RFID in Japan

Hitachi unveiled a small (2.5cm x 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm) water registant device that integrates a DNA sensor and a RFID transponder.

The device can detect differences of genes among people (SNP) more easily than DNA chips and would be useful for quickly determining effectiveness of certain drugs by testing blood or sputum samples. This device could potentially be used to provide personalized medical services and the company plans to commercialize it in 5 years.

The DNA sensor actually senses light. When a doctor drops reagent and the device in a test sample (from a person's blood), the reagent reacts with a specific SNP, producing a small amount of light. The light sensor detects this light, which can be informed to a reader device through the RFID transponder. Multiple SNPs can be checked at once.

via Nikkei Shimbun, February 10, in Japanese

Posted by konomi at February 11, 2005 12:48 AM | TrackBack