Increase Data Analysis
Capability 5 Fold
Following a trend, Moore's Law, which has guided semiconductor advances
over the last 40 years, Affymetrix Inc. (NASDAQ:AFFX) reports that its new GeneChip Scanner (GCS) 3000 7G is able to scan
microarrays with feature sizes which range from 2.5 micron to 0.51 micron. The ability to scan such small features gives the
scanner the ability to analyze 500 percent more data than past generations.
Chip Leveille, Vice President of Product Technologies Group at Affymetrix
summarized the achievement, "The GeneChip Scanner 3000 7G combines advanced design improvements with high-resolution scanning
to dramatically improve efficiency in genetic analysis for gene expression and DNA analysis applications. We designed the
original GCS 3000 to be forward-compatible, requiring only a simple upgrade to support the next-generation of high-density
microarrays that develop as GeneChip technology continues to advance."
In comparison, today's most advanced digital semiconductors are
built with process technologies with feature lengths in the order of 0.09 microns, about five times smaller than the feature
length of the current biochips.
JUNE 13th, 2005
New Medical Patch Contains Micro Chip to Reduce Swelling from Injuries
Manufacturers of healthcare products, through BioElectronics Corporation (Pink sheets: BIEL),
now have access to the company's ActiPatch, a drug-free patch used to reduce swelling. BioElectronics foresees manufactures
of orthotics, braces, splints and wraps embedded the ActiPatch within their products.
The company apparently has some major contracts in the works. According
to Andrew J. Whelan, President and CEO. "We have been working diligently on this design approach for months and we have our
existing products working well with a couple of well respected companies. We expect to be announcing some major deals in the
coming months, beginning with the European market. This approach will add greatly to our goal of making our breakthrough medical
products available for a broad array of soft tissue injuries."
ActiPatch is referred to be the company as z dermal patch. The dermal
patch contains a battery-powered microchip that delivers continuous pulsed therapy.
JUNE 9th, 2005
IRI Ubiteq, a developer of integrated circuits and sensors for visually
impaired applications, will launch an IPO on June 14 on the Osaka Securities Exchange Hercules market. Approximately 280 million
yen is expected to be raised from the initial public offering. For the company's current fiscal year, the company projects
revenue of 4.43 billion yen. IRI Ubiteq employs about 100 people.
JUNE 7th, 2005
California Micro Devices Exits Medical Chip Market - Sells Fab
to Microchip
As an indication that its other products have better market potential and a fabless model is
more in line with the company's business, California Micro Devices(NASDAQ:CAMD has sold its wafer fabrication facility to
Microchip Technology for $1.9 million.
CAMD previously announced it would close its thin film medical business
by March of 2005. The company’s medical business had experienced a decline in medical sales, which dropped from
$3.1 million in the company’s quarterly period ended December 31, 2003 to $2.1 million in the quarterly period ended
December 31, 2004. On the other hand, for the same two periods the company’s mobile chip products increased from
$6.2 million to $11.5 million. Part of reason for the drop in medical product sales was due lto lower sales to Guidant Corp.,
one of its main medical customers. That customer had previously indicated to CAMD that future orders would diminish.
CAMD also indicated in its quarterly report for the period ending December 31, 2004, that its potential to stay
profitable would be affected by its exit from the medical business, where margins and average selling prices have been high.
For other high volume markets, CAMD recently introduced its
family of PhotonIC devices intended for the 600 million unit cellular phone market. As well, the company has entered the HDMI
receiver market with its CM2021 HDMI MediaGuard port protector. HDMI is the standard used for multimedia communication between
most electronic consumer devices on the market today.
JUNE 6th, 2005
DALSA Corporation (TSX:DSA) has received a renewal contract for
its image sensor chips from an undisclosed medical equipment OEM. The company indicated that sales from the contract, in Canadian
dollars, are expected to total $3.8 million. One-third of the deliveries of the image sensors are planed in 2005, one-half
in 2006 and the remaining one-sixth scheduled for 2007.
DALSA indicates that the x-ray CCD image sensors used in this x-ray
diagnostic application replace x-ray film. With advances in the imaging capability of image analysis systems, DALSA's technology
is expected to further a medical trend to eliminate the need for many biopsies in disease diagnosis. For this particular application,
DALSA notes that the "DALSA image sensors allow the OEM customer to produce x-ray systems that offer reduced patient discomfort
and reduced x-ray levels for the patient."
