
1st Detect
Stage
Seed | AliveTotal Raised
$1.8MLast Raised
$1.8M | 14 yrs agoAbout 1st Detect
1st Detect Corporation was formed by Astrotech Corporation (Nasdaq: ASTC) to commercialize miniature-mass spectrometer technology first developed for the International Space Station (ISS). 1st Detect offers the Miniature Chemical Detector, a breakthrough device in mass spectrometry that fills a niche by being highly accurate, lightweight, battery-powered, durable and inexpensive. The 1st Detect ion trap based design is roughly the size of a shoe box, weighs approximately 12 pounds, and is capable of battery operation. Additionally, the Miniature Chemical Detector is capable of detecting residues and vapors from explosives, chemical warfare agents, toxic chemicals, food and beverage contamination, illicit drugs and pollution. It is also very sensitive, accurate, and fast which provides orders of magnitude better informing power than competing products.
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1st Detect Patents
1st Detect has filed 26 patents.
The 3 most popular patent topics include:
- analytical chemistry
- ion source
- mass spectrometry

Application Date | Grant Date | Title | Related Topics | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
3/11/2013 | 3/12/2019 | Mass spectrometry, Quantum field theory, Quantum mechanics, Gas technologies, Analytical chemistry | Grant |
Application Date | 3/11/2013 |
---|---|
Grant Date | 3/12/2019 |
Title | |
Related Topics | Mass spectrometry, Quantum field theory, Quantum mechanics, Gas technologies, Analytical chemistry |
Status | Grant |
Latest 1st Detect News
Aug 25, 2021
August 25, 2021 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time AUSTIN, Texas--( BUSINESS WIRE )--Astrotech Corporation (NASDAQ: ASTC) announced today that its 1st Detect subsidiary has secured an important landmark purchase order for its TRACER 1000™, representing the first units to be deployed at an airport security checkpoint. Including prior sales to worldwide cargo facilities, the TRACER 1000 explosives trace detector (ETD) will now be operating in fifteen locations in ten countries throughout Europe and Asia. The Astrotech Mass Spectrometer Technology™ (AMS Technology) drives the breakthrough TRACER 1000, the first certified ETD to employ mass spectrometry. Long recognized as the gold standard in chemical detection, mass spectrometry has historically been too costly, bulky, and cumbersome to be used outside of the laboratory. Unlike other technologies, the AMS Technology works under ultra-high vacuum, which eliminates competing molecules that can impair the accuracy and quality of an analysis. The TRACER 1000 is inexpensive, small, and easy to use, with high resolution and near-zero false alarms. Due to its high sensitivity and rugged design, the TRACER 1000 is the only mass spectrometry-based ETD to have received European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) certification for both checkpoint and cargo security. “As air travel spending begins to return to normal following the slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing renewed interest in checkpoint use for the TRACER 1000 ETD,” said Thomas B. Pickens, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of 1st Detect. “We are excited that airport operators are beginning to understand that mass spectrometry is a superior technology for the detection of explosives, providing benefits to both airports and travelers. Based on our near-zero false alarms, we believe that operating costs will be considerably lower and passenger throughput will be much faster when compared to competing screening devices. This could lead to more consumer spending in airports as passengers avoid unnecessary delays at the screening checkpoint,” concluded Pickens. About Astrotech Corporation Astrotech (NASDAQ: ASTC) is a mass spectrometry company that launches, manages, and commercializes scalable companies based on its innovative core technology. 1st Detect is a manufacturer of explosives and narcotics trace detectors developed for use at airports, cargo and other secured facilities, and borders worldwide. Astrotech is headquartered in Austin, Texas. For information, please visit www.astrotechcorp.com . This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, trends, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from the forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to, whether we can successfully develop our proprietary technologies and whether the market will accept our products and services, as well as other risk factors and business considerations described in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings including the annual report on Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statements in this document should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors. The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Contacts
1st Detect Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where is 1st Detect's headquarters?
1st Detect's headquarters is located at 401 Congress Avenue, Austin.
What is 1st Detect's latest funding round?
1st Detect's latest funding round is Seed.
How much did 1st Detect raise?
1st Detect raised a total of $1.8M.
Who are the investors of 1st Detect?
Investors of 1st Detect include Texas Emerging Technology Fund.
Who are 1st Detect's competitors?
Competitors of 1st Detect include Lawrenceville Plasma Physics and 4 more.
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