News

News

Sysmex Super-Resolution Fluorescence Microscope Wins Good Design Gold Award 2017

Sysmex Corporation (HQ: Kobe, Japan; Chairman and CEO: Hisashi Ietsugu) announces its receipt of the Good Design Gold Award 2017 (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Award) for its super-resolution fluorescence microscope in the Good Design Award 2017, sponsored by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP).

To clarify causes of disease, Sysmex has developed, and is working toward commercialization of, a super-resolution fluorescence microscope*, which enables detailed observation of the morphology of proteins measuring only tens of nanometers, as well as of genes and internal cell structures. This technology is being used in joint research with Eisai Co., Ltd., involving the creation of a next-generation diagnostic drug for Alzheimer’s disease. 

Sysmex received the Good Design Gold Award 2017 for its super-resolution fluorescence microscope developed for research use. Out of this year’s 4,495 applications from Japan and overseas, 1,403 received awards, of which 19 were Good Design Gold Awards. 

This marks Sysmex’s second time to receive a gold award, the first being in 2011, when the Company received an award for an “in vitro diagnostic system and approach to its design” for the Silent Design™** design concept. This design concept was also applied to the super-resolution fluorescence microscope.

In addition to its functionality, specific areas in which the product was considered superior, and therefore selected for the Good Design Gold Award, included the fact that it needs less dedicated space than conventional super-resolution fluorescence microscopes and does not require a specialized environment such as a darkroom, enabling its introduction at facilities where installing those conventional microscopes are problematic. In addition, the product earned high marks for its exterior design, which is simple and evokes a sense of innovation. We plan to commence sales of this product in the spring of 2018. 

Going forward, Sysmex will continue working to provide customers with high-value-added products and those that contribute to healthcare based on the Silent Design™ design concept. 


 

Overview of Award-Winner

Award-winning item: Microscope [super-resolution fluorescence microscope]
Designer: Product design: Fumie Shibata (representative, Design Studio S)
UI design: Soft Device Inc.
Judges’ comments: This design goes beyond the image of a conventional microscope. Its display unit slides away to reveal the sample placement unit, which seems futuristic. The sample placement unit, optical unit and display unit have an integrated form that is sparing and attractive. No darkroom, which was previously required for super-resolution microscopes, is needed, so the design lends a sense of innovation to the working environment. 
Website of award-winning item:  http://www.g-mark.org/award/describe/45483?token=ElK0SBF5aT&locale=en
 

Product Receiving Award
Name: Single Molecule Fluorescence Microscope for Research Use HM-1000
This product is not currently available for sale. Until it is offered for sale, it can be used for research.
Product website: http://sysmex-is.jp/products/hm-1000/ (Japanese only)
Product photos:  

 






The monitor slides to the side, 
allowing samples to be set easily. 
Compact and requiring little space,
this product does not require a darkroom.
About the Good Design Award
 

The Good Design Award is a comprehensive design-promotion system that recognizes “good design”, both tangible and intangible, and aims to enrich our lives, industries, and society as a whole by highlighting and celebrating these works. It is hosted by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion. Its precursor, the Good Design Selection System (or G Mark System), was founded in 1957 by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (currently the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry). Please refer to the Good Design Award website for details. (http://www.g-mark.org/)


Terminology
  *

Super-resolution fluorescence microscope:
By combining technology for detecting molecules using fluroescent dyes with image analysis technology, this microscope makes it possible to see items that cannot be seen with conventional fluorescence microscopes, including proteins measuring only tens of nanometers and the structural elements inside cells. This microscope is expected to contribute to a variety of fields, such as cancer research and regenerative medicine. 
 

  ** Silent Design™:
Silent Design is the fusion of product design and technology, developed with users and their workplace in mind. Silent Design is simple, but pays great attention to detail.
  • Information contained in the news release is current as of the date of the announcement,
    but may be subject to change without prior notice.

Back to "News"