Ocean Optics partners with Pyreos on mid-IR spectroscopy solutions

Feb. 6, 2018

The combination will enable businesses and researchers to create rapid, accurate, field-portable mid-IR spectroscopy devices.

Gail Overton

Among the uses for MIR detection technologies are applications in food and agriculture.

Ocean Optics (Largo, FL) has expanded its spectroscopy capabilities by partnering with Pyreos Limited (Edinburgh, Scotland) to develop new mid-IR (MIR) solutions. Unlike traditional FTIR spectrometers, the combination of Pyreos detectors and Ocean Optics applied spectroscopy knowledge will enable businesses and researchers to create rapid, accurate, and field-portable devices. MIR technology makes possible a wealth of potential applications in chemical and pharmaceutical quality, food and agriculture analysis, environmental testing, and scientific research.

Ocean Optics has applications and OEM development experience across the UV, Visible, and NIR ranges, while Pyreos is the world's only supplier of thin-film PZT pyroelectric sensors. These are used for MIR sensing including in-line arrays. The partnership combines Ocean Optics spectrometer design and manufacturing expertise with the Pyreos line array technology.

Ocean and Pyreos are working on an ultrafast, compact Mid-IR ATR reflectance system for labs that will set a new benchmark for size and value in the research and science market. This is expected in the first half of 2018. One of the first OEM products to result from the collaboration is a device intended for anti-counterfeit detection in food, including milk contamination. The device will screen for the presence of adulterants.

The companies say that the speed, compact size, and robustness of MIR-based devices will enable new OEM products to meet the needs of challenging applications such as food safety, oil quality, and anti-counterfeiting. Ocean Optics and Pyreos are co-developing bespoke MIR solutions for customers and are actively seeking new application areas.

"The collaboration with Pyreos allows us to broaden our mid-IR applications expertise while being part of projects with life-changing potential," said Lora Allemeier, president of Ocean Optics. "We will continue to explore strategic partnerships with the leading innovators in optical sensing and take on emerging analytical challenges on a global scale."

Andrew Wallace, CEO of Pyreos, said, "Compact Mid-IR spectrometry sensors and products are now a 'pull' market and we see increasing awareness of new applications across the industry. Ocean Optics is a recognized leader in spectrometry and has brought expertise and precision to the project. Partnerships such as this are key to rapid development of new Mid-IR techniques."

SOURCE: Ocean Optics; https://oceanoptics.com/2018/

About the Author

Gail Overton | Senior Editor (2004-2020)

Gail has more than 30 years of engineering, marketing, product management, and editorial experience in the photonics and optical communications industry. Before joining the staff at Laser Focus World in 2004, she held many product management and product marketing roles in the fiber-optics industry, most notably at Hughes (El Segundo, CA), GTE Labs (Waltham, MA), Corning (Corning, NY), Photon Kinetics (Beaverton, OR), and Newport Corporation (Irvine, CA). During her marketing career, Gail published articles in WDM Solutions and Sensors magazine and traveled internationally to conduct product and sales training. Gail received her BS degree in physics, with an emphasis in optics, from San Diego State University in San Diego, CA in May 1986.