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HP and Cyrano Sciences, Inc. Sign Research Agreement
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Jan. 20, 1999-- Hewlett-Packard Company today announced that it has signed a collaborative research agreement with Cyrano Sciences, Inc., a company that uses chemical sensors on a silicon chip to mimic receptors in the human nose. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will work together to develop Cyrano's proprietary sensor technology into products for a variety of markets. Financial terms were not disclosed. The goal of the collaboration is to produce a portable; inexpensive and rugged handheld ``electronic nose'' based on an = array of chemical sensors composed of conductive polymer composites. Such a product could be used in the medical, food-processing and chemical industries to detect and classify a broad variety of volatile compounds. For example, the product might enable medical- and dental-care providers to identify, immediately and accurately, the chemical components in breath, wounds and bodily fluids to diagnose a host of illnesses, including infections and metabolic conditions. The electronic nose could also allow food companies to continually monitor batch-to-batch consistency. For chemical companies, a portable tool could be used for efficient detection of leaks in pipelines and storage containers, in contrast to current monitoring techniques that are resource-intensive and cumbersome. This technology could evolve into consumer product applications. An electronic nose could be integrated with household appliances such as refrigerators, to detect and alert for spoiled food, or in microwave ovens to indicate when food is cooked properly. Additionally, emergency crews could use a handheld product to profile hazardous materials sites, allowing them to select the appropriate fire retardant, containment strategies and protective gear. ``We are always looking to pursue strategic collaborations with companies that can help us accelerate our product development efforts and enhance our market opportunities,'' said Steven Sunshine, = president and chief executive officer at Cyrano Sciences, Inc. ``It is exciting to be working with a respected company such as HP to develop our `nose-on-a-chip' sensors. HP has a long and impressive history of transforming new technologies into successful products. The HP 4440A chemical sensor is the benchmark against which other sensing technologies are measured. We are confident that HP's extensive product engineering experience and our in-depth knowledge of chemical sensors and innovative technology will be a winning = combination.'' ``The HP 4440A chemical sensor, which is based on our proven and reliable quadruple mass sensor, is targeted at quality assurance/quality control laboratories,'' said Jeff White, = marketing manager at HP's Little Falls Analytical Division in Wilmington, Del. ``We will continue to develop this product for customers in the chemical analysis industry that require state-of-the-art performance, but we also recognize the need to have products that can address broader applications. Cyrano's approach -- to develop portable, inexpensive and easy-to-use products for non-laboratory industrial uses and beyond -- complements ours. We believe their chip-based sensors will find applications in many different markets, including the large and exciting home market.'' About Cyrano Sciences, Inc. Cyrano Sciences, Inc., located in Pasadena, Calif., was formed in April, 1997 when the company was granted an exclusive worldwide license for the electronic nose platform developed by scientists at the California Institute of Technology. Information about the company can be found on the World Wide Web at https://cyranosciences.com. About HP's Chemical Analysis Group HP's Chemical Analysis Group, with headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif., is a leading provider of chemical analysis measurement and information solutions, services and support, columns and supplies to scientific laboratories in industry, government and academia. The group has 3,789 employees worldwide and had revenues of $946 million in its 1998 fiscal year. Information about HP chemical analysis products and services can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com/go/chem. About HP Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global provider of computing, Internet and intranet solutions, services, communications products and measurement solutions, all of which are recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 124,600 employees and had revenue of $47.1 billion in its 1998 fiscal year. Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com. NOTE TO THE EDITOR: Sales information for HP products may be obtained by calling a Hewlett-Packard Company sales office listed in the telephone directory white pages. Please do NOT use editor-contact or corporate telephone numbers. Contact: |