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You may be surprised to hear that ROHM, the company known for semiconductors, is also involved in bioscience. In fact, ROHM has been involved in R&D of bionics for more than five years and has achieved many successes. Of all our R&D projects, the development of a biochip for blood testing is getting particularly close to achieving practical application. Collecting only a single drop of blood and running it through a special testing device will make it possible to conduct a variety of blood tests in only a little more than ten minutes.
Conventional blood tests require a large-scale testing device. Since small clinics often outsource blood analysis to outside laboratories, several days are usually required to obtain results. ROHM’s biochip testing system contains a plastic chip several centimeters in size with various channels. A small amount of blood is separated using unique ROHM technology and tested with reagents inside the chip. Therefore, an examination requires only a biochip and a small and simple testing device that can be easily implemented in a clinic. Since drawing a single drop of blood causes minimum pain and results can be obtained in a little more than ten minutes, this technology can provide a proper diagnosis and can result in the issuance of a prescription on the spot.
In April 2008, Japan launched its New Health Check-up and Health Advice System, which marked the beginning of the country’s full-scale effort to reduce lifestyle diseases such as metabolic syndrome. The advancement of preventive medicine in this way increases the need for more convenient health diagnostic systems. By contributing to convenient and accurate testing, ROHM’s biochip answers such needs.
ROHM’s Nano Bionics Research and Development Center is engaged in various joint R&D initiatives with research institutes both inside and outside Japan. In addition to biochips for blood testing, current projects include research into genetic analysis and protein synthesis. At ROHM, we are conducting cutting-edge research by integrating the special expertise in photodetection and microscopic processing cultivated through our semiconductor development.
One example is our development of a biochip that detects odors. This is an example of a research project for a device that mimics a living organism. By developing a biochip that responds to specific odors, this project aims to apply the technology to environmental measurement, virus detection, health diagnosis, and early detection of cancer. Although this project is still in its primary research phase, once it is put into practical use, it will introduce a significant technological innovation to the fields of medicine and the environment.
