NEW YORK, Dec. 7, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Owlstone Limited, a subsidiary of Advance Nanotech, Inc., (OTCBB:AVNA) has successfully tested its first nanofabricated chemical and explosive sensor, taking it one step closer to its vision of installing a detection system in trains, airports, financial institutes, government buildings, and indeed, anywhere at threat from chemical or explosive attack.
Billy Boyle of Owlstone explains the proprietary Owlstone detection chip was developed using cutting-edge micro and nanofabrication technologies, making it a hundred times smaller and thousand times cheaper than the existing market-leading products. Five months after the company was spun out of Cambridge University, the 'button-sized' sensor successfully detected four different volatile chemical vapors.
"Each chemical has its own smell 'fingerprint', in order to detect a different chemical, Sarin gas for instance, we look for a different fingerprint. Having demonstrated the miniature detection capability we can now pursue a development and testing program centered around the key chemical threats that exist on the battlefield and at home."
"This is a major step forward in our rapid commercialization process. Our strategy is to work with sector specialists and key systems integrators to develop products for a range of high growth markets. We will continue to develop and refine the core nanofabricated sensor while engaging in talks with a range of system development partners, interested in adding the unique functionality offered by the Owlstone technology."
Owlstone has filed two patents, the technical potential of which was recently recognized by the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency with a Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research Program grant.
About Advance Nanotech:
Advance Nanotech, Inc., ("Advance'') commercializes innovative nanotechnology. Operating in three areas, electronics, biopharma and materials, Advance leverages relationships with financial and development resources to enable a product focused fast-track commercialization of nanotechnology. Advance has established relationships with academic institutions throughout the world that are at the forefront of nanotechnology research and development. Advance's objective is to invest in patented innovation to bridge early stage product development with valuable markets.