ARGUS SYSTEM 611
thesis system. Investig Ophthalmol Vis Sci. Peters T, Stingl K, Sachs H, Stett A, Szurman P,
2011;52:4949. Wilhelm B, Wilke R. Subretinal electronic chips
27. Stanga PE, Sahel JA Jr, Hafezi F, Merlini F, Coley allow blind patients to read letters and combine
B, Greenberg RJ, Argus II Study Group. Patients them to words. Proc Biol Sci. 2011;278:1489-
blinded by outer retinal dystrophies are able to 1497.
perceive simultaneous colors using the Argus® II 30. Stingl K, Bartz-Schmidt KU, Gekeler F, Kusnyerik
retinal prosthesis system. Investig Ophthalmol A, Sachs H, Zrenner E. Functional outcome
Vis Sci. 2012;53:6952. in subretinal electronic implants depends on
28. Kusnyerik A, Greppmaier U, Wilke R, Gekeler F, foveal eccentricity. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci.
Wilhelm B, Sachs HG, Bartz-Schmidt KU, Klose
U, Stingl K, Resch MD, Hekmat A, Bruckmann 2013;54:7658-7665.
A, Karacs K, Nemeth J, Suveges I, Zrenner E. 31. Mathieson K, Loudin J, Goetz G, Huie P, Wang
Positioning of electronic subretinal implants L, Kamins TI, Galambos L, Smith R, Harris JS,
in blind retinitis pigmentosa patients through Sher A, Palanker D. Photovoltaic retinal pros-
multimodal assessment of retinal structures. thesis with high pixel density. Nat Photonics.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012;53:3748-3755. 2012;6:391-397.
29. Zrenner E, Bartz-Schmidt KU, Benav H, Besch D, 32. Palanker D, Vankov A, Huie P, Baccus S. Design
Bruckmann A, Gabel V-P, Gekeler F, Greppmaier of a high-resolution optoelectronic retinal pros-
U, Harscher A, Kibbel S, Koch J, Kusnyerik A, thesis. J Neural Eng. 2005;2:S105-120.
Technology and Innovation, Vol. 19, pp. 613-626, 2018 ISSN 1949-8241 • E-ISSN 1949-825X
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.21300/19.3.2018.613
Copyright © 2018 National Academy of Inventors. www.technologyandinnovation.org
ULTRA-STRETCHABLE CONDUCTIVE IONO-ELASTOMER AND
MOTION STRAIN SENSOR SYSTEM DEVELOPED THEREFROM
Ru Xie , Yunsong Xie , Carlos R. López-Barrón , Kai-Zhong Gao , and Norman J. Wagner 1
1
2
1
2
1 Center for Molecular and Engineering Thermodynamics, University of Delaware,
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Newark, DE, USA
2 Energy Systems Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA
Advanced flexible, stretchable, and sensitive strain sensors are essential components of wearable
electronic devices and technologies. Here, we illustrate our patented technology for creating
ultra-stretchable and conductive materials applicable for stretchable electronic technologies.
A simplified, two-step manufacturing process exploits the hierarchical self-assembly of a
functionalized, commercially available triblock copolymer in a protic ionic liquid, followed by
photo-induced chemical crosslinking to create an iono-elastomer with remarkable mechanical
and electrical properties. The synthesis is very robust, with nearly 100% conversion and 90%
yield. The resulted materials exhibit an unprecedented combination of high stretchability
(elongation at break is 3000% and tensile strength is 200 MPa), tunable ionic conductivity, and
mechano-electrical response. The stretchability is about one order of magnitude higher than a
typical crosslinked rubber. Importantly, the material’s conductivity increases with extension, a
unique and non-trivial material response whose origin derives from the nanoscale microstruc-
tural rearrangements under stretching deformation. Building upon this novel iono-elastomer,
we created the “Motion Strain Patch” (MSP), which is the first high-strain amplitude stretch-
able resistive strain sensor patch. As the MSP can be easily mounted on clothing or adhesively
attached to the body to measure the local displacement of specific body parts under motion,
potential applications include biomechanical motion capturing, sports performance tracking,
and rehabilitation monitoring. This article will also outline the potential benefits and impacts
provided by our invention to the economy, the environment, and society. The MSP is not a
replacement to existing wearable products on the market but a superior complement to existing
performance optimizing wearable technology.
