Mainely Sensors Receives SBIR Phase I grant from NSF

Mainely Sensors, LLC has been awarded a $100,000 National Science Foundation SBIR Phase I grant for a project titled, "Non-Invasive Lobster Vitality Sensor."  Jason Bolton, Research Engineer for Mainely Sensors, is the Prinicipal Investigator for the project.  Mainely Sensors is collaborating with The Lobster Institute, the University of Maine School of Marine Sciences Aquaculture Research Center (ARC) and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Maine Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory (MAAHL) on the project.

This research project will investigate the feasibility of a new optical sensing paradigm complete with field-deployable, non-invasive, automated, sensors for routine assessment of lobster vitality.  In the lobster business, lobsters must be delivered live to the end user while maintaining their health during long and sometimes harsh shipments.  The current industry lobster vitality standard is both invasive and cumbersome requiring a direct hemolymph (blood), extraction with an external analysis, usually a refractive index or total hemolymph protein measurement. The technique is neither inexpensive nor simple and actually contributes to losses by subjecting the lobster to unnecessary physiological stresses and potential infections.  The specific research objectives for this project are: 1) analyze lobster hemolymph in vivo using a non-invasive, optical sensor; 2) compare these measurements to those obtained with extracted hemolymph from the same lobsters; and 3) determine the feasibility of the proposed method and the design specifications for a portable, non-invasive, lobster vitality sensor.

The proposed development of a non-invasive lobster vitality sensor will enable the transition of this sensor research to a fully commercialized product in the lobster markets while promoting teaching and learning for University of Maine undergraduate and graduate students.  The project will provide real world experience in the lobstering industry, which has local importance.  A non-invasive lobster vitality sensor will positively impact the economic strength of the local Maine lobster industry by improving the quality control of its product in worldwide markets.  It will benefit the national and international American lobster industry, including lobstermen, lobster dealers, holding facilities, and commercial shippers, and research community. It is also anticipated that the proposed sensor will be applicable to other lobster and crustacean species.