Our History

SpectraFluidics, Inc., has developed a novel chemical detection technology and platform which exceeds existing state-of-the-art sensitivity and specificity performance metrics by orders of magnitude. SpectraFluidics technology provides molecular-specific detection of explosives, illicit drugs, and other contraband at parts-per-trillion (ppt) concentration levels. The technology does not require sample preparation, reagents, swabbing, or other handling techniques which can otherwise impede detection capabilities in the field.

The mission of SpectraFluidics is to incorporate our laboratory-proven technology into a handheld detector for the real-time identification of airborne molecules emanated from explosives and other substances. The SpectraFluidics chemical detection technology operates without performance degradation in the presence of background contaminants such as saturated gasoline or kerosene vapor.

2009

  • Brian Piorek is named VP for R&D
  • Seung-Joon Lee is named VP for Chemistry
  • Casey Hare is named VP for Engineering
  • SpectraFluidics wins its second Army research contract.
  • SpectraFluidics’ technology is tested successfully at the Army’s Edgewood Chemical Biological Center.
  • SpectraFluidics receives a second round of funding from Cycad.

2008

  • Craig Cummings is recruited as the company’s first CEO; Carl Meinhart is named CTO.
  • UC Santa Barbara files for U.S. patent protection of the technology; SpectraFluidics obtains the exclusive license to use that technology in the U.S.
  • SpectraFluidics wins its first research contract, sponsored by the U.S. Army.
  • SpectraFluidics receives it first private investment, from Cycad Group.
  • SpectraFluidics presents technical paper at the Army Science Conference

2007

  • SpectraFluidics, Inc., is founded by Martin Moskovits, Carl Meinhart, Seng-Joon Lee, Brian Piorek, Sanjoy Banerjee, and Juan Santiago, with the objective of commercializing the integrated microfluidic-SERS technology for application in trace chemical detection.

2006

  • Detection experiments with DNT (TNT) are initiated.

2005

  • Surface tension forces are determined to be greater than expected, leading to higher velocities than expected. 
  • Researchers confirm that free-surface micro-channels could serve as a capture mechanism for certain airborne molecules of interest, leading to the concept of integrating microfluidics with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). 
  • Gas-phase 4-ABT is the first target analyte to be addressed with the integrated microfluidic-SERS technologies: Success!

2004

  • Researchers at UC Santa Barbara investigate fluid velocity anomalies in open (free-surface) micro-channels.