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In accordance with our mission, “Shaping the advancement of healthcare,” as set out in the corporate philosophy of the Sysmex Group, we work to develop new technologies for the high-value-added products and services we provide to patients and customers.

In recognition of these efforts, in the 2017 Kinki Local Commendations for Inventions Sysmex received the Prize of the Director-General of the Kinki Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, a special award for one invention which also received the Invention Implementation Achievement Award, and the Encouragement Prize for Invention for three inventions. Local commendations for inventions, which are awarded to inventors who create superior technologies and designs and people who endeavor to put such inventions to practical application, have a history dating back to 1921.

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) Special Award: The Prize of the Director-General of the Kinki Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry

Submitted Invention:　Hematology Analyzer That Enhances Testing Productivity and Quality (Patent Registration Number: 5198095)
Recipients: Takaaki Nagai, Yuichi Hamada, Masaharu Shibata

This invention relates to a hematology analyzer used to measure and analyze samples of red, white, and other blood cells. With this invention, multiple test tubes stored in a single sample rack are automatically distributed and supplied to two hematology analyzers located adjacently. While one analyzer is measuring samples, test tubes can be transported to the second analyzer to allow samples to be measured, thereby achieving high-speed measurement. In addition, two analyzers can be used to automatically remeasure samples, contributing greatly to a reduction in labor.

This invention is used on the XN-Series automated hematology analyzers XN-2000, XN-3000, XN-3100 and XN-9100.

In addition to the special award, this invention received the “Invention Implementation Achievement Award,” which is given to the representatives of companies recognized for their outstanding achievements in practical applications.


Automated Hematology Analyzer XN-Series XN-2000, which uses the invention.

(2) Encouragement Prize for Invention

1) Submitted Invention: Blood Coagulation Analyzer That Facilitates the Simple Changing of Reagents (Patent Registration Number: 5009684)
Recipients: Nobuhiro Kitagawa, Shuhei Kaneko, Kyozo Fujita 

This invention relates to a blood coagulation analyzer that enables reagent containers to be changed by using a graphical user interface (GUI). With this invention, the status of reagent containers loaded into the instrument is shown on a display using a GUI, allowing users to change reagent containers in an intuitive manner.

This invention is used on the CS-Series automated coagulation analyzers CS-2000i, CS-2100i, CS-2400, CS-2500 and CS-5100.
 

2) Submitted Invention: System That Enables the Rapid Transport of Sample Racks (Patent Registration Number: 5638823)
Recipients: Hiroo Tatsutani, Hiroyuki Tanaka   

This invention relates to a system for transporting sample racks that store test tubes. By reducing the period during which sample racks stop temporarily between transport units, this invention enables the high-speed transport of sample racks, achieving a processing capacity of up to 2,400 samples per hour.

This invention is used on the XN-Series automated hematology analyzers XN-9000 and XN-9100. 

3) Submitted Invention: Highly Sensitive Immunoassay Method Using ALP (Patent Registration Number: 5137620)
Recipients: Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Takuya Odawara

This invention relates to chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay using alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The invention realizes highly sensitive measurement by enabling a sufficient functioning of inhibitors used to inhibit sample-derived endogenous ALP.

This invention is used in the HISCL Substrate Reagent Set, which is used for all measurement parameters in the HISCL-Series of automated immunoassay system, the HISCL-5000, HISCL-800 and HISCL-2000i. We also expect to use the invention for the ultrasensitive HISCL, based on the HISCL immunoassay analyzers.

History of Kinki Local Commendations for Innovation Awards Received (Past Five Years)

• 2016 Kinki Local Commendations for Inventions
  “Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Prize”: Rapid, High-Precision Platelet Measurement Method
  “The Encouragement Prize for Invention”: Analyzer for Managing Calibration Curves by Assigning IDs
  “The Encouragement Prize for Invention”: Management Method for Predicting the Malfunction of Clinical Testing Instruments
  “The Encouragement Prize for Invention”: Mutant Dockerin Polypeptide

• 2015 Kinki Local Commendations for Inventions
  “The Encouragement Prize of the Commissioner of Japan Patent Office”: Sample Analyzer
  “The Encouragement Prize for Inventions”: Bacteria Detection Method and Reagent
  “The Encouragement Prize for Inventions”: Flow Cytometer
  “The Encouragement Prize for Inventions”: Hematology Analyzer

• 2014 Kinki Local Commendations for Inventions
  “Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Encouragement Prize for Invention”: Reticulocyte Hemoglobin Analyzer
  “The Encouragement Prize for Invention”: System for Using 3D Motion Imaging to Display Operating Procedures
  “The Encouragement Prize for Invention”: Automatic Pipette Tip Supplier
  “The Encouragement Prize for Invention”: Amplification Inhibitor Detection Method Used in Nucleic Acid Amplification Analysis

• 2013 Kinki Local Commendations for Inventions
  “Chairman's Prize from the Hyogo Institute of Invention and Innovation”: Blood Coagulation Analyzer
  “The Encouragement Prize for Invention”: Reagent for Measuring D-dimer Using Monoclonal Antibodies
  “The Encouragement Prize for Invention”: Sampling Analyzer and Method for Promoting Standardized Reagents
  “The Encouragement Prize for Invention”: Microscope and Auto Focusing Method for a Microscope

• 2012 Kinki Local Commendations for Inventions
  “The Encouragement Prize of the President of Japan Patent Attorneys Association”: Method for Monitoring Suction of Liquid Sample
  “The Encouragement Prize for Invention”: Direct Nucleic Acid Amplification Method
  “The Encouragement Prize for Invention”: Sample Analyzer
  “The Encouragement Prize for Invention”: Reagent for Measuring White Blood Cell and Hemoglobin Concentration
   

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