November 6, 2019
Panasonic Co., Ltd.
Institute of Microchemical Technology Co., Ltd.

NEWS RELEASEFirst in the Industry*1 - Development of Mass Production Technologyfor Microfluidic Devices by Glass Molding
Osaka/Kawasaki, Japan - Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic) and Institute of Microchemical Technology
Co., Ltd. (IMT) jointly developed a technology for mass production of microfluidic devices *2 using a glassmolding. Compared to the conventional glass etching method, this technology realizes low cost (about1/10) and highly accurate (about 10 times) mass production. These devices can be applied to sensing andanalysis for medical, biological, environmental (water and air quality) applications, etc. The companies will
start accepting prototype orders from FY2019, and are planning to start mass production from FY2020.
Panasonic and IMT will present and exhibit this device at the 40th meeting of Society for Chemistry andMicro-Nano Systems (CHEMINAS 40th) held at Act City Hamamatsu in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka
Prefecture, from November 19th to 21st.
■ EffectConventional glass microfluidic devices have not been widely used, because of high cost and poor
precision. This development achieved mass production and cost reduction of glass microfluidic devices bycombining IMT's microfluidic device design technology and Panasonic's glass molding technology. As aresult, disposable use of glass microfluidic devices becomes possible. In addition, by realizing highprecision, it is easy to incorporate the device as a part of equipment and systems.
■ Application
By taking advantage of the environmental and chemical resistance of glass microfluidic devices, it can beapplied to environmental sensing, blood testing, and pharmaceutical equipment as disposable detection
devices for analysis and testing in outdoor and harsh environments.
■ Characteristic
The newly developed microfluidic device has the following features.
1.

Up to φ50mm size

2.

More than 10,000 devices per month of production capacity

3. Manufacturing process with the shape precision of about 1μm■ Technology
This development is realized by the following technologies.
(1) Design and interface technology of microfluidic device optimized for glass molding(2) Microstructure mold processing technology to higher hardness material and microstructural glass
molding technology to precisely transfer to glass(3) Thermal bonding technology to join a flat glass plate and a plate with microstructures.
【Inquiries for prototypes】

Institute of Microchemical Technology Co., Ltd.

Email: info@i-mt.co.jp

Tel: 044-201-9889

Notes:*1: As of November 6, 2019, Panasonic survey*2: A device that can perform various chemical processes (mixing, reaction, extraction, synthesis, detection) in a minute flow pathwith a small amount and high efficiency by flowing liquid through a groove with a width and depth of several hundreds ofmicrometers.

■ Background
General microfluidic device made of glass used in microfluidics technology [1] is mainly produced byetching techniques. After drawing the flow path pattern by photolithography, the glass flow path is formedby etching, and the cover glass with the machined introduction hole is bonded. Since the inception of thisfield, IMT has provided high-level products as a pioneer in the planning, design and manufacture of glass
microfluidic devices. However, in addition to the skill required for manual manufacturing, themanufacturing process took several months. For this reason, the manufacturing time and cost per piece
became a hurdle, and generalization and industrial mounting were not realized, and the use was limited
mainly to basic research applications.
On the other hand, Panasonic has been developing and manufacturing glass molding technology [2] fromthe 1980s, that has contributed to the commercialization of the world's highest level of optical device.
They are used in lenses for various optical devices, like digital still cameras.
By combining Panasonic's glass molding technology and IMT design technology, it became possible todevelop microstructure mold machining technology, molding technology, and joining technology suitable
for mass production of microfluidic devices using glass molding technology. The companies havesucceeded in developing mass production technology for microfluidic devices. As a result, it is possible toreduce the cost to about 1/10 compared to the conventional manufacturing method, and to supply glass
microfluidic devices with improved precision 10 times or more in less than half the delivery time.
■ Practical realization
With the development of mass production technology for microfluidic devices [3] using this glass molding
technology, glass microfluidic devices are widely used as disposable detection devices for analysis andtesting in outdoor and harsh environments, and for disposable devices for blood testing equipment.
■ About PanasonicPanasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies andsolutions for customers in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, and B2B businesses. Thecompany, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018, has expanded globally and now operates 582
subsidiaries and 87 associated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of 8.003 trillion yen
for the year ended March 31, 2019. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisionallines, the company uses its technologies to create a better life and a better world for its customers. To learn
more about Panasonic: https://www.panasonic.com/global■ About Institute of Microchemical Technology
IMT is a pioneer company of microchemical chip technology (microfluidics) and was founded in 2001 as aventure company of the University of Tokyo and Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology(formerly Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology).
IMT manufactures and sells microchemical chips, their peripheral equipment and system devices.
Company Name: Institute of Microchemical Technology Co., Ltd (IMT)Capital: 100M JPY
Foundation: May 1st, 2001Address: A-19 AIRBIC, 7-7 Shinkawasaki, Saiwai, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 212-0032 Japan
TEL: +81-44-201-9889 FAX: +81-44-201-9890
HP: https://www.i-mt.co.jp/en/Contacts

Institute of Microchemical Technology Co., Ltd (IMT)TEL： +81-44-201-9889

E-mail： info@i-mt.co.jp

【Explanation of terms】[1] Microfluidic device technology
This technology integrates chemical
processes such as mixing, reaction,separation, extraction, synthesis, anddetection in a flow channel of several
tens to several hundreds of μm
created on a substrate (microfluidicdevice) of several cm square.
By freely integrating chemical
processes that have been performedin laboratories and factories in themicrospace of microfluidic devices, it
becomes possible to use energy andspace much more efficiently.
It is expected to contribute greatly tothe evolution of chemical technology inthe future.
This chemical process integration
technology (microfluidic technology) in
the micro space was established as aresult of research and development of the Kitamori “Integrated Chemistry” project. The project was carried out at
Kitamori Lab., Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, andKanagawa Academy of Science and Technology (currently Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science andTechnology).

[2] Glass molding technology (mold machining technology, mold protection coating technology, moldingtechnology)

[3] Application examples of microfluidic devices using glass molding technology
・Application example 1: Water quality inspection device

・Application example 2: General-purpose device

・Application Example 3: Genetic testing device