ISSYS Gets Patent On New Resonant Microfluidic Sensor Design

YPSILANTI -- Integrated Sensing Systems Inc. announced that the U.S. Patent Office has granted it United States patent 7,921,737, for an innovation described as "Microfluidic Device and Method of Operation."

"The new patent and associated technology offers improved fluidic sensor system designs," said ISSYS president and CEO Nader Najafi. "The basic technology is already seeing use in industrial chemical processing and biomedical devices, as well as fuel cell systems. This reinforces the other ISSYS patents on the design, packaging, fabrication, and application of microtube-based sensors, giving ISSYS comprehensive IP protection and offering a competitive barrier to market entry."

According to Doug Sparks, executive vice president of ISSYS, this patent describes a new resonant microtube design that is more resistant to packaging stress than previous designs. This new design enables the MEMS chip to be mounted to low cost plastic or smaller metal packages that might be subjected to torsional mounting stress.  These sensor chips are used by ISSYS to produce Coriolis mass flow meters, density and chemical concentration sensors, fuel quality, drug infusion systems, fuel cell concentration sensors, and other devices. It complements other patents owned by ISSYS in the area of flow sensors and MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical Systems) devices.

Founded in 1995, ISSYS is one of the oldest independent MEMS companies in the United States. ISSYS operates a full manufacturing MEMS fabrication plant.

More at www.mems-issys.com.