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Sensors - Sensor Technology Alert
Sensor Technology Alert
  • Researchers Develop Novel Biosensor for Detecting Glucose in Alcoholic Beverages
    Manifesting the unique properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), increasing attention has been paid to the use of single-walled CNTs as a promising electrode material. Therefore, CNT paste electrodes prepared by thoroughly mixing single-walled CNTs and minerals have been seen in a number of instances. Modified with a proper mediator, the resulting electrodes have shown good electrocatalytic activity toward oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH).
  • Real-Time Biosensor for the Detection Of Trace Levels of TNT in Aquatic Environments
    Toxic pollutants have always been a source of concern to the health of aquatic bodies. Ranging from the release of chemicals to oil spills, the effect of such events, particularly in terms of their impact on the population of aquatic species, have alerted us of the degree of harm they can have on the overall ecosystems. As a result, the capability to detect the presence of such pollutants has been a key concern for various government and nongovernment organizations.
  • A Novel Nafion/Glucose Oxidase-Glutaraldehyde/Poly(Thionine)/Au Enzyme Electrode for Glucose Sensing
    Many current devices for a continuous monitoring of blood glucose levels are based on direct analysis of blood withdrawn from the tip of a finger. This is disliked by many patients since the finger sticks are painful. Therefore, the goal of more advanced glucose sensing approaches is to minimize the pain associated with monitoring blood glucose levels.
  • A Novel Conductive Humidity Sensor
    Key characteristics and specifications for evaluating the performance of a humidity sensor are accuracy, repeatability, interchangeability, long-term stability, ability to recover from condensation, resistance to chemical and physical contaminants, size, packaging, and cost efficiency.
  • Terahertz Radiation Detector Facilitates Greater Understanding of the Cosmos
    A minuscule yet ultrasensitive sensor, developed by Merlijn Hajenius for Delft University of Technology's Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, in close cooperation with the SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, could help further our understanding of the cosmos and outer space. Hajenius received a PhD from Delft University of Technology in January 2007 based on this research subject.
  • Researchers Develop Tiny Self-Powered Hydrogen Sensor
    The growing importance of hydrogen, perceived as a potential candidate to address energy requirements, has led a team of more than a dozen University of Florida engineering faculty and graduate students to find a way to detect hydrogen leaks and sound an alarm via wireless communication using a tiny, inexpensive sensing device.
  • Developments in Nanobiosensors at ANI
    A core technology developed by Austin, Texas-based Applied Nanotech Inc. (ANI) is the firm's innovative nanobiosensor technology.
  • IMS Develops Strain Gage-Based OWS
    Canada-based Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc. (IMS) has developed a hermetic weight and pressure sensor, which is well suited as a load cell for vehicle occupant weight sensing (OWS).
  • Nanowire Sensor for Bioweapon Detection
    The detection of radiological, biological, chemical warfare agents, and other hazardous vapors has great significance in enhancing homeland security efforts.
  • Analysis of Bacterial Food Contamination Using Disposable Electrochemical Genosensor
    Detection of food contamination by pathogenic, toxin producing bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, salmonella, E.Coli and many others has been an important issue for researchers across the globe.
  • CogniScent could Help Spearhead E-Nose Sensing
    Electronic noses--which are chemical sensing devices that can use an array of relatively nonspecific sensors along with pattern recognition techniques to identify and analyze the response patters from a substance of interest--have thus far largely been confined to research-oriented, niche applications in such sectors as food and beverage processing, packaging, petrochemical/chemical, fragrances. However, there has been keen interest in e-nose sensors for identifying chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals, and interest in utilizing e-noses for such applications as medical diagnostics (for example, breath or respiratory analysis), and detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
  • Nanotube Array Hydrogen Sensors
    Hydrogen (H2) has numerous applications--petroleum distillation and chemical production are some examples of its use in the industrial sector. Its wide range of applications has instigated researchers to develop highly sensitive, stable, specific, robust, selective and affordable hydrogen sensors that enable its safe and accurate use.
  • MEMS-Based Capacitive RF Power Sensor
    Micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS) can integrate electronics, mechanical elements, actuators, and sensors on a common silicon substrate through microfabrication technology.
