Ocean Optics Expands Its Optical-Sensor Coating Services

Added Services Let OEMs and Product Developers Create Custom Oxygen and pH Sensor Accessories for Optical Chemical Sensing Applications

Dunedin, Fla., August 2005 – Ocean Optics has expanded its optical-sensor coating services to provide OEMs and product developers new solutions in creating proprietary accessories for chemical-sensing applications. Now, clients can develop and manufacture a variety of custom optical oxygen and pH sensor accessories including fiber optic probes, cuvettes, Petri dishes, microscope slides and more. The added services include the licensing of Ocean Optics proprietary oxygen and pH coating technologies, custom sensor coating development, and contract manufacturing services.

The expanded services provide several ways in which a client and Ocean Optics can partner to create custom optical sensor accessories:

• Ocean Optics can supply its proprietary optical sensor coating technologies to a client through a license agreement. Ocean Optics manufactures the coatings and applies them to virtually any media specified by the client.

• A client can supply its proprietary indicator to be included in an Ocean Optics coating. Ocean Optics would then manufacture the coating and apply it to media specified by the client.

• A client can supply its proprietary coating and indicator to Ocean Optics. Ocean Optics will apply the coating to media specified by the client. This option is available through a contract manufacturing agreement.

• Ocean Optics can research and develop a proprietary coating for a client. This option is available through engineering and/or research fees.

The services may also include costs associated with the type of sensor material; the surface area of application; and the time required to apply the sensor material to a substrate.

Fiber optic chemical sensing is a means by which chemicals can be detected using a spectrometer, a light/excitation source and sampling accessories. Ocean Optics has developed an innovative line of modular fiber optic components and systems that can be used to monitor oxygen biological samples, headspace gases, slurries, cosmetics, foods and gases, and pH in solution.

Product developers and researchers may consider optical sensing for a number of reasons:

• Optical sensors consume no oxygen

• The sensors can be used for real-time, in situ monitoring

• Minimal sample preparation is required

• Optical sensors are immune to EMI and to interference from various chemicals and gases

• Multi-wavelegth optical sensing is more reliable than single-parameter methods

• Optical sensors can be used in various environments including viscous samples or hazardous and explosive settings

The Ocean Optics Sensors Division, established in 1999, developed the company’s line of FOXY Fiber Optic Oxygen Sensors and pH optical sensors. The group has created sensor technologies including sol gels and fluorescence- and absorbance-based indicators.

In addition to its expertise in optical sensor development, Ocean Optics offers a full line of complementary technologies that an OEM or developer can integrate into their optical sensing solution. These technologies include miniature fiber optic spectrometers, optical sensor probes, excitation sources, optical fiber assemblies, sampling optics and software.

Contact an Ocean Optics Applications Scientist