NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) — Canon US Life Sciences, a division of Canon USA, today said it is using Caliper Life Sciences’ LabChip microfluidics technology and thermal analysis to develop genetic screening and diagnostic products.
Canon said it will use the technologies to shorten processing time and reduce the cost of gene diagnosis, and to enable rapid previews of genes for clinical use.
The microfluidics technology uses nanoliter-sized patient samples while the thermal melting analysis enables researchers to detect minute differences in specific genes. Canon said it expects these platforms to more precisely diagnose and screen samples.
Canon said it hopes to use its optics and sensor technology in the future to develop life sciences technologies.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Canon said it will present more information about the research at the International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences in Tokyo next week.
Last year shareholders of the camera and optics giant gave the company the green light to enter the microarray market and eventually become an in vitro diagnostics player.
As reported at the time by GenomeWeb News sister publication BioArray News, the shareholders approved an amendment to the firm's articles of incorporation that will enable Canon to move forward with its plans to produce and commercialize its own line of DNA chips.