STMicroelectronics Readies MEMS-Based Disease Diagnostic Chip for Personalized
Medicine Market – Interfaces to Home PC
STMicroelectronics, a semiconductor companies with revenue of $8.76
billion in 2004, through its Microfluidic Division has reported on the development of a DNA based analysis MEMS chip. The
new chip is expected to be the basis for a PC compatible portable device platform called In-Check.
The chip and interface is the result of a long-standing relationship
between STMicroelectronics and Mobidiag, a bioassay company. Anton Hofmeister, Group Vice-President and General Manager for
STMicroelectronics Microfluidic Division emphasized the affordability of the new device. "We believe that affordable, user-friendly,
and portable devices like the In-Check are set to make a critical difference in a growing number of diagnostic applications."
Noting that the In-Check system will speed and improve healthcare
was Jaakko Pellosniemi, CEO of Mobidiag "Early detection of systemic bacterial infections is essential for the successful
management of antibiotic therapy, and we look forward to addressing the needs of laboratories that perform millions of blood
cultures every year in our target markets. The In-Check platform is ideally suited to exploit the advantages of Mobidiag's
unique diagnostic microbiological panels. Our product will markedly improve the quality of treatment choices, leading to better
patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs."
In-Check is expected to offer a much more reliable solution at a
lower cost than typical laboratory systems used today. The platform has been designed to enable the fast analysis of bacteria
and to enable the correct and best selection of an antibiotic to fight specific bacteria. A pathogen panel developed by Mobidiag
is used to identify sepsis-causing bacterial species and the methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus.
Mr. Hofmeister also spoke about the MEMS and biological technology
used to build the chip, "The unique combination of ST's leading-edge semiconductor and MEMS expertise with Mobidiag's know-how
in microbiological diagnostics opens new possibilities for effective detection and treatment of infectious diseases at the
point of need."
ST’s lab-on-chip platform amplifies DNA samples through the
popular Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The MEMS based solution contains a microarray along with microreactors that are within
the MEMS chip. The sample (often a blood sample from the patient) along with reagents are circulated through the MEMS’
microreactors and are heated with on-chip heating elements (resistors) to perform the needed PCR temperature cycling. To further
control the miniature, self-contained reaction, the lab-on-chip interfaces to a Thermal Control System that monitors and adjusts
parameters to optimize the reaction. The platform also performs optical signal acquisition that is processed with STMicroelectronics’
bioinformatics software.
The chips still have a few milestones to cross before reaching the
market. Presently the first In-Check lab-on-chips need to be validated by Mobidiag. Clinical trials are planned for early
2006 and the resulting platform with software scheduled for launch later in that year.
