Electronic Nose

About this technology

Overview

Cyrano Sciences, Inc. has commercialized a simple, accurate, non-invasive tool that enables machines to smell." The Cyranose 320 is used for quality control purposes in the food and chemical industries. 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. 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. Profiling a chemical environment in a hazardous materials situation allows emergency crews to accurately select fire retardants containment strategies and protective gear. Future applications for the Cyranose 320 are fast growing."