PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Lab-on-a-chip technology entered commercial reality today as Hewlett-Packard Co. introduced what it said was the first product of this type: the HP 2100 bioanalyzer for the integrated analysis of nucleic acids (the components of DNA).
The bioanalyzer is based LabChip technology from Caliper Technologies Corp.; the two Palo Alto-based companies announced their collaboration last year (see May 1998 story).
The HP 2100 marks a major step toward the development of a completely automated microscale laboratory, HP said. In this lab-on-a-chip, all sample preparation, fluid handling and biochemical analysis steps will be carried out within the confines of a microchip. Such chips comprise microchannels fabricated in glass, plastic or other substrates that create interconnected networks of fluid reservoirs and pathways.
Used together with various LabChip kits, the HP 2100 bioanalyzer improves the quality of nucleic acid analysis by integrating sample handling, separation, detection and digital data processing within a single, compact system architecture. The system is designed for use by molecular biologists and biochemists working with polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) products, restriction enzyme digests or ribonucleic acid (RNA) preparations.
Researchers in the areas of disease and drug discovery currently face manual-processing bottlenecks during the analysis of nucleic acids. LabChip technology offers many benefits over existing manual gel electrophoresis products, including improved accuracy, faster analysis, and better reproducibility of results.
The HP 2100 bioanalyzer is initially available in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. The price of the complete system is $18,800.
RSS
Digital
10 emerging technologies to watch:
EE Times has compiled a list of emerging technologies that we think will be worth watching out for in 2010. Biofeedback or thought-control of electronics are among the contenders.
Hot applications in 2010:
We've compiled a list of 10 technology applications you should watch for in 2010, ranging from e-book readers to 3-D TVs. We examine the features that make these apps so compelling as well unresolved issues.
Top 25 predictions for semis in 2010:
2010 is just beginning to unfold in the electronics industry. Looking into our crystal ball, we have released our own chip forecasts--and other predictions--for 2010.
Seven things to fix in 2010:
The editors of EE Times came up with their own informal list of things we hope engineers fix in 2010, spanning everything from nano-lithography to space travel. What do you want to see get done this year?
'09 moves that are shaping the future:
This was a brutal year, but the industry gets a nod for showing grace under fire. Here's our Top 10 guide to the coming year, illustrating what to expect in 2010.
10 CEOs out in 2009:
It's been a tough year for the global electronics industry and CEOs. We survey the dismissal of 10 industry CEOs during the first three quarters of 2009 and what's ahead for the rest of the year.
Notable women in microelectronics:
There is no better time than a global economic recession to examine the keys to successful corporate governance. So, EE Times has compiled an international list that celebrates women who are business and technology leaders in semis.
EE Times updates Silicon 60:
Seventeen companies have been added to the lastest version of our Silicon 60 list of emerging startups. Forty-three companies survived as emerging companies that are still worth watching.
RSS| 
Digital| 
Mobile