Key words: Wearable electronics; Iono-elastomer; Ionic liquid; Block copolymer; Stretchable
strain sensor
INTRODUCTION capturing for entertainment systems (e.g., motion
Recently, numerous efforts have been made to capture for games and animation) (7–10), robot con-
research and develop wearable, flexible, stretchable, trol and robotic skin (or electronic skin) (11–13), etc.
and sensitive strain sensors due to their applica- In particular, highly stretchable and sensitive strain
tions in personal health (1) and structural health sensors are required in biomechanics, physiology,
(2) monitoring, rehabilitation monitoring (3,4), and kinesiology applications where very large strain
sports performance monitoring (5,6), human motion should be accommodated by the sensors (9).
_____________________
Accepted: October 15, 2017.
Address correspondence to Norman J. Wagner, 150 Academy St., Newark, DE 19716, USA. Tel: +1 (302) 831-8079; +1 (302) 831-1048.
E-mail: [email protected]
613
614 XIE ET AL.
Motion capture, especially, can be commonly sensitive strain sensors (10,18,25). For example, a
found in surveillance, military, entertainment, recently reported carbon nanotube–silicone rubber
sports, and medical applications (14,15). Conven- based strain sensor can be stretched to maximum
tional human motion capture is primarily based on strain of 500% with a good reversible response (26).
optical systems, inertial sensors, magnetic systems, Herein, we describe the invention of a simpli-
or mechanical systems. Optical systems, which are fied two-step manufacturing process to create
intensively studied and widely used, typically come ultra-stretchable materials with tunable conductivity
in two categories: systems with markers and sys- that are particularly applicable for wearable elec-
tems without markers. Marker systems require very tronics and associated technologies. At the heart of
complex equipment, a special environment, and are the fabrication of this novel iono-elastomer is the
financially and spatiotemporally expensive. Mark- nanoscale hierarchical self-assembly of function-
erless systems, while more convenient and more alized, commercially available polymers in a protic
broadly applicable, have many drawbacks, such as ionic liquid, followed by chemical crosslinking. The
requiring further digital processing using complex invention uses this novel iono-elastomer to cre-
algorithms, sensitivity to the environment of use, and ate a transparent, lightweight, customizable, and
generally not being as accurate as marker systems. skin-mountable strain sensor patch. The potential
A review of these and other prevalent methods pro- for commercialization, including market size and
vides an overview of the advantages and drawbacks competitive landscape, and potential benefits to soci-
of the current methods (16). Improvements that can ety of this invention are presented and discussed.
reduce cost, shrink the size and/or volume of the
device, and minimize the influence on performers Description of Ultra-Stretchable Conductive
while maintaining accuracy are highly desired. As Iono-Elastomer Invention
body motion can often involve relatively large strains The raw materials were downselected to create a
(≥55%) (17,18), a possible solution is the creation of highly stretchable, conductive material that could
new wearable, flexible, and highly extensible strain spontaneously self-assemble at the nanoscale to form
sensors. a hierarchically-microstructured iono-elastomer. A
The design criteria for high-performance wearable, commercial triblock copolymer (Pluronic F127)
flexible, and stretchable strain sensors includes high (27), which is a macromolecule with linear and/or
sensitivity (i.e., large gauge factor (GF) for measur- radial arrangements of two or more different blocks
ing small human motions), high flexibility and high of varying monomer compositions, was selected for
extensibility (capable of accommodating elongational the mechanical building block (28). Block copoly-
strains of ≥55%), good stability (capable of measuring mers can impart mechanical strength to the system
repetitive deformations with low hysteresis), and fast via self-assembly in suitable self-assembly media, as
response speed (fast signal acquisition). Moreover, shown in Figure 1 (a) (29). Conductivity is provided
it is desirable that these devices have a low material by ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) (30), which is
and fabrication cost and be technically simple, light- a room temperature protic ionic liquid. An ionic
weight, and small, as well as being biocompatible for liquid is chosen for its remarkable physio-chemical
skin-mountable applications and comfortable to wear properties: high ion conductivity (up to 100 mS/cm),
