Cyrano Sciences

Cyrano Sciences, established in 1997, emerged from technology developed at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The company was founded by a team from Caltech, including professors Robert Grubbs, Rodney Goodman, and Nathan Lewis. Their core mission was to commercialize a proprietary polymer composite sensor technology, essentially creating a tool that enables machines to "smell". This technology was exclusively licensed to Cyrano Sciences from Caltech. The company's first major product, the Cyranose 320, was launched in the third quarter of 2000. A significant milestone was the acquisition of Cyrano Sciences by Smiths Detection in March 2004 for $15 million, after which it was renamed Smiths Detection-Pasadena.

Cyrano Sciences developed and marketed miniature sensors capable of detecting and identifying chemical vapors. The business model focused on providing these sensor solutions to a range of industrial and commercial markets, including defense, homeland security, food and beverage, and chemical industries. Revenue was generated through the sale of its handheld devices and integrated sensor systems. The company served clients who required rapid quality control, process monitoring, and detection of specific chemicals, such as identifying spoilage in food production or leaks in chemical plants.

The flagship product, the Cyranose 320, is a handheld "electronic nose". It operates using an array of polymer composite sensors that react to chemical vapors. When a vapor comes into contact with the sensors, the polymers swell, which changes their electrical resistance. Onboard pattern recognition software then analyzes this change to identify the substance, comparing it to a database of pre-trained samples. This process provides a quick, non-invasive analysis at the point of need. The technology was also being developed for a smaller "NoseChip" for integration into other devices. Key applications included quality control for food and beverage companies, leak detection for chemical and petrochemical firms, and potential uses in medical diagnostics and military applications.

Keywords: chemical sensors, electronic nose, vapor detection, polymer composite sensors, Cyranose 320, Caltech spinoff, Smiths Detection, chemical analysis, quality control technology, food safety sensors, environmental monitoring, process monitoring, homeland security sensors, defense technology, handheld chemical detector, non-invasive diagnosis, pattern recognition sensors, odor detection, gas sensor arrays