SBIR Phase II: Nanoelectronic Capnography Sensors

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop a carbon dioxide sensor, using polymer modified carbon nanotudes, for patients receiving anesthesia. The sensor technology relies on two important areas of expertise : the nanotube transducer platform and gas analyte recognition layers. The Phase II project objectives will include optimizing the platform and recognition chemistries that were developed in Phase I. Once a technically suitable recipe is known, sensor chips will be fabricated at the wafer level for large scale testing. The capnography sensors will be packaged and embedded in disposable adapters that fits directly into the patient airway. Hardware and software systems will be designed and integrated with the adapter to deliver sensor information to the end user. At the culmination of Phase II, the capnography sensor system will be validated in a clinical environment and positioned for FDA approval and subsequent market introduction. The commercial application of this project will be in the area of healthcare. The proposed sensor will have the attributes of low power, small size and low cost.