(19,20). Although conventional strain sensors have wide electrochemical windows (up to 5.8 V), and high
advantages in low fabrication cost, they typically electrochemical and thermal stability (31). Further-
have poor stretchability and sensitivity (maximum more, it has negligible vapor pressure, which implies
strain of 5% and GF ~ 2). Recent advances in creating that it does not evaporate at any service temperature
advanced strain sensors have focused on nanoma- (32,33). Importantly, EAN can also act as an effective
terials, e.g., graphene (18,21,22), carbon nanotubes self-assembly media for the block copolymer (34). In
(17,19,23), nanoparticles (24), and nanowires (8). addition, both block copolymers and ionic liquids are
Among them, carbon nanomaterial-based sensors two representative classes of “designer compounds,”
have shown outstanding performance as highly meaning that specific combinations selected from the
614 XIE ET AL. IONO-ELASTOMERS FOR WEARABLE ELECTRONICS 615
Motion capture, especially, can be commonly sensitive strain sensors (10,18,25). For example, a related classes of block copolymers and ionic liquids breaks at 3000% elongation and has an ultimate ten-
found in surveillance, military, entertainment, recently reported carbon nanotube–silicone rubber can be used to tune the iono-elastomer’s physical sile strength of 200 MPa (36). Compared to a regular
sports, and medical applications (14,15). Conven- based strain sensor can be stretched to maximum and chemical properties. The variety and variability rubber band shown in Figure 4 (b), our iono-elas-
tional human motion capture is primarily based on strain of 500% with a good reversible response (26). of raw materials will not only cultivate diversity in tomer has about one order of magnitude higher
optical systems, inertial sensors, magnetic systems, Herein, we describe the invention of a simpli- our product and prototype invention but also lead extensibility. Remarkably, the conductivity of our
or mechanical systems. Optical systems, which are fied two-step manufacturing process to create to manifold commercialization streams. iono-elastomer increases with extension (36), which
intensively studied and widely used, typically come ultra-stretchable materials with tunable conductivity Utilizing the selected raw materials, we have suc- is a response opposite to that of most conductive
in two categories: systems with markers and sys- that are particularly applicable for wearable elec- cessfully demonstrated a simplified manufacturing materials, such as the calculation for the comparable
tems without markers. Marker systems require very tronics and associated technologies. At the heart of process to create stretchable conductive materials extension of a copper wire, as shown in Figure 5 (a).
complex equipment, a special environment, and are the fabrication of this novel iono-elastomer is the applicable for stretchable electronic technologies This is a unique and non-trivial material response
financially and spatiotemporally expensive. Mark- nanoscale hierarchical self-assembly of function- by self-assembly of concentrated solutions of the because, for instance, the electrical resistance of a
erless systems, while more convenient and more alized, commercially available polymers in a protic end-functionalized, commercially available, and inex- constant volume copper wire increases as it is (irre-
broadly applicable, have many drawbacks, such as ionic liquid, followed by chemical crosslinking. The pensive triblock copolymer Pluronic F127 in the versibly) extended into longer and thinner wire (as
requiring further digital processing using complex invention uses this novel iono-elastomer to cre- protic ionic liquid EAN followed by micelle corona depicted in Figure 5 (b)). The calculated, normal-
algorithms, sensitivity to the environment of use, and ate a transparent, lightweight, customizable, and crosslinking to generate elastomeric ion gels, termed ized electrical resistance as a function of elongation
generally not being as accurate as marker systems. skin-mountable strain sensor patch. The potential “iono-elastomers.”(35, 36) The chemical structures of strain is also plotted on Figure 5 (a), which shows
A review of these and other prevalent methods pro- for commercialization, including market size and Pluronic F127 and EAN are presented in Figure 2 (a) the opposite response of our iono-elastomer. This
vides an overview of the advantages and drawbacks competitive landscape, and potential benefits to soci- and (b), and a schematic of the synthesis and fabrica- novel mechano-electrical material property plays a
