Sony today announced that it has acquired U.S.-based venture corporation Micronics, Inc. through its wholly owned subsidiary, U.S.-based Sony Corporation of America.

Micronics, Inc. is involved in the research and development of near patient Point of Care devices for disease diagnosis, treatment monitoring and blood testing, and also provides product development for third-party clients. Sony has acquired Micronics, Inc. to accelerate its own research and development, particularly for Point of Care diagnostic equipment, as well as to accelerate the commercialization of these products.

Near patient Point of Care diagnosis refers to the ability to facilitate rapid and accurate results via testing that can be performed in a physician?s office, emergency room, or patient?s hospital bedside, rather than having to send a patient?s specimen(s) to an off-site laboratory.

Micronics will be a wholly owned subsidiary of SCA, and will work with the relevant division, including Sony's life sciences R & D team, to jointly develop technologies and new products. The company will continue to operate in Redmond under the current Micronics management team, headed by President Karen Hedine.