Principal Investigator Scott Manalis
Project Start Date December 2005
Silicon Biosensor DivisionInnovative Micro Technology (IMT) announced the formation of a division to develop new biosensor products using its advanced MEMS technologies. The Silicon Biosensor Division's initial aim is to develop resonating beam sensors in partnership with Professor Scott Manalis of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
MEMS manufacturer Innovative Micro Technology (IMT) of Santa Barbara, CA, announced the formation of a Division to develop new biosensor technologies using its advanced MEMS expertise. The Silicon Biosensor Division’s initial aim is to develop resonating beam sensors in partnership with Professor Scott Manalis of MIT. The work will be funded by a $2M grant awarded to MIT and IMT by the Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies (ICB), a partnership among universities, industrial partners (including IMT), and the Army. The three-year project will focus on detecting pathogens at extremely high sensitivities for food safety applications.
The Silicon Biosensor Division energizes IMT’s efforts in the biomedical area and applies its MEMS manufacturing expertise to commercial-grade sensors of unprecedented sensitivity. The new Division fits well with IMT’s focus on key markets, including Biomedical. The Division will also encourage strong collaborations between IMT and many outstanding groups.
According to Professor Manalis, working with IMT is very exciting for us as it provides a strong bridge from laboratory innovation to world-class manufacturing capabilities.
IMT was formed in 2000, specifically to produce MEMS (micro-electromechanical systems) devices. IMT’s overriding goal is to partner with companies to develop products based on MEMS technology. Its 130,000 sq ft facility contains a 30,000 sq ft clean room/fab, the largest and best-equipped independent MEMS fab in the world. The company was built for high-volume manufacturing, and provides full foundry services from design through production. IMT currently has 100+ employees and 20+ customers in diverse applications, including drug discovery, drug delivery, biomedical implants and cell purifiers, microfluidics, inertial navigation, printing, various sensors, night vision, IR emitters, telephone/DSL switching, RF devices, power management, and several others.
The three-year project will focus on detecting pathogens at extremely high sensitivities for food safety applications.