DALLAS - Researchers at Texas Instruments have developed the world's smallest electronic instrument for direct sensing of chemical and biological substances in real time. Smaller than a matchbox, this integrated biological sensor technology will, for the first time, enable development of miniaturized systems able to test the quality of drinking water or find E-coli bacteria in hamburger, as well as hundreds of other applications.
Previous biological sensor systems have been restricted to laboratory use or until very recently with the proliference of laptops, to some remote locations. By contrast, TI sensor technology combines into a single device all the components necessary for real time, direct sensing of chemical and biological substances. As a result, the sensor technology can be mounted on hand-held instruments that provide an immediate digital measurement wherever test samples are taken.
"The potential applications for this technology are extensive," said Jose Melendez, branch manager of Analytical Sensors at TI's Components and Materials Research Center. "Even an industry such as winemaking, where control of sweetness is essential, will benefit from this sensor. TI's development can provide an on-the-spot, accurate, digital readout of sugar content, saving time, trouble and production costs for the winemaker," he added. (Melendez recently won the 1997 Hispanic Engineering National Achievement Award in the "Most Promising Scientist" category.)
TI is already working on future applications that will require even more sophisticated and complex measurements. As the applications emerge, TI's digital signal processing solutions will play an integral role. Digital signal processors (DSPs), are the engines behind the digitization of electronics end-equipment. By coupling biotechnology with TI's DSP and mixed signal products expertise, scientists will be able to make significantly more accurate calculations and analysis in remote locations in real time. The DSP, working with the integrated biosensor technology, performs the analysis that normally would require a laptop or other laboratory equipment.
Potential applications for this TI biosensor technology include miniature sensor systems for remote environmental monitoring such as water quality control, food and beverage process control, diagnostic testing and monitoring of chemical abuse, chemical and drug research and manufacture, and affordable capable technology to detect the presence of pathogens in poultry or beef in a real time, digital format.
The sensor was developed by TI's research and development team and its mixed signal product optoelectronics group in Dallas, Texas. TI has over a dozen US and seven international patents pending in this sensor technology area. TI continues to be on the forefront of R&D, designing the leading-edge technologies for the next century. The company recently unveiled its $154 million Kilby Center where TI researchers will be developing manufacturing processes that will serve as the technology base for the creation of leading edge DSP solutions and help TI grow its recognized DSP leadership.
Texas Instruments Incorporated is a global semiconductor company and the world's leading designer and supplier of digital signal processing solutions, the engines driving the digitization of electronics. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company's businesses also include calculators, productivity products, controls and sensors, metallurgical materials and digital light processing technologies. The company has manufacturing or sales operations in more than 25 countries.
Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at http://www.ti.com.
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