Ocean Insight brings spectroscopy solutions to world fight against COVID-19

news-releasesOcean Insight
December 16th 2020

Orlando, FL: – Applied spectral knowledge company Ocean Insight offers a range of solutions based on innovative optical sensing technologies that are making a difference in the global effort to resist the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic.

These applied spectroscopy technologies are particularly useful for COVID detection and analysis but are also important in prevention and decontamination.

Optical sensing for CV-19 testing and detection

Optical sensing technologies offer speed, portability and less invasive sample collection during testing and can be integrated into PCR, fluorescence, Raman or other testing devices for rapid COVID-19 detection in the community.

Ocean’s newsletter (see Resources) cites a number of recent case study applications including:

  • A breakthrough sensor developed for PCR at point-of-care
  • Detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using gold nanospikes in an opto-microfluidic chip
  • Optical spectroscopic techniques and nanomaterials for virus detection
  • A machine learning approach to fluorescence spectral shape analysis for fast COVID-19 virus identification
  • Modular Virus Detection using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)

Patient Monitoring and Vaccine R&D

Ocean’s analytical instrumentation and application insights are also proving useful in developing treatments from acute care diagnostics to R&D of vaccines and simpler, smarter and more robust therapies. Examples include:

  • Enhanced Dynamic Range for Protein Concentration Monitoring
  • Optical Sensing Techniques for Quality Control of Catheters
  • Use of Photonics in Point-of-Care Testing
  • Spectroscopy for Heme Protein Characterization
  • Characterization of simulated sunlight in Vitamin D supplementation trial

Disinfection of PPE and Facilities

Ocean Insight modular spectrometers also provide effective tools for increasing the effectiveness of disinfection in monitoring the output of UV lamps, including virus-disrupting wavelengths in the UVC region (200-280 nm).

Ocean Insight has already identified UV Sterilization Lamp output power as a key determinant of whether decontamination can be performed safely.

The company offers systems with the flexibility to accurately measure UV levels at the same location on facemasks, for example, to ensure sufficient virus-and bacteria-killing light at the proper wavelength is delivered.

The Ocean Insight Flame spectrometer has been used by researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, collaborating with teams from major hospitals in South Korea and Australia to confirm wavelengths of LEDs and other UV sources used to reduce bacteria and viruses including coronavirus.

The same spectrometer and sampling optics measurement technologies are also useful in other medical applications subject to variability in UV lamp output intensity.

COVID-19 Commitment

The newsletter and accompanying video (see Resources) also encapsulates Ocean Insight’s commitment to tackling the pandemic as a genuine team effort and as ‘a long-distance race’.

“Our mission at Ocean Insight has become more important than ever. Indeed, as health care officials refocus on virus detection, our sensing technologies can be integrated into portable devices for faster, more accurate virus screening and testing, while making sample prep as simple as collecting saliva. And that’s just one element of the pandemic response,” the company says.

“Whether you are working on clinical diagnostics, designing medical instrumentation to support patients, evaluating UV light disinfection sources, or setting up initial research, we support your efforts !” it concludes.

About Ocean Insight

Based in Orlando, Florida, Ocean Insight is a manufacturer specializing in applied spectral knowledge, offering a range of advanced products and solutions that benefit a wide range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, healthcare and life sciences.

Ocean Insight applies its integrated Applied Spectral Knowledge (ASK) approach to combine innovative spectroscopy hardware, software and on-demand data delivery with deep category expertise to create innovative and customized solutions that help clients ‘Unlock the Unknown’.

Main Ocean Insight product areas include spectrometers, light sources, multispectral imaging devices, spectral systems, oxygen sensors, laboratory facilities, machine learning, and software development including Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Ocean Insight is the trading name of Ocean Optics, Inc., which was founded in 1989 by university researchers in Florida to develop a pioneering miniature spectrometer, which was commercially released in 1992. In 2004, Ocean Optics became part of Halma plc, a global group of life-saving technology companies.  In 2019, the company was rebranded as Ocean Insight, an applied spectral knowledge companyFurther information at: www.oceaninsight.com

Resources

Click on Spectroscopy for COVID Detection and Analysis for further information.
Click on Partners taking on COVID  to watch video.

Ocean Insight brings spectroscopy solutions to world fight against COVID-19
Ocean Insight brings spectroscopy solutions to world fight against COVID-19

UV reveals contaminants on face mask