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Cyrano
Sciences, Inc., of Pasadena, California, has commercialized a simple,
accurate, non-invasive tool that enables "machines" to smell. NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory (JPL) funded a California Institute of Technology
(Caltech) project, which resulted in the creation of technology
used in the "Cyranose 320." The Cyranose 320 is used
for quality control purposes in the food and chemical industries.
NASA further developed Caltech's technology and incorporated
it into a unit that monitors closed human habitats such as the
Space Shuttle, where air must be recycled. Early detection of
spills or leaks is essential in order for the space crew to take
immediate action and remedy the situation. Caltech later licensed
the technology to Cyrano for commercialization.
Using a sensor
array and onboard pattern recognition algorithms, the lightweight,
portable device works by exposing an array of polymer composite
sensors to the chemical components in a vapor. When the sensors
come in contact with the vapor, the polymer expands like a sponge,
changing the resistance of the composites. The change in resistance
is measured, and from that measurement, the presence of a pre-trained
substance is determined with a quick and accurate diagnosis.
The Cyranose
320 requires a one-time training session in which the user exposes
the sensor to each type of sample that will be encountered during
testing, creating a base-group to which all future samples will
be compared. The sampling step involves placing the tip of the
device near the sample and simply pressing "Run". Air
referencing, vapor sampling, sensor measuring, and data processing
are all handled automatically and take roughly one minute to
complete. If it matches one of the pre-trained samples the unit
reports the identity of the sample. If the unit does not recognize
the sample, an "unknown" reading is given. The unit
automatically resets itself and the polymer composite sensors
return to their original resistance.
This real-time,
portable device enables food companies to spot test raw materials
for batch-to-batch consistency, spoilage, or contamination. The
Cyranose 320 is also used by chemical and petrochemical companies
for quick assessment of the chemical status associated with various
industrial processes. For example, profiling a chemical environment
in a hazardous materials situation allows emergency crews to
accurately select fire retardants, containment strategies, and
protective gear.
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The
Cryanose 320 is a lightweight, portable device, used for quality
control purposes in the food and chemical industries. |
Future applications
for the Cyranose 320 are fast growing and other uses of this
technology are on the horizon. For example, the diagnosis of
disease often relies on invasive testing methods, subjecting
patients to unpleasant procedures. A tool such as the Cyranose
320, will enable physicians and dentists to provide immediate,
accurate diagnosis of chemical components and microorganisms
in breath, wounds, and bodily fluid. Welch Allyn, one of the
world's most respected medical device manufacturers, is partnering
with Cyrano Sciences to develop diagnostic products for primary
care providers. In the near future, unpleasant procedures and
hospital stays may become less frequent. Because of Cyrano Sciences'
technology, a simpler, less invasive diagnosis may only be a
trip away to your physician's office.
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