The World?s First Mass Spectrometer on a Chip

Microsaic Systems introduced its patented ionchip technology which integrates the key components of a mass spectrometer onto a silicon chip. Ionchip products are capable of ?fingerprinting' the chemicals in solids, liquids or gases using industry standard reference libraries.

Alan Finlay, CEO of Microsaic Systems said, "Until now, if customers wanted to know exactly what was in a sample they had to buy something the size and cost of a 1970s minicomputer. Our patented Ionchip technology makes it possible for customers to buy a ?personal analyser' and use it just like any PC peripheral. The market is still dominated by products manufactured in old-style machine shops; the semiconductor revolution is long overdue. Microsaic is proud to be the first and only company to successfully commercialize a mass spectrometer on a chip."

Microsaic is launching two products targeted at laboratory and security applications:
? Ionchip® ChemCubeTM - is a compact PC peripheral: its tiny footprint and flexible sample interface make it ideal as a personal sample analyser.
? Ionchip® ChemPackTM - is a waterproof, ruggedised, battery powered system designed for field use.

The ion source, filter and detector are integrated on a tough, interchangeable module which can be replaced by the user in under 10 minutes, eliminating the need for cleaning and radically reducing system downtime.

All Ionchip products come with an extensive, customizable software application which can be interfaced with a laboratory network.