Sysmex Corporation (HQ: Kobe, Japan; Chairman and CEO: Hisashi Ietsugu) received several awards at the 2015 Kinki Local Commendation for Inventions, sponsored by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation. Local commendations for inventions, which are awarded to inventors who create superior technologies and designs, have a history dating back to 1921.
We received “The Encouragement Prize of the Commissioner of Japan Patent Office” for the “Sample Analyzer (Design Registration Number: 1419306).” This prize accords a high rating to the XN-Series fully automated hematology analyzer, created using the Silent Design® concept, which represents a fundamental revision of product design, including usability.
Going forward, Sysmex aims to reduce the burden on patients and contribute to increases in the quality of testing. At the same time, we aim to develop superior technologies that instill customers with confidence.
Our Award-Winning Inventions
(1) The Encouragement Prize of the Commissioner of Japan Patent Office
Design: Sample Analyzer (Design Registration Number: 1419306)
This design, which relates to a sample analyzer used by clinical labs to analyze blood specimens, is employed in our flagship product, the XN-Series fully automated hematology analyzer.
In addition to improved functionality and performance, the evolution of the Silent Design® concept employed in the XN-Series fully automated hematology analyzer represents a fundamental revision in product design, including usability, with the aim of enhancing lab environments and reducing the burden on clinical laboratory technologists. This human-centered design, which takes clinical laboratory technologists’ motions into account, achieves more accurate and faster in vitro diagnostics (IVD) and contributes to improved patient quality of life (QOL).
This design also received the “Invention Implementation Achievement Award,” which is given to the representatives of companies recognized for their outstanding achievements in practical applications. In addition, this design received the “Good Design Award” in Japan in 2011 and the globally authoritative “iF product design award 2013” in Germany, as well as the “German Design Award.”
(2) The Encouragement Prize for Invention
Invention: Bacteria Detection Method and Reagent (Patent Number: 3837006)
This invention relates to a bacteria detection method and reagent for determining the number of bacteria within urine specimens to a high degree of accuracy. A reagent made from a diluted solution with an acidic pH that includes inorganic salts and cationic surfactants and a staining solution that includes dye is used to stain bacteria, and these bacteria are detected using a flow cytometer. As a result, even if the specimen contains crystals, amorphous salts, cell debris and other impurities, the invention enables the highly accurate detection of bacteria in the urine in only one minute.
This invention is used on the UF-1000i, UF-500i, UX-2000, UFII SEARCH-BAC, UFII PACK-BAC, UXII SEARCH-BAC and UXII PACK-BAC.
Invention: Flow Cytometer (Patent Number: 4763159)
This invention relates to a flow cytometer used for the particle analysis of circulating blood cells and formed elements in the urine.
Conventional flow cytometers use slits to block out a portion of the laser beam emitted by a laser light source, which reduces the usage efficiency of the light source. This invention uses the combination of a condenser lens and a cylindrical lens to adjust the light beam’s focus. As a result, the light from the laser source is employed more effectively without using slits. Consequently, particles can be measured with a higher level of sensitivity and accuracy.
This invention is used on the UF-1000i, UF-500i, UX-2000, XN-Series, XN-L-Series and LC-1000.
Invention: Hematology Analyzer (Patent Number: 4745030)
This invention relates to a fully automated hematology analyzer capable of determining the number of red blood cells and the types of white blood cells. By employing an avalanche photodiode as the photodetector for measuring white blood cells, the invention allows for a substantially more compact instrument.
This invention is used on the XS-Series, XN-Series and ProCyte Dx.
History of Kinki Local Commendation for Inventions Awards Received (Past Five Years)