The new Spectrosens sensing unit for biochemical detection from Stratophase can detect of toxins, viruses and bacteria in real time
Based on an optical silicon micro-chip with an integral planar Bragg grating, Spectrosens uses a fibre-optic cable to transmit a conditioned beam of light to the chip.
When target agents or contaminants are carried in liquid across the surface, tiny changes in sample composition can be detected by very precise and continuous monitoring of the wavelength of light reflected from the sensor.
By pre-treating the surface to make it sensitive to certain biological or chemical reactions, it becomes a robust and sensitive biochemical detector.
Stratophase says it has already been successful with its technology in homeland security and its sensors are being developed in this area with key customers and through government contracts.
The technology has recently been selected by the University of Applied Sciences at Aschaffenburg, Germany, for a three-year government-funded research project.
Aschaffenburg has recognised the potential of the technology for widespread commercial applications, and its advantages over other technologies to provide cost-effective and practical detection of critical biochemical contaminants in food, beverage and pharmaceutical manufacturing industries, drug discovery and process control.
In particular, its unique design will enable a network of sensors to be built across a manufacturing platform for continuous multi-point testing.
Richard Williams, CEO of Stratophase, commented: "Having already established the technology's functionality for homeland security, we can now move into new areas which will exploit its capabilities even further".
