Product Inspiration

In contrast with the last entry, which was focused on a completely new method of sensing materials in a fluid, this new technology simply shrinks down a conventional method to a much smaller package. Initially, this seemed like an incremental improvement to the conventional GC-MS (gas chromatography and mass spectrometry) systems, until I read how much it really improved on the technology: The size was reduced from computer-size to matchbox-size, analysis time dropped from 15 minutes to 4 seconds, and energy consumption went from 10,000 joules to 4 joules!

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/micro-analyzer-0110.html

Technorati : MEMS, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, nano, sensor

There’s been a few new sensors over the last few years which use a cantilever design to detect materials. In essence, the cantilever is like a diving board which is vibrating at certain a certain, known frequency. When something binds or gets attached to the end of the cantilever, the change in weight causes a change in the vibration of the cantilever. Best of all, the accuracy and resolution of this method is good enough to identify a molecule by its weight alone!

Technologies like this are a great example of what MEMS technology does for us. We simply take an effect well known on the macro scale, and shrink it down for improved performance, accuracy, and price. This new and upcoming class of sensors is extremely accurate, and through the use of specialized coatings and materials, are also selective in which chemicals they sense.

http://www.physorg.com/news109264658.html

Technorati : cantilever sensor

A few years ago, scientists discovered that geckos do not use any type of glue or adhesive to walk up walls. This is possible because millions of tiny hairs on the gecko foot adhere to the wall through Van Der Waals forces, which are basically small attractions between molecules that are close together. The small forces add up over the millions of hairs, creating a very strong bond.

Since this discovery, scientists have been working vigorously on creating a tape or glue which mimics this method. A recent prototype shows that a tiny square (2cm) of this material can hold up to a pound of weight.

At some point, we will probably see some useful new ‘tape’ for hanging posters (and paintings) on walls from this innovation, and maybe even some far-out science-fiction stuff like suits for climbing walls.

http://www.medgadget.com/archives/2008/02/gecko_glue.html