The graphene-based sensor is slated to disrupt the biosensing and defense industries.
Grolltex’s Graphene-Based Multi-Modal Sensor was recently granted a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The multi-modal super sensor design is made of a single layer of graphene, which the patent describes as a one-atom-thick architecture. Known by Grolltex employees as the smallest, most sensitive sensor in the world, the design also utilizes several of the company’s 2D material technologies.
Disrupting Industries
With this patent, Grolltex is aiming to shake up the bio-sensing and defense industries, as both would have much to gain from this cutting edge technology.
“Our single atom thick sensor design, in the strain sensor configuration, is so sensitive that it captures a robust and repeatable signal on the contractility strength of individual cardiomyocytes, or heart cells, as they beat,” said Jeff Draa, CEO of Grolltex, when discussing the potential this graphene sensor has in disrupting the biosensing industry.
“This can be a holy grail for fields such as cardiotoxicity testing as it has the capacity to be a significant time and money saver in the new drug testing approval process,” he added.
The Future of the Grolltex Graphene Sensor
The capabilities of the patent covered sensor have drawn promising attention, leading Grolltex to produce samples of the sensor for potential partners looking to possibly collaborate in the future.
“We have had strong interest in the sensor design from several large, multinational corporations and we are currently evaluating the possibility of development agreements with the potential partners in strategic areas,” said Draa.
This graphene sensor patent, with its vast applications, will undoubtedly spike interest in industrial corporations. Graphene sensors are showing great potential with a range of abilities. The patent covered sensor has little to no signal drift when exposed to extreme levels of heat and can be discreetly layered into the skins of airplanes and other high-stress vehicles, or even buildings and bridges. This means the sensor can be used to measure and detect micro stress in real time at levels not currently possible with our latest sensing technologies.
A Look at Graphene
Graphene is the world’s very first 2D material and has captured the attention of researchers, scientists, and industries across the world.
Not only is it the thinnest material possible, but it is also transparent. Both are surprising features for an incredibly flexible material that is 200 times stronger than steel.
Currently, apart from sensor technology, graphene is being developed for use in biomedical, composites and coating, energy, electronics, and membranes.
Graphene is likely to be a dominant material across all industries. Even wearables are incorporating the use of this material with the first graphene running shoes slated to hit the market next year.
What This Means for the Future
The future remains promising for this cutting edge material and what it can offer the industry. For Grolltex, the results have already stunned future collaborators.
“The readings from our sensor are literally unbelievable, meaning that when we share our data with people in the sensing field, they don’t believe it and we have to show them,” added Draa.
