New electrochemical detection technique revolutionizes medical diagnostics

27-Sep-2001

The Medical Solutions (Med) business unit of Siemens AG and november AG jointly develop a new biotechnological device for human medical diagnostics. A corresponding contract was signed. The new diagnostic system can be described as an automated miniature laboratory which will enable faster on-site diagnosis, for example in a doctor's surgery. The device replaces manual operations in the laboratory and tests urine, saliva and blood samples on pathogens such as hepatitis viruses or cancer cells. Based on one of november AG's technologies ("Lab-on-a-Strip"), expensive and technically complex optical DNA analysis methods are replaced by cost-efficient electrochemical detection. The new automatic diagnosis process uses charge and electrochemical characteristics of biomolecules, such as DNA. A small portion of blood suffices to detect pathogens such as hepatitis viruses or cancer cells within very short time. Product development will be carried out by Siemens and november AG on the basis of this technology. Market introduction of the technology is planned for the year 2003. Molecular diagnosis is a fast-growing market: experts expect a rise of currently approximately 3 billion US dollar to 5.5 billion US dollar in the year 2005. The new "miniature lab" allows the integration of all processing steps in a single device - from preparation of the patient's sample to the completed analysis. Today, these steps are executed at large external laboratories. Due to the compact design of the device, it can be used very flexibly within the preferred fields of resident doctors' surgeries as well as intensive care units, operating and newborn child units, and emergency rooms. Siemens Med broadens the spectrum of medical solutions in the disease-management-chain by a biotechnological diagnosis technique with the development and production of this easy-to-use device and thus supports the development of new therapies. To ensure optimum medical care in the field of diagnostics by effective and cost-efficient applications, Siemens Medical Solutions has been increasing investments into biotechnology, adding to its commitment to medical information technology. In the beginning of the year 2000, the company had already announced a financial participation in the biotech start-up peS diagnostiksysteme, Leipzig/Germany. The joint development thus completes the technological basis of Siemens AG in the field of Molecular Diagnosis by appropriating integrated nucleic-acid-diagnostics.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/4987/new-electrochemical-detection-technique-revolutionizes-medical-diagnostics.html