of the current methods (16). Improvements that can ety of this invention are presented and discussed. tion of the Pluronic F127 diacrylate iono-elastomer significant role in strain sensor device design because,
reduce cost, shrink the size and/or volume of the is shown in Figure 2 (c), (d), and (e). As shown in as resistance decreases under extension, the device
device, and minimize the influence on performers Description of Ultra-Stretchable Conductive Figure 2 (e), the resulting material is an optically clear, is anticipated to require less energy, thus increasing
while maintaining accuracy are highly desired. As Iono-Elastomer Invention free-standing elastomer, which is our “iono-elas- battery life. The origin of this novel electromechanical
body motion can often involve relatively large strains The raw materials were downselected to create a tomer.” This particular iono-elastomer exhibits an response is the complex microstructural rearrange-
(≥55%) (17,18), a possible solution is the creation of highly stretchable, conductive material that could unprecedented combination of high stretchability, ment of the hierarchically assembled micelles under
new wearable, flexible, and highly extensible strain spontaneously self-assemble at the nanoscale to form tunable ionic conductivity, and mechano-electrical uniaxial extension (36). To summarize, this stress-in-
sensors. a hierarchically-microstructured iono-elastomer. A response (36). duced microstructural rearrangement (depicted in
The design criteria for high-performance wearable, commercial triblock copolymer (Pluronic F127) Figure 3 demonstrates the stretchability of the Figure 6 (a)) consisting of the reversible formation of
flexible, and stretchable strain sensors includes high (27), which is a macromolecule with linear and/or iono-elastomer by stretching, twisting, and bending hexagonally close packed (HCP) layers of crosslinked
sensitivity (i.e., large gauge factor (GF) for measur- radial arrangements of two or more different blocks the material. To quantify the stretchability, we tested micelles produces ion channels between layers. This
ing small human motions), high flexibility and high of varying monomer compositions, was selected for the elongational properties of our iono-elastomer configuration reduces the tortuosity for ion transport
extensibility (capable of accommodating elongational the mechanical building block (28). Block copoly- using a Sentmanat Extensional Rheometer, as shown in the stretching direction (1) as compared to the ini-
strains of ≥55%), good stability (capable of measuring mers can impart mechanical strength to the system in Figure 4 (a) (36). The mechanical response shown tial configuration of randomly oriented face-centered
repetitive deformations with low hysteresis), and fast via self-assembly in suitable self-assembly media, as in Figure 4 (b) indicates that our iono-elastomer cubic (FCC) micelles; therefore, electrical resistance
response speed (fast signal acquisition). Moreover, shown in Figure 1 (a) (29). Conductivity is provided
it is desirable that these devices have a low material by ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) (30), which is
and fabrication cost and be technically simple, light- a room temperature protic ionic liquid. An ionic
weight, and small, as well as being biocompatible for liquid is chosen for its remarkable physio-chemical
skin-mountable applications and comfortable to wear properties: high ion conductivity (up to 100 mS/cm),
(19,20). Although conventional strain sensors have wide electrochemical windows (up to 5.8 V), and high
advantages in low fabrication cost, they typically electrochemical and thermal stability (31). Further-
have poor stretchability and sensitivity (maximum more, it has negligible vapor pressure, which implies
strain of 5% and GF ~ 2). Recent advances in creating that it does not evaporate at any service temperature
advanced strain sensors have focused on nanoma- (32,33). Importantly, EAN can also act as an effective
terials, e.g., graphene (18,21,22), carbon nanotubes self-assembly media for the block copolymer (34). In
(17,19,23), nanoparticles (24), and nanowires (8). addition, both block copolymers and ionic liquids are Figure 1. (a) Schematic showing the hierarchically self-assembled microstructures formed from block copolymers in ionic liquid
Among them, carbon nanomaterial-based sensors two representative classes of “designer compounds,” and a list of the tunable parameters for reaching desired properties. (b) Left panel: Three ionic liquid categories—aprotic, protic and
have shown outstanding performance as highly meaning that specific combinations selected from the zwitterionic ionic liquids. Right panel: Desirable properties of ionic liquids have.
