SBIR Phase I: Molecular Level Nanoassembly of Optical Fiber-Based Breathing Sensors

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段（SBIR）项目将研究利用纳米级分子自组装方法合成用于呼吸诊断的高性能光纤湿度传感器的可行性。NanoSonic提出使用分子级静电自组装（ESA）处理方法在光纤末端形成多层、交错的金属纳米团簇和聚合物薄膜。初步研究表明，这些小型、坚固、安全的光纤传感器对湿度的响应范围很广，响应时间在毫秒或更短。所有这些因素克服了目前临床诊断呼吸监测器制造的重大限制。该项目的商业应用将在临床研究和家庭健康护理管理中。

This Small Business Innovative Research Phase I (SBIR) project will investigate the feasibility of utilizing nanoscale molecular self-assembly methods to synthesize high performance optical fiber-based humidity sensors for breathing diagnostics. NanoSonic proposes to use molecular-level electrostatic self-assembly (ESA) processing methods to form multilayered, interleaved metal nanocluster and polymer thin films on the ends of optical fibers. Initial studies have shown that these small, robust and safe optical fiber sensors respond to humidity over a wide range of relative humidities, with a response time of milliseconds or less. All of these factors overcome current significant limitations in the fabrication of breathing monitors for clinical diagnostics.The commercial applications of this project will be in clinical research and in home health care management.