  • Leveraging Monolithic Integration Benefits
    It has been well known for sometime that organic semiconductor technology provides vital benefits such as simplicity in fabrication process and most of all, monolithic integration, which provides cost-effective and reliable integration of all components of an optoelectronic device on a single substrate for a wide range of applications.
  • Capacitive Pressure Sensors for Medical Applications
    Capacitive pressure sensors and switch fabrication using strained compensated silicon-germanium-boron (SiGeB) have been developed by a team of researchers led by Stavros Chatzandroulis at the Institute of Microelectronics, NCSR 'Demokritos', Greece.
  • Fine-Tuning of Ceramic-Based Sensor
    The vital need to develop fast responding sensors for toxic gases before their concentration reaches lethal levels is driven by events such as the Sago coal mine disaster, which took place on January 2, 2006, in Tallmansville, West Virginia, where 12 miners died.
  • Siemens VDO Drives Opportunities in Noncontact Position and Speed Sensing
    Magnetic field sensors are widely used to provide information about rotational speed or position in diverse automotive applications, such as wheel speed sensing (used in conjunction with antilock braking systems [ABS]), engine management, transmission speed sensing.
  • Nanoscale Thermometer Has Potential to Boost Temperature Sensing and Other Applications
    A nanoscale thermometer nanoparticle assembly, created in the process of research mainly funded by the National Science Foundation and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, has potential for very accurately measuring temperature and for facilitating such applications as more accurate medical testing devices.
  • Micromachined Gas Sensor Has Opportunities to Enhance Fire Detection
    Various sensing technologies are often used in fire alarms and smoke detectors including heat detectors, photoelectric detectors (which detect smoke), and ionization detectors (which are activated by the airborne particles of combustion).
  • Sensors Have Expanding Opportunities for Use in Wearable Devices for Health Monitoring
    As the population ages, and there is increasing concern about maintaining one's health, sensors are expected to have increasing opportunities for use in wearable systems to provide real-time information about vital signs and other physiological indicators of health and fitness, such as energy expenditure.
  • DNA-Based Nanosensors Have Potential For Detecting Odor Or Taste
    With demonstrated performance capabilities and reductions in cost and complexity, electronic nose sensor arrays have realistic opportunities in such areas as homeland security and detection of infectious diseases.
  • Intevac Boosts Low Light Night Vision Sensing
    Intevac Inc. --a key supplier of magnetic media sputtering equipment for the hard disk drive industry, and a developer and provider of extreme low light-level sensors, cameras, and systems for military, government, and commercial markets--has garnered the 'most innovative product award' at the fifth annual Soldier Technology Conference in Brussels, Belgium, for the company's patented extreme low light electron bombarded active pixel sensor (EBAPS).
  • Discovery of Enhanced Interaction Between Carbon Nanotubes and Ammonia
    In work funded by the National Science Foundation, researchers at Temple University have discovered that the presence of oxygen groups on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) can enhance the interaction between such nanotubes and ammonia. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and Emory University contributed to the study.
  • Nanomix Offers Nanotechnology-Based Hydrogen Sensor
    Nanomix Incorporated has launched its first commercial nanosensor product--an ultra low-power, highly specific hydrogen detection device that uses the company's carbon nanotube sensing elements combined with proprietary chemistry and is aimed at monitoring hydrogen gas in industrial environments.
  • Cambridge University Researchers Microfabricate Fluxgate Magnetic Sensors
    Fluxgate mgnetic sensors represent an older, traditional magnetic field sensing technology that tends to be used for such applications as geological surveys, detecting submarines, and compass navigation systems.
  • Optical Fiber Sensors Could Enhance Building Security and other Applications
    Researchers at Heriot-Watt University have developed fiberoptic sensors that have potential for withstanding high pressure and temperature, facilitating development of buildings capable of surviving a strong explosion.
  • EnOcean Helps Ignite Battery-less Radio Transmission
    Radio frequency (RF) transmission is a vital element in wireless sensing and control solutions, which are poised to impact diverse applications, such building control, industrial automation/machine preventive maintenance, security/defense, test and measurement, and environmental monitoring.
  • Integrated Glucose Sampling and Monitoring System Will Leverage High-Throughput Sensor Technology
    In developing innovative sensors for significant or emerging applications, it is vital to ensure that the sensor technology can be cost-effectively manufactured and is well-suited to the system or original equipment manufacturer (OEM) product in which it will reside.