Title
Blood Glucose Analysis
Microsystem Technology for Decentralised Glucose Analysis Based on reusable biosensors
Technologies used

Microsystems

Industrial sector (PRODCOM code)
    331 Instruments and Appliances for medical equipment
Abstract
Bio Sensor Technologie GmbH (BST) is a small company with actually 10 employees specialised in the field of membrane based biosensors.

Founded in 1991, Bio Sensor Technologie GmbH (BST) is the market leader with respect to commercialisation of enzyme membranes for biosensor based devices in Europe and one of the very few companies in that area world-wide. BST is highly experienced in biosensor based prototype development since the early eighties. The basic know-how and the outstanding sensor developments are covered by more than 20 patents.

Since 1982 more than 20 different types of analysers have been brought on the market by various companies based on BST biosensors. Partners and clients of BST are coming from all over the world, e.g., EPPENDORF-NETHELER-HINZ GmbH Hamburg/Germany; BAS BIO ANALYTICAL SYSTEMS, West Lafayette/USA; MICROsense Ltd. Shanghai/China. The current production scale is about 25.000 biosensors per year. More than 600 publications and reviews originate from the co-operation of the company and academic parts of Germany, Europe, USA and Asia.

Products of BST are biosensors based on membrane type electrodes for various substrates, e.g. glucose, lactate, lactose, urea, amino acids, neurotransmitters and consumables for biosensor applications (buffer solutions, calibrating solutions, quality control). Furthermore BST offers concepts, development and optimisation of enzyme and immunosensors based on electrochemical and optical transducers as well as optimised measuring cells and prototypes for biosensor applications.

The objective of the AE is the improvement of biosensor technology: Membrane type biosensors should be substituted by micro-system technology based thick-film biosensors, characterised by a new functionality. The reasons for the AE are given by the situation of the market on decentralised analysers today, which is described by:
1. Expensive one-way sensors of low quality
2. Heavy weight analysers with big size
3. One-way strips with restricted applicability and reliability

The new product is base on Microsystems technology and realised by a combination of thick-film technology with polymer membrane technology.

The improved features of the new type transducer for biosensors are:
· Reduced risk / improved safety for customers using pathological samples
· Improved handling (combination transducer-membrane by final customer not necessary)
· Reduced size and weight
· Potential mass production

The defined application field is the decentralised glucose analysis in doctor offices and patient self control.

Besides the product and economic benefits the company realises benefits in knowledge transfer on micro-system and thick-film technologies.

Assuming a series production of 17.000 sensors in the first year after completion of the market introduction and an increase of the additional turnover of 500% in the year after, the payback period of the Application Experiment costs will be about 30 month. Estimating a lifetime of the product of 5 years and a profit of 20 % from the achieved turnover the ROI will be about 175 %.

The AE duration was 10 months and funded with 96 kEUR. An additional investment of about 125 kEUR for the industrialisation is required from the company.
Company

BST Bio Sensor Technologie GmbH
Buchholzer Strasse 55 - 61
D - 13156 Berlin

Detailed information
You can also benefit from microelectronics

Microsystems technology provided BST Bio Sensor Technologie GmbH with the means of improving its products and enhancing its market position. You can also achieve significant benefits by acquiring the right microelectronics technology and utilising it in your product or manufacturing process. You can get help from FUSE to realise this.

FUSE is a technology transfer programme, funded by the European Commission to stimulate the wider use of microelectronics technologies by European enterprises to increase their competitiveness and enhance their economic growth. The demonstrator described here is one of many examples in the public FUSE portfolio covering the whole spectrum of microelectronics technologies and spanning a wide range of applications and industry sectors.

FUSE provides you with:

  • Best practice in acquiring specific microelectronics technologies and conducting full development projects through the FUSE portfolio of real life demonstrator documents.
  • Local training and expert support to plan your innovation realistically and help you conduct your project successfully.

Further information and support relating to this and other demonstrators can be obtained from the addresses below.
Further information   Guiding Technology Transfer Node
For further information and support regarding this case study, please contact a Technology Transfer Node (TTN) in your region.
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