Rabbit Semiconductor, recently acquired by Digi International, through
a partnership with Simple Com Tools, LLC are promoting the COM1000 Industrial Internet Application, based on Rabbits microcontroller
technology. The new solution addresses the expected rise in demand for centralized repair diagnostics and mass production
test applications. The solution enables hardware and software to be connected to the Internet to host automated test equipment
for the production testing and repair diagnostics of thousands of different types of products that must go testing before
shipment to end-customers. Internet based solutions such as these have the potential to reduce capital expenditure costs of
manufacturers through the use of shared resources by a group of companies. For example in the semiconductor industry, automated
test equipment is a large expense that could potentially be defrayed through a shared Internet centralized test system.
JUNE 2nd, 2005
Zarlink Divulges Implantable Medical Communications Network
Seemingly a first, Zarlink Semiconductor (NYSE/TSX:ZL) has introduced an ultra low-power transceiver
chip that is intended to form the basis for an implantable medical communications and biomedical device control system. Called
the ZL70100, the chip meets the MICS standard defined by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and ETSI (European Telecommunications
Standards Institute).
Steve Swift, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Ultra
Low-Power Communications at Zarlink Semiconductor commented on the range and transmission rate of the chip, "Zarlink's MICS
transceiver provides several orders of magnitude increase in data transmission rate and communication range compared with
previous technologies, offering an ultra low-power consumption and highly integrated radio telemetry solution."
He went on to comment on how the device would be used to both monitor
and control a patients internal biomedical system, "Our MICS radio platform ensures implanted medical device manufacturers
can design systems that meet strict global standards. The higher data rate and extended communication range of our radio transceiver
enables advanced in-body communication systems, such as implanted blood glucose sensors controlling insulin intake for diabetes
patients, networked stimulators restoring lost limb function or pacemakers using the high-speed wireless link to signal emergency
response during a cardiac event."
APRIL 29th, 2005
Affymetrix, Inc., (NASDAQ:AFFX), with a report that its latest quarterly
revenue reached $88.6 million, broke down its first quarter product sales as follows: $47.7 million in GeneChip sales (DNA
Arrays), reagent revenue of $9.9 million, and instrument revenue of $15.9 million. Affymetrix also shipped some 50 GeneChip
Systems in the quarter. Shipments of those systems now total over 1,225. Total product and product related revenue was $84.
9 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2005 compared to total product and product related revenue of $74.6 million for the
same quarter last year.
APRIL 28th, 2005
pSivida Limited (NASDAQ:PSDV; ASX:PSD; XETRA: PSI), a silicon based
nanotechnology company, announced several milestones for its latest quarter, which were underscored with its report that it
has $13.8 million of cash on hand. The company reported positive results for its BrachySil trial in the treatment
of liver cancer. For a group of 4 patients the company said that the average tumor regression was by volume of
80 percent and in some cases, 100 percent regression was observed. The company determined the results through CT scanning.
The final results for the trial are planned for announcement in June.
Along with the results, the company reported that it had completed
the construction of the factory that is used to manufacturers the company's main product, BrachySil. Atomising Systems Ltd.,
its UK manufacturing partner, manages and operates the cleanroom manufacturing facility.
APRIL 21, 2005
GenoMed, Inc. (Pink Sheets: GMED), a company that focuses on disease
management, announced that it has developed the Healthchip used to diagnose the most common types of cancers. The company
says that its own tests have shown that the Healthchip correctly identifies the type of cancer in 85 percent of all cases.
The chip, for example, examines a DNA sample for mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and indicates breast cancer if the
mutated genes are found. The company finds that its Healthchip has even higher accurately ratings for certain categories
of women – such as Caucasian, Dr. David Moskowitz, CEO of GenoMed, commented on the accuracy and false positives,
"It's important for any screening test to have as few false positives as possible. GenoMed's Healthchip currently has none."
The company says that tests for BRAC1 and BRAC2 mutations cost in
the order of $1200.00, but are for research purposes only.
APRIL 18th, 2005
Xenomis with Inexpensive DNA Tests Gathers $2.95
Million in Private Placement
Xenomics, Inc. (OTCBB:XNOM), which is now focused on the development of non-intensive
DNA test technologies, has reported the close of a private placement that has resulted in $2.95 million in new financing for
the company.
