VIASPACE Inc. ( VSPC.OB), reported that its Ionfinity subsidiary has been granted a patent for a soft ionization membrane.
Ionfinity, a subsidiary in which VIASPACE holds a 46.3% membership interest, is working to develop the next-generation mass spectrometry (MS) technology, which could not only revolutionize the traditional applications of MS for industrial process control and environmental monitoring, but could also ring in a new era of detection systems for homeland security.
The technology combines two inventions made at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which should enable the system to provide a 10x increase in sensitivity, a 10x increase in mass range and the ability to miniaturize the product to make it portable and low cost.
The Ionfinity system is designed to allow high sensitivity and specificity in a portable system — a carry-on suitcase in the near-term and a shoe-box or smaller size in the future. With its projected ruggedness, low power consumption and cost, the system could be deployed in many applications, where monitoring of air, water or other substances is required.
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