Members' Profiles

Nano Device and System
Research, Inc.orporation

1. The Challenge of Micro- and NanomachineTechnology
Nano Device and System Research, Inc.orporation(NanodeS) is a venture company established on April 2, 2001. A
primary activity of Nanodes is to cultivate applications based on
the development of practical micromachine (MEMS)
technologies. NanodeS also plans to pursue nanodevices, which
are anticipated to be a key technology of the 21st century.
Susumu Sugiyama, the CEO of NanodeS who serves concurrently
as a professor at Ritsumeikan University and is a specialist inMEMS, has been working closely with the university on
nanodevice research. Professor Sugiyama has achieved
nanolithography using the university's synchrotron for irradiating
soft X-rays. By making good use of this technology, it will bepossible to develop devices capable of functioning at nano level.

Yoshikazu Tobinaga
COO

is most suitable for use in robotic arms performing complex
movements, or in fluid sensors. Capturing subtle human movements
may also be feasible.

Six-axis accelerometer developed at Ritsumeikan
UniversityThe synchrotron at Ritsumeikan University, having apeak wavelength of 1.5 nm(2) Developing Nanodevices
Although fine machining at nano has been achieved through X-ray
lithography using a synchrotron, NanodeS is attempting to develop ananogap biosensor. A biochip sensor grips a single strand of DNA
within a nanogap and evaluates the electrical characteristics of thestrand by applying an electrical bias.

2. Micro- and Nanomachine Technology

3. Future Challenges

MEMS can be broadly categorized as sensors incorporating signals
from the environment and the like and actuators for driving
something. Because current sensors can achieve functionalitythrough a more simple construction than actuators, there have been
more advances in the development of sensors. Our company has also
focused on the development of sensors. Specifically, sensors include
accelerometers, biosensors, and pressure sensors.
(1) Developing Applications for Existing MEMS
NanodeS is primarily focusing on MEMS devices researched at
Ritsumeikan University and their application development. At
present, we have nearly completed the development of a six-axis
accelerometer and are now searching for partners to conduct joint
research aimed at the commercialization of these sensors. Due to its
ability to sense rotational movement in particular, this accelerometer

Products are employed in closer proximity to our bodies as thefunctional dimensions of the products grow smaller, as in theprogression of buildings on the order of meters, automobiles on theorder of centimeters, home appliances on the order of millimeters,
and computers and cell phones on the order of micrometers. So
what will happen when we make the next step to nanometers?
Perhaps products on this order will cross the periphery of ourbodies and be used therein, as in the field of drug delivery systems,
for example. Certainly sensors capable of monitoring activity inliving bodies like this will flourish in the next generation. Whilecurrent techniques focus on extracting biological tissue andmaterials for measurements, future sensors will be capable ofperforming direct and noninvasive measurements of living bodytissue. It is for this that we are preparing.

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