Dr. Randy White, CEO of Xenomics summed up the company's development focus and how
the funding will be used, "This funding will help us achieve the next round of milestones in the commercialization of our
proprietary Transrenal DNA testing platform for medical and life science applications. We are developing highly effective,
safe and inexpensive tests that have the potential to improve health care for millions of patients worldwide who are living
with AIDS and other diseases, for pregnant women who need to learn about the health of their unborn children, and for a range
of other applications."
Xenomics discovered the presence of Tr-DNA, which unlike other types of DNA is passed
through the kidneys and out of the body instead of found just in the blood. The detection of Tr-DNA in the urine, give scientists
the capability to eliminate the need for blood samples (considered a biological health hazard in the medical world), and use
safer urine samples instead. This in turn eliminates the need to use needles, which are also biological health and environmental
hazards. Dr. Samuil Umansky, a scientist at the company, headed the team that discovered Tr-DNA.
MARCH 30th, 2005
Reports indicate that Canon, Inc., a company that is actively involved
in a number of technology areas, has in development a system for the mass production of DNA chips. The technology is based
on ink-jet technology used in printers. The entrance of printer companies into the biochip market is no surprise. Hewlett-Packard
bases its ink-jet printer technology on electronically controlled microfluidic devices. Hewlett-Packard has also been actively
developing its ink -printer MEMS technology for areas besides printers.
MARCH 17th, 2005
California's $3 Billion Stem Cell Initiatives Should Create Growth Environment for Microarray Chip Technology
California's stem cell initiative,
Proposition 71, guaranteed $3 billion in funds for stem cell research. The University
of California at Los Angeles
(UCLA) is one of the first beneficiaries. UCLA has now announced the formation of the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and
Medicine. The Institute is to be funded with $20 million over the next five years.
The Institute for Stem
Cell Biology and Medicine brings together the resources of the David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA's Jonsson
Cancer Center, the Henry Samueli School
of Engineering and Applied Science, and the UCLA College. These three operations will bring together their respective knowledge of integrated
microfluidics, microarrays, mass spectroscopy based proteomics and bioinformatics computational expertise and facilities for
the development of stem cell related therapies.
MARCH 16th, 2005
PamChip Array Company Receives Euro 2 Million Funding
PamGene, a company that
offers the PamChip array, has been granted Euro 2 Million from a Netherlands based government agency, SenterNovem. The funding
is for the development of bioinformatics and systems biology on PamGene's PamChip array platform. The research will be conducted
alongside staff from the University of Rotterdam, the Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis and the VTT Technical Research Centre, Turku,
Finland. The research hopes to further the role of biological pathways and origins of diseases.
Along with that announcement,
PamGene also indicated that it will be involved as a consortium member under a project under the European Union 6th Framework
Programme. The project involves the investigation of mitochondrial diseases. PamGene also says it is involved with the third
consortium, which involves proteomics research with the Netherlands Proteomics Centre.
MARCH
14th, 2005
Apogee Furthers MEMS Based Transdermal Drug Discovery Effort
Apogee Technology, Inc., noted for its
MEMs based audio speaker solutions, has signed an agreement with the University of Medicine
and Dentistry New Jersey (UMDNJ) Laboratory for Drug Delivery. The agreement is for research and testing on Apogee's MEMS
based transdermal delivery device. Dr. Nevenka Golubovic-Liakopoulos, Manager
of New Product Development for the MEMS Division at Apogee Technology indicated that UMDNJ has the necessary experts to help
Apogee develop the best product available for the market. Dr. Bozena Michniak,
Director of Laboratory for Drug Delivery at UMDNJ was also enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with Apogee's MEMS technology
and its insightful staff.
Apogee has already designed a transdermal
delivery platform based on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The platform is for use in the field of large-molecule
pharmaceuticals. Such research is essential to find solutions for serious human problems such as chronic pain conditions.
MARCH 8th, 2005
Nanoelectronic
Device Company, Nanomix, Closes $16 Million Oversubscribed RoundNanomix Inc., a company that has operations
in the nanoelectronic detection device market, has closed a $16 million funding round. Investors included well-known nanotechnology
and micromachine investment company, Harris & Harris Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:TINY). Other investors included Alta Partners,
Apax Partners, EnerTech Capital Partners, Sevin Rosen Funds and STAR Ventures.
Nanomix's technology, which is based
on ultra-sensitive carbon nanotube networks, is named Sensation detection technology. The company plans to market these sensors
for a number of different applications in the environmental monitoring, respiratory diagnostics and biomolecular detection
industries. Nanomix intends to market the sensors this year. The company indicates that the sensor technology will be able
to provide diagnostic information that previously technology has not been able to ergonomically determine.
