Sysmex Receives Invention Award in the 2017 National Commendation for Invention
Sysmex Corporation (HQ: Kobe, Japan; Chairman and CEO: Hisashi Ietsugu) has received the Invention Award in the National Commendation for Invention1, sponsored by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation, for its hematology analyzers that enables the rapid evaluation of the effects of administering iron preparations. The award ceremony is scheduled to be held in Tokyo on Monday, June 12.
The National Commendation for Invention was established in 1919 to contribute to the advancement of Japanese technology and the development of industry. Since then, the award has been presented to recognize distinguished achievements in invention and design, and for innovations that are considered to have strong potential for significant future success.
Sysmex has been given the Invention Award for its “Analyzer That Enables the Rapid Evaluation of the Effects of Administering Iron Preparations,” which contributes to the rapid determination of treatment methods for renal anemia.
Among patients with chronic kidney disease, particularly renal anemia that has been caused by complications from dialysis, anemia can be traced to reduced kidney function. This reduced function causes a decrease in the capacity to secrete the hormone erythropoietin, which stimulates the production of red blood cells. A prevalent treatment method involves administering erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) and iron to stimulate red blood cell production. However, the over-administration of iron can produce side effects. To prevent such over-administration, it is important to quickly evaluate how the administered iron affects red blood cell production.
To quickly evaluate the effect of iron administration on red blood cell production, the award-winning analyzer calculates the reticulocyte hemoglobin2 equivalent (RET-He), reticulocytes being cells at the stage prior to red blood cell maturation. With this invention, cell groups of reticulocytes are classified based on the scattered light caused when biological blood specimens are irradiated with light. The average value of the scattering intensity of reticulocytes contained in the cell groups is obtained, and this value is used to determine the volume of RET-He.
The RET-He calculated using the award-winning instrument contributes to rapidly determine treatment methods for chronic kidney disease patients with renal anemia, particularly dialysis patients. Quickly evaluating the effects of administering iron preparations can help prevent the over-administration of iron. Such evaluation is also useful in evaluating ESA administration, thereby preventing more ESA than necessary being administered and reducing healthcare costs.
This invention is employed in Sysmex’s Automated Hematology Analyzer XT-2000, XT-4000, XE-2100 and XE-5000, as well as the XN-L-Series and the XN-Series. We provide these analyzers around with world, including in the United States, Europe, China and Southeast Asia.
Going forward, Sysmex will continue promoting technological development with the aim of increasing the quality and efficiency of testing. At the same time, we will pursue research and development aimed at providing high-value testing needed to provide healthcare that is optimized for individual patients.
Award Details
Name: 2017 National Commendation for Invention “Invention Award”
Invention: Analyzer That Enables the Rapid Evaluation of the Effects of Administering Iron Preparations
Recipients: Yoshiro Ikeuchi, Shinichiro Oguni, Daigo Fukuma, Masanori Imazu, Joachim Louisa Maria Linssen
Terminology
1. National Commendation for Invention:
The National Commendation for Invention, established in 1919 as the Imperial Commendation for Invention, has through the support of such organizations as the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry, the Japan Patent Office; Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation); the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Japan Patent Attorneys Association, been awarded to inventors, people who have succeeded in the practical application of inventions, people who have rendered distinguished services in the working of inventions and people who have encouraged innovation.
The sponsoring organization, the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation, has since its establishment in 1904 sought to contribute to the promotion and advancement of science and technology through activities that encourage invention and diffuse and develop the industrial property system.
2. Reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent:
The amount of hemoglobin in red blood cells is typically measured to determine the state of iron deficiency. However, measuring the amount of hemoglobin in red blood cells reflects the status up to several months before, making this approach unsuitable for determining the function of administering iron preparations in red blood cell production.
However, reticulocytes, which are cells at the stage before red blood cells mature, only exist in the blood for one to two days prior to maturity. By indicating the amount of hemoglobin in reticulocytes, the function of iron administration on red blood cell production can be evaluated quickly.
Information contained in the press release is current as of the date of the announcement, but may be subject to change without prior notice.
