Block MEMS, LLC was formed to develop the ChemPen and other related products using micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. Through common ownership, Block MEMS is affiliated with Spectra Optics, Inc., whose Block Engineering division has more that 50 years of experience making custom and standard chemical detection spectrometers and radiometers for a number of government and commercial customers. MEMS technology adapts silicon fabrication techniques that have been used for decades to make microelectronics to make micron sized motors, gears, and mirrors all smaller than the thickness of a human hair. MEMS products are currently used in automobiles, computing equipment, and a rapidly growing number of other applications. Block MEMS is focused to development of a MEMS Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, called ChemPen™. As this product has broad military and homeland security applications in detecting toxic chemicals and chemical warfare agents, the initial MEMS work was funded by the U S Army. The benefit of FTIR technology is that it can detect any gas with an infrared spectrum (which includes almost all gases of interest) simply with additional software. In addition, there are a broad range of industrial/commercial applications. This effort is supported by researchers from Sandia National Laboratory (Sandia), Brigham Young University, and Cornell University. The ChemPenTM is lightweight, no larger than a fountain pen and will cost under $1000 in comparison to current detectors that cost $10,000 to $20,000. Its software can be programmed to detect a wide variety of vapors including nerve gases and toxic industrial chemicals.
