News & Publications: Press Releases

ISSYS Completes SBIR Phase II on Microfluidic Technology

Ypsilanti, MI, October 15, 1999 --Integrated Sensing Systems, Inc. (ISSYS) announced today that it successfully completed an SBIR Phase II on "Micromachined Coriolis Based Microfluidic Devices"

According to ISSYS CEO, Dr. Nader Najafi, ISSYS is "very pleased with the outcome of this development effort. We've succeeded in proving the viability of placing the power of Coriolis based measurements on a microchip, and produced functional prototypes." These prototypes have already demonstrated flow resolution of 2 micrograms per second and a density resolution of 0.00001 g/cc.

ISSYS sees these devices as filling a critical role in emerging microfluidic applications such as drug development and discovery, drug delivery systems, and analytic equipment. According to ISSYS' Director of Business Development, Mr. Randy Grimes, "The potential of these devices is two fold. First, they can replace existing flow meters with higher performance and lower cost. Second, they can fill a critical gap that exists in the low flow range. Essentially, no options exist to measure flow within several orders of magnitude of these devices' capabilities. There is a huge gap between conventional flow meters and Lab on Chip type systems, and I'm most interested in filling that void."

While ISSYS has proven that the technology works, commercialization is still some time off. The company estimates that it could produce free standing, in-line density meters with the technology in about 1 year, mass flow meters within 3 years, and integrated mass flow controllers within 4 years. Towards this end, ISSYS indicated that it is seeking partners and/or investors to complete its commercialization efforts.

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