MARCH 7th, 2005
As Vision Capsule Market Emerges, Companies Look
at Data Capsules
Vision capsules, or
cameras in a pill, used to photograph the internal digestive system to diagnose and analyze diseases, is another market growth
market that CMOS image sensors producers see as promising. Givens Imaging and Micron Technology, are the first two companies
to benefit from the application, but now other companies such as MagnaChip have introduced products that address the IC in
a Pill market, a market that must consider the precarious logistics associated with the literal consumption of integrated
circuits.
CMOS image sensors
companies that succeed in the medical market may require a well-grounded background in clinical trials in addition to ISO
certified wafer fabrication facilities. SmartPill Diagnostics, Inc. is one company that has started clinical trials on its
SmartPill, which unlike Vision Capsules, which just take snapshots, is described by the company as an ingestible biomedical
data collection device. Its SmartPill ACT-I Capsule and GI Monitoring System are now under review at Massachusetts General
Hospital. The trials involve over 130 subjects, which include 70 control patients and 60 gastroparetic patients from five
sites. The trials are expected to be completed in May and will include results from Temple University Hospital and three other
unnamed sites. The company anticipates that after meeting other regulatory requirements and submissions, the product will
be ready for the market later this year.
MagnaChip Semiconductor
also plans to have a CMOS image sensor for the vision capsule market in mass production in the second half of 2005. The product
is expected to the basis for a capsule camera that can generate 2 images every second. The vision capsule will transmit the
pictures wirelessly to a digital image recorder worn by the patient. The capsule camera has also been designed to operate
for up to 8 hours, and operate long enough to take over 50,000 pictures.
Magnachip indicated
that its product has received a significant amount of attention because of the high image quality and its capability to operate
in low-level light conditions. In order to achieve this, MagnaChip's image sensor makes use of LED technology. White light
LEDs have recently made news as a potential alternative to the incandescent light bulbs.
MARCH 1st, 2005
Implantable
Drug Sensor Central to Drug Dosage Determination
Sicel Technologies,
which has been developing a miniaturized fluorescence sensor used for to detect drug absorption in tumors, has been awarded
its second grant form the Sisko Foundation. Sicel’s fluorescence sensor is designed to detect the absorption and concentration
of fluorescently labeled drugs. This enables doctors to determine the precise level of a drug that should be prescribed in
order to stop the growth of the tumor. A device based on the technology, OneDose, a dosimeter, is already marketed by the
company. An implantable radiation sensor from the company is anticipated to receive FDA clearance in 2005.
According to the company
there are over 217,000 new case of breast cancer every year and it is the number two cause of death of women in the United
States. For women, between the ages of 40 and 55, it is the number one cause of death.
FEBRUARY 26th, 2005
Microsoft Bioinformatics
Technology Used to Develop HIV Vaccine
Members of Microsoft
Research, the research arm of Microsoft Corp., whose over 700 employees have been traditionally focused on computer science
research, recently appeared at the 12th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections to report on the company’s data mining and machine learning research related to the development of a human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) vaccine.
Microsoft’s software
technology, traditionally used to detect patterns in images, types of email traffic and databases has been applied to the
development of a vaccine used to enable a HIV infected patient’s immune system to eliminate HIV. The immune system is
the primary function of the human body that HIV destroys. With a dysfunctional immune system, the human body is not able to
fight off deadly microorganisms that most mammals encounter and deal with effectively every day of their lives. Death and illness in HIV patients is attributed not to HIV but the harmful microorganisms that flourish
as a result of an ineffective immune system.
The University of Washington
in Seattle and Australia's Royal Perth Hospital have both been involved with Microsoft’s HIV research effort. Microsoft’s
computer science skills have been applied to the analysis of massive amounts of individualized patient and HIV genetic data.
Microsoft was able to reduce the time it took to analyze genetic patterns by a factor of ten. Simon Mallal, professor and
executive director of the Centre for Clinical Immunology
and Biomedical Statistics at Royal Perth Hospital and Murdoch University credited Microsoft Research with the capability to
filter patient data 10 times faster than the methods they have already tried.
The genetic code of
human DNA can be represented by a sequence of 3 billion digits. Slight changes in the sequence of the DNA are responsible
for the physical differences in humans as well as their susceptibility to diseases and other genetically related medical problems.
