The hygiene monitoring system “Lumitester Smart” was awarded for the Commissioner of Japan Patent Office Award and the Invention Implementation Achievement Award at the 2024 National Commendation of Invention

The design of Lumitester Smart, a luminometer for hygiene monitoring system jointly developed by Kikkoman Biochemifa Company (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Naoki Kajiyama; hereinafter "Kikkoman Biochemifa") and OPTEX Co.,Ltd. (Head office: Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture; President: Toru Kamimura; hereinafter "Optex"), won the Commissioner of Japan Patent Office Award and the Invention Implementation Achievement Award at 2024 National Commendation for Invention hosted by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation. The awards ceremony is scheduled to be held on Thursday, July 11th at the Okura Tokyo (Minato-ku, Tokyo).

Award-winning Invention

Jointly developed by Kikkoman Biochemifa and Optex

“Lumitester Smart” is a luminometer device that is designed for rapid hygiene monitoring. Utilizing the ATP test, this device, along with its dedicated swab (LuciPac) measures and quantifies invisible soil in food factories, restaurant kitchens, medical facilities. (*2) The concept of this design is a luminometer with “friendly design”, “high operability” and “advanced detection technology”, which all make hygiene management easy. Lumitester Smart has a simple, rounded shape without unevenness to evoke a friendly image to users. Flat surface with capacitive touch switch makes it easy to keep the device clean. In addition, the device can be operated with one hand, allowing you to open the top lid with one hand and insert the tester with other hand, as well as push out the stand with your finger on the handle side. Furthermore, all the functions are integrated into three buttons, enabling stable measurement and cloud collaboration by intuitive operation. Anyone can use it without awkward feeling often associated with state-of-art technologies. The measurement results are integrated with cloud services, enabling remote access and verification from any location. The design aims to facilitate hygiene management not only by trained professionals but also by anyone seeking a straightforward solution.

(*1) Invention Implementation Achievement Award is given to the representatives of the companies or organizations that hold the rights to the inventions they have made. In this case, the recipients were Kikkoman Corporation and OPTEX Co., Ltd..

(*2) ATP test is a testing method that measures the amount of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is present in many organic substances, including living organisms, as an indicator of contamination.

About the National Commendation for Inventions and the Commissioner of Japan Patent Office Award

For the purpose of contributing to the progress of science and technology and the development of industry, this Commendation has, since 1919, been held to commend persons who have accomplished extremely excellent inventions full of originality, persons who have rendered distinguished services in the working of inventions, and persons who have greatly contributed to the promotion of excellent technology and to the guidance and development of human resources. The Commissioner of Japan Patent Office Award is a special award that is given to inventions with outstanding scientific and technological progress and notable results in practice.