Canon pictures a future in biotech

Well-known for its cameras and office equipment, Japanese manufacturer Canon plans to branch out into the biotechnology business by commercializing DNA chips for use in medical diagnosis. The company has conducted biotechnology research over the past several year using core technology knowledge gained from its office equipment development. As part of its research effort, Canon is developing systems for mass production of DNA chips using the bubble jet technology it employs in its printers. The aim is to mass-produce more cheaply than with existing technology DNA chips that are used for diagnosing cancer and infectious diseases.

Existing DNA chips are expensive with uses generally limited to biological and chemical basic research using genetic analysis. It is expected, however, that demand for the chips will grow as medical institutions and drug makers look to identify genes associated with certain diseases and begin spending more resources to develop genome-based drugs. The Japanese DNA chip market is predicted to double by 2010.covery from that surgery can take as long as six months – three of them in a back brace – while vertebrae grow together to form one long bone.

William Taylor, M.D., of the University of California at San Diego, is one of a few surgeons nationwide trained to replace diseased discs with implanted artificial discs. "By implanting an artificial disc instead of fusing the spine, the patient has more mobility after surgery," he says. "The patient doesn't lose spinal function and is able to return to normal activities much more quickly because there's no waiting for a fusion to heal."market trendsCircle 24