The vaccines that these
organizations have developed as a result of Microsoft’s genetic pattern analysis are now being tested. Results on infected cells under test should be available in 2006.
The pattern analysis program has also been applied to other diseases. David Heckerman, senior researcher and manager
of the Research Machine Learning and Applied Statistics Group at Microsoft indicated that the organization’s goal is
to expedite technology advances through machine learning and statistics.
Pattern analysis
is performed in a number of electronic design tasks. In the design of integrated
circuits, functional verification tasks require that millions of digital test vectors (often several hundred digits long)
be applied to a chip design and the output response verified to be correct for each input. Chip designers have been struggling
to reduce verification time as chips become larger and more complex, which results in even higher number of vectors to ensure
the reliability of the chip.
Microsoft Research,
founded in 1991 as part of Microsoft Corporation, focuses part of its efforts on the applied sciences. The company collaborates
with industry and research organizations to develop computer science oriented solutions to a variety of research problems. Research units at the company include Bioinformatics, Computational Systems Biology,
SkyServer, as well as its Microsoft European Science Initiative, TerraServer and University Relations programs. These projects focus on a variety of topics that include biological system models, genetic analysis and
geological map databases. Through its University Relations Programs, Microsoft has awarded grants to a number of universities
to develop solutions to science and engineering problems.
Microsoft Research
has six laboratories located throughout the world. These include laboratories
in Redmond, San Francisco, Cambridge, Beijing and Bangalore. The organization employs about 700.
FEBRUARY 23rd, 2005
Ultrasound Microcatheter Technology Obtains $18 Million in Series B Round
A number of venture capital funds have invested
a total of $18 million in Series B funding into Bothel, Washington based
EKOS Corporation. The company has been developing an ultrasound energy-based microcatheter used to dissolve blood clots in
the brain, peripheral arteries or legs. The technology, considered a minimally invasive technology, is described in a number
of EKOS’ United States patents.
The patents describe a system that delivers ultrasound energy to a localized treatment center within a vessel. The system,
besides an ultrasound energy delivery system, also includes drug delivery ports. Investors involved in the funding of EKOS
included NGN Capital, Med Ventures, Morgan Stanley, and EGS Capital. EKOS, with the funding, plans to double its staff from
50 to 100 employees.
Although it has not been determined if EKOS’
microcatheter technology is micromachine based, it would be no surprise if it were. Olympus Corp., based in Japan, is one company that has devoted significant efforts
towards the development of MEMS based microcatheters. Olympus developed active bending microcatheters.
These devices include multiple silicon piezoelectric MEMS pressure sensors and tactile sensors. Olympus Corporation’s
interest in microcatheters stems from its Medical Systems Group, which is one of the largest producers of endoscopes. Endoscope’s
may soon however be replaced completely with camera-based pills, which are just swallowed.
Given Imaging is one company whose revenues have soared as a result of its camera pill product, referred to by the
company as a PillCam Capsule
Endoscopy.
Olympus Optical also is involved in the digital camera
market. Digital imaging technology is fundamental to today’s endoscope products, which are used to visually examine
the inner digestive system.
FEBRUARY 15th, 2005
Do-Coop Technologies Ltd, a company that plans to alter the applications
of water through the addition of nanoparticles, has been given the "2004 Enabling Technology in Nano-medicine" award and will
receive the "2005 Excellence in Medicine Award". Frost & Sullivan, a long-standing market research company, granted the
awards.
D0-Coop believes that its neowater product will break the Life Sciences’
miniaturization barrier as has already happened in the microelectronics industry. The overall goal of the development work
at Do-Coop is to reduce the price / performance ratio of biotechnology products, such that research and biotechnology products
will be cost-effective for everyday use. The company’s technology could significantly lower the costs of genetic-based
therapeutics related to DNA arrays and associated reagents. Hitachi, as recently reported on the Semiconductor Evening News,
has developed a technique that is expected to reduce the cost of DNA microarrays by about 10 fold. Request More Information -
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FEBRUARY 14th, 2005
Venture
Firm Closes $400 Million Technology Fund
BA
Venture Partners, a venture capital partnership, announced the closing of BAVP Fund VII, a $400 million fund. BA plans to
use the capital for investments in digital consumer and the therapeutics market. Specifically $150 million is earmarked for
the digital consumer space and $100 million for therapeutic technology companies.
