OLYMPUS TECHNOZONE Vol.67 2006-11
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INDEX
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The Father of the PK Series
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PK7000
This was a prototype automatic transfusion testing system. It was developed to carry out automatic testing in five categories: ABO typing, Rh typing, irregular antibodies, HBs antigens, and syphilis antibodies. This prototype system was evaluated at blood centers in various parts of Japan, including Hokkaido. |
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PK7100
This automatic transfusion blood testing system was installed at blood centers throughout Japan, starting with the Hokkaido Center in 1985. It could carry out 240 tests per hour. The flexibility of the channels used in testing was increased to allow the system to be used in other countries, where the number of test items was greater than in Japan. |
In recent years, there has been an upsurge of activity based on industry-academia or industry-government cooperation. From what I've heard today, the PK series development was an early example of this approach.
I'd like to look at another issue now. In recent times, few world-standard technologies have originated in Japan, and imports have tended to exceed exports, especially in the medical field. One of the few exceptions is the medical endoscopes made by Olympus. In this sense, I believe that we can feel proud of the PK Series, which originated in Japan and is now used worldwide.
Indeed. You should feel very proud. In the PK7100, we had a single system that can automatically perform blood typing and detect infectious disease markers. Olympus wasn't alone in wanting this system to be used widely. We wanted that, too. We encouraged all blood centers in Japan to install PK Series systems.
You can't expect a product to become the standard unless you are really determined to promote its use.
I think we helped by repeatedly describing the advantages of the PK Series in conference presentations and papers. The cumulative result was recognition of the PK Series even by blood centers that had initially been skeptical about automated blood testing. As an organization that has actively accepted trainees from other countries, I believe that we have also helped to promote the PK Series overseas.
As the trainees go home, they take knowledge about the PK Series to more and more countries. This is another form of human resource development.
Whenever Dr. Sekiguchi went overseas, he always took information about the PK Series with him and was always ready to give a presentation. In Europe they called him the "father of the PK Series."
The development of enhanced PK Series systems occurred just at a time when the industry was striving to improve the safety of blood transfusions. This timing accelerated the spread of the technology.
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