Eye on the Future
DNA Diagnostic Device
DNA diagnosis could soon make possible customized medical treatment.
Targeting practical application in the near future, Canon U.S. Life Sciences conducts verification experiments on a daily basis.
CMOS image sensors, featured in EOS cameras, are used to capture DNA.
DNA and reagents are put into a cartridge and heated, enabling the amplification of the DNA for testing.
What if you could take precautions to avoid future illnesses? What if side effects from drugs could be anticipated and avoided?
In the U.S., which stands at the forefront of genetic diagnosis, DNA testing is starting to challenge even conventional healthcare wisdom.
There are, however, numerous restrictions, such as the high cost of testing, the limited amount of information that a single test yields, and the time required for test results. Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc., headquartered in Maryland, home to one of the top “biotechnology clusters” in the United States, conducts R&D in DNA diagnostic systems. The company plays a key role in Canon's new medical business domain.
Applying heater technology employed in the company's inkjet printers, which can produce heat instantaneously, Canon is developing a system that will enable DNA amplification, an essential part of DNA testing, at speeds never before achieved. Bringing together various Canon imaging technologies, the system also makes use of the CMOS image sensors found in Canon digital cameras, which deliver high-sensitivity performance to capture DNA reactions.
Currently, even the simplest DNA tests take approximately one hour, but the practical application of this system could reduce the time to less than 15 minutes while enabling the testing of up to eight patients at once.
Access to genetic diagnosis would not only enable the prediction of the effectiveness and side effects of drugs, but also open new doors to “order-made treatments” with each patient receiving the optimum combination of treatment and medication.
More importantly, knowledge of one's susceptibility to certain diseases would allow preventive measures to be taken at an early stage.
The development of DNA diagnostic systems and our aim to establish related business in the U.S. represents an important step in the realization of Canon's Three Regional Headquarters management system encompassing Japan, America and Europe.
Through continued research and development in this vital field, Canon aims to advance this technology, making genetic testing more accessible to all.