Specifically
BA Ventures sites several different industries that have been targeted. In the
electronics hardware industry, segments include semiconductors, network electronics and consumer electronics. In the services
markets, the fund is looking at internet and wireless services, as well as software-as-service applications. Medical technology,
which BA Ventures sees as positive as the world ages, includes therapeutic technology for oncology, inflammation, neurology
and dermatology. Finally, BA Ventures also plans to invest in medical devices for orthopedic, cardiovascular and neurological
problems.
Fund
VII is expected to be completely invested over a period of four years.
FEBRUARY 10th, 2005
Reports Indicate Hitachi will Lower
DNA Chip Costs With RFID
Asia Pulse has reported that Hitachi Ltd. has developed a low-cost alternative to DNA array chip technology. The technology is said to permit the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms
(SNPs), critical for identification of genetic differences. Doctors armed with this knowledge will be able to determine if
a patient will have an adverse reaction to a drug prescription – over 100,000 people die a year because of adverse drug
reactions (ADRs). Hitachi’s new technology is based on an optical sensor
and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) smart tags. These RFID tags send out a radio signal if a specific SNP is detected. Test time is reported to be less than an hour. The smart tags are expected to reduce
both reader and DNA chip costs by a factor of about 10. However, the cost of reagents necessary to perform the tests is still
expensive. Hitachi expects to have the system ready in five
years.
Hitachi has been involved in the medical research area through several different operating divisions
as well as its Central Research Laboratories for several years. Hitachi Instruments Group has manufactured Nanogen Incorporated’s
Nanochip, a technology used for DNA analysis.
FEBRUARY 2, 2005
Accelr8 Patent Central to Reduction of Disease Diagnostic Time
The
field of personalized medicine and automated disease diagnostics have given rise to the microarray (DNA chips, Biochips) industry. With microarrays, doctors are able to reduce the time needed to determine
the exact microorganism, which has caused the disease, and to determine the best drug or nutrient to combat the bothersome
bacteria.
Along
this vein, Accelr8 reports that it has just received a patent on its OptiChem Surface Chemistry technology, which the company
feels is central to the replacement of outdated bacterial culturing techniques – which are time consuming, labor intensive
and sometimes prone to human error. The U.S. Patent 6,844,028 Accelr8 obtained refers to a coating that makes it possible,
as the company puts it “to selectively capture, target and analyze individual bacteria, thus setting a new standard
in rapid bacterial pathogen analysis.”
Once
Accelr8 fully integrates the technology into its BACcelr8r diagnostic system, bacterial culturing tasks are expected to be
reduced dramatically – from several days to hours. One of the focal points of the Optichem-based BACcelr8r platform
is its capability to determine the antibiotic resistance of the specific microorganism. This feature would allow doctors to
determine the most effective anti-biotic to be used – an important consideration in today’s crisis ridden world
of anti-biotic resistant microorganisms. OptiChem-coated microarray slides are already on the market and have been licensed
to Shott Nexterion (Schott Jenaer Glas GmbH, Jena, Germany)
FEBRUARY 2, 2005
Agilent Acquires Microarray Company
Agilent
announced today that it has acquired Computational Biology Corp. Along with the acquisition, Agilent acquired access to Computational’s license to use the Whitehead Institute’s Protein-DNA interaction patent. The
United States
patent, Chromosome-Wide Analysis of Protein-DNA Interactions, is docketed as U.S. patent number 6,410,243.
Agilent's
Integrated Biology Solutions business, as well as technology through Agilent’s acquisition
of Silicon Genetics, will be called on for the development of Computational Biology’s technology. With Computational’s
technology, Agilent plans to discover how regulatory proteins control gene activity and function. The microarray technology acquired from Computational is expected to be pivotal in the determination of
how disease effects regulatory proteins and hence DNA’s capability to cope with disease.
JANUARY 26th, 2005
In Other Biochip News
Sysmex Corp. announced that it has developed a multi protein analysis chip which can monitor 20 types of proteins in
the blood. This type of analysis can be used to help prevent cancer cell growth.
JANUARY 26th, 2005
Biochip Market Marker In
Affymetrix Inc., the well-known leader of the biochip market, announced revenues for 2004 and its fourth quarter ended
December 31st, 2004. The company’s year-over-year revenue increased to $346.0 million from $300.8 million in 2003. The
company’s fourth quarter came in at $107.7 million, significantly above the $89.2 million in last year’s fourth
quarter. Affymetrix’s sales for its third quarter, 2004, wer
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