- 29 September 2005 -

Sandia Corp stalls technology transfer

Nanodetex Corp, an Albuquerque technology company developing a sensor to detect when terrorists carry explosives, chemicals, nerve agents and other deadly toxins into public places has filed a $225m lawsuit in Federal Court in Santa Fe against Sandia Corporation for withholding important information needed to finish the product and use it to avert potential terrorist attacks.

But to complete the product and get it into subway, train, and bus stations and airports in the next few months, Nanodetex needs the technology transfer agreed to by Sandia just after the September 11th terrorist attacks.

"Sandia must stop the bureaucratic madness and give us the technology they guaranteed we'd have long ago," said Nanodetex president Al Sylwester. "The London bombings show we need this technology now - we're bringing the lawsuit to get this product to market."

Nanodetex was founded by Sylwester and Angelo Salamone, two former Sandia employees who worked on developing the technology. Sandia issued Nanodetex an exclusive license to further develop and market the product under federal technology transfer laws.

Sandia has acknowledged the proven performance of Nanodetex's components. However, four years after the agreement was made, it continues to withhold critical information required for full commercialisation.

The product, often referred to as a "Lab on a Chip," is a fast and sensitive miniature sensor that detects chemicals, and certain biological and explosive materials in the air. The technology could allow authorities to prevent potential terrorist attaches and save lives. SAW devices are key factors. These detect biological, chemical, and explosive agents.

Originally developed at Sandia National Laboratories, the 'MicroChem Lab' version consists of a pre-concentrator, a micro gas chromatograph, and a four-channel SAW detector.

Nanodetex hopes to have the MicroChem Lab ready to detect nerve and blister agents in commercial applications, excluding the gas chromatograph, which reduces the system's ability to determine specific concentrations of contaminants but speeds up the detection process, giving the system a faster response time.

Future versions of the MicroChem Lab will also detect toxic industrial chemicals, explosives, and biological agents.

"If Sandia stops stalling and finally gives us the data, we'll have this product fully operational in a very short time, "said Sylwester. "It could be widely in use when the next terrorist act is attempted."

Demand for this product has been strong from the US. and other countries, including Britain, France, Italy, and Israel.

"The consequences of this bureaucratic entanglement can have a catastrophic effect. We must get this product into the subways, airports and buildings of America right away," said Sylwester. "And our allies, like Britain, need this desperately."

Sylwester stressed that US transportation systems, buildings and airports are at significant risk and this risk could be vastly reduced when this product is in place."Just give us the tools and we will get this to market," he said.