AUSTIN, Texas, July 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- 1st
Detect Corporation, a subsidiary of Astrotech Corporation (Nasdaq:
ASTC), announced today that the United States Patent Office
("USPTO") has allowed the issuance of a key patent for improving
the sensitivity and identification capability of the company's
unique ion trap mass spectrometer used for chemical analysis and
detection.
"We are extremely pleased that the USPTO has allowed this
patent, strengthening our extensive intellectual property
portfolio and further
defining 1st Detect as the
leader in detecting and identifying trace
chemicals down to parts per trillion," said Thomas B Pickens
III, Chairman and CEO of 1st Detect. "Applications for
this patent span all of our target markets from airports and
military to the factory floors of semiconductor foundries,
petrochemical plants and industrial food processors."
U.S. Patent No. 8,784,737, entitled, 'Introducing an Analyte
into a Chemical Analyzer' is a key technological advantage for
1st Detect that can perform chemical separation
and improve the sensitivity of portable small mass spectrometers, a
key advantage over competitor's slow, bulky and expensive GC-MS
solutions.
"This patent protects our ability to offer small and affordable
chemical analysis that is able to identify a wide range of
chemicals with better sensitivity and speed than competing
solutions," added David Rafferty,
the inventor of the novel technology and President and CTO of
1st Detect.
1st Detect Corporation has developed an instrument
that revolutionizes the chemical detection and analysis market by
delivering lab performance mass spectrometry in a small, affordable
and easily portable package. The 1st Detect mass
spectrometer is capable of detecting a wide range of chemicals
including residues and vapors from explosives, chemical warfare
agents, toxic chemicals, food and beverage contaminants, and
pollutants. These abilities make it an ideal tool for a
variety of applications in the research, security, industrial,
process flow and healthcare markets.
About 1st Detect
Corporation
1st Detect Corporation was
formed by Astrotech Corporation (Nasdaq:ASTC) to develop and
commercialize miniature mass spectrometer technology first
developed under an agreement with NASA for use on the International
Space Station. 1st Detect offers a breakthrough
miniaturized mass spectrometer that fills an unmet need by being
highly accurate, rapid, lightweight, and cost-effective. For more
information on 1st Detect Corporation, please
visit www.1stDetect.com.
About Astrotech Corporation
Astrotech is one of the
first space commerce companies and remains a strong entrepreneurial
force in the aerospace industry. We are leaders in identifying,
developing and marketing space technology for commercial use. Our
Astrotech Space Operations business unit serves our government and
commercial satellite and spacecraft customers with pre-launch
services on the eastern and western range. 1st Detect
Corporation has developed a breakthrough miniature mass
spectrometer, while Astrogenetix, Inc. is a biotechnology company
utilizing microgravity as a research platform for drug discovery
and development.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that
are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking
statements are subject to risks, trends, and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to be materially different from the
forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not
limited to, continued government support and funding for key space
programs, product performance and market acceptance of products and
services, as well as other risk factors and business considerations
described in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission
filings including the annual report on Form 10-K. Any
forward-looking statements in this document should be evaluated in
light of these important risk factors. The Company assumes no
obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Joshua Elbaum
VP, Marketing
+1 (512) 485-9530
jelbaum@1stdetect.com
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140714/126590
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140701/123807
SOURCE Astrotech Corporation