YPSILANTI, MI--(Marketwire -) - Integrated Sensing Systems, Inc. (ISSYS) has announced that the U.S. Patent Office has granted them a utility patent (US 7,228,735) entitled "Fluid sensing device with integrated bypass and process therefor." A major hurdle in commercializing micro-fluidic devices has been their limiting low flow rates. This patent describes a new method and design which allow micro-fluidic sensors to monitor and test relatively high flow rates of fluids. This invention greatly reduces the complexity of micro-fluidic packaging for high flow applications.
Dr. Nader Najafi, ISSYS CEO, stated that "this patent is an important element in ISSYS' comprehensive IP portfolio for fluidic applications. Our patents play a key role in providing major competitive barriers to entry at different levels from processing, to packaging, to final applications." ISSYS fluidic products cover a wide range of applications in medical, analytical, and industrial fields, according to Dr. Doug Sparks, ISSYS Executive VP. This patent also goes into detail on applying this technology to fuel cells including Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs) and reformed fuel cells. The methanol sensor is based on ISSYS' Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) technology. The sensor is used to improve the efficiency of the DMFC by keeping the methanol to water concentration at an optimum level throughout the operating life of the fuel cell. This microfluidic technology offers advantages in system and sample size, cost and reliability over current approaches to fluidic density and chemical concentration measurement:
Company Background
ISSYS is a leader in advanced micromachining technologies for medical devices, microfluidic and scientific analytical sensing applications. Founded in 1995 by world-renowned leaders in MEMS technology, ISSYS is one of the oldest independent MEMS companies in the US and has been offering MEMS services longer than any other company in the US. ISSYS operates a "full manufacturing under one roof," multi-million-dollar, state-of-the-art MEMS fabrication facility located near Ann Arbor, Michigan. An ISO 9001:2000 certified and ISO 13485 qualified organization, ISSYS is a vertically integrated company dedicated to developing and manufacturing system-level products based on MEMS technology (MEMS Inside), please visit the Web site.