MicroFab receives SBIR award from National Science Foundation for the development of a vapor generator for the calibration of explosive trace detectors

Plano, Texas (May 5, 2006)

MicroFab Technologies announces the award of a SBIR program entitled, “Vapor Generator for the Calibration of Vapor Trace Detectors”. This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will be directed by Dr. Donald Hayes (PI) and has the objective of designing and building a vapor generator for the calibration and verification of trace detectors. These detectors are employed in airports and other high security locations to identify small traces of explosives, chemical agents or narcotics. For an effective detection, the sensitivity of the trace detectors needs to be periodically evaluated and, if necessary, a recalibration of the instruments would follow. The vapor generator to be built by MicroFab will provide the means for the both the sensitivity verification and calibration. Because of the ability of creating vapors of precise concentration, the ink-jet based vapor generator will also provide a way to quantify the improvements in more sensitive detectors that are currently under development.

“The identification of very small traces of dangerous or illegal substances has become a major task of the law enforcement and security organizations. To accommodate this challenge, the trace detectors are becoming more and more sensitive. Through its digital control, the vapor jet generator will provide a wide dynamic range of concentrations and thus can be used to calibrate existing systems, to determine the sensitivity of new methods and systems and to help with their development.”, said Dr. Donald Hayes, MicroFab’s President and PI for this grant. “The ink-jet based vapor generator has the possibility of miniaturization that will enable the incorporation of a vaporjet system in the actual trace detectors. This implementation will permit periodic and automatic calibration of the trace detectors.”

About the Company

Based in Plano, Texas, MicroFab Technologies has pioneered digital microdispensing technologies for the past 20 years. MicroFab’s mission is to be the leading global supplier of printing platforms, devices, and services that enable high-payoff applications for microdispensing and precision printing in a wide range of industries. Commercial applications of the technology include microdispensing of electrical and optical polymers, bioactive materials (Proteins, DNA, Reagents), solder, adhesives, and nanoparticle laden fluids.

Contact Information

MicroFab Technologies is at www.microfab.com. Contact Dr. David B. Wallace, Vice-President, Technology Development, at microinfo3@microfab.com or by phone at 972-578-8076 (ext. 12).