616 XIE ET AL.
Figure 2. Synthesis and manufacturing of the iono-elastomer: (a) Pluronic F127: left, chemical structure; right, image of neat poly-
mer. (b) Ethylammonium nitrate: left, chemical structure; right, image of neat EAN. (c) Acrylation of Pluronic F127 to diacrylate. (d)
Iono-elastomer synthesis. (e) Step-wise demonstration of Pluronic F127 diacrylate synthesis steps.
IONO-ELASTOMERS FOR WEARABLE ELECTRONICS 617
decreases upon stretching. When stress is released, the iono-elastomer materials described here, we envi-
as shown in Figure 6 (b), the bridging polymers that sion our product to be a do it yourself (DIY) reusable,
were extended now retract to their random coil con- flexible biometric motion strain sensor kit, which we
formation, which in turn pulls the micelles back to have named an “MSP Kit.” This would be the first
their original configuration. This explains the increase large strain amplitude, stretchable, resistive strain
in electric resistance upon unloading stress as a con- sensor patch that can be easily mounted on clothing
sequence of the increase in ion transport tortuosity or directly attached to the body to measure the local
when the randomly oriented FCC grain morphology displacement under workload and/or motion. The
is recovered. A detailed elucidation of the scientific MSP Kit enables customers (e.g., athletes, patients
basis of this novel mechano-electrical response for undergoing physical therapy, physical trainers, bio-
this self-assembled material is presented in a recent mechanicians, etc.) to accurately track motion and
publication in ACS Macro Letters (36). A baseline performance of specific joints and/or muscles on
study of the hierarchically self-assembled material their smart phones, tablets, or computers via Blue-
without crosslinking and its behavior under flow is tooth wireless communication, with applications in
published in Macromolecules (35). The provisional motion capturing, sports performance tracking, and
patent for this material invention has been filed with rehabilitation monitoring.
the University of Delaware (UD), U.S. Patent Serial As shown in Figure 7 (a), our envisioned MSP
No. 62/393,133 with priority date September 12, 2016 is a transparent sensor comprising a soft (dispos-
(37), and the international patent was filed on April able) iono-elastomer integrated into the Smart Plug
7, 2017 (38). and the electronics in the Smart Outlet. The Smart
Plug is constructed as a sandwiched structure. Our
Description of Motion Strain Sensor Invention iono-elastomer (in red) is sandwiched in between
Strain sensors respond to mechanical deforma- two waterproof and adhesive encapsulant films (in
tions, typically by the change in electrical characteris- yellow) on the top and bottom, which is connected
tics, such as resistance or capacitance. Due to simple to the electronics via a Plug (in green) attached to
device structures and easy read-out transduction one end. The waterproofing provides additional water
mechanisms, resistive strain sensors have attracted and sweat resistance, shielding the iono-elastomer
significant attention, and impressive progress has from the environment. The adhesive property enables
been achieved in their development. Building upon attaching directly to clothing, devices, or the skin.
Figure 3. Demonstration of high flexibility of the iono-elastomer via (a, d) stretching, (b, e) twisting then stretching, (c, f)
bending. (a), (b) and (c) are photos before course of action, while (d), (e) and (f) are photos post each corresponding course of
action. The figure was reproduced from and with permission of the American Chemical Society, copyright 2016 (36).
618 XIE ET AL.
Figure 4. (a) Images showing how the iono-elastomer’s extensional properties are measured using a Sentmanat Extensional
Rheometer taken at indicated elongation strain values. (b) Engineering stress as a function for elongation strain is plotted
for the iono-elastomer as compared to a standard, commercial rubber band. The figure was reproduced from and with
permission of the American Chemical Society, copyright 2016 (36).
Figure 5. (a) Normalized electrical resistance as a function of elongation strain for our iono-elastomer and calculated for
a copper wire under the same hypothetical strain. Notice the unexpected behavior showing a decrease in resistance with
elongation. (b) Schematic illustrating how resistance increases with extension for a normal material, such as the copper wire.
IONO-ELASTOMERS FOR WEARABLE ELECTRONICS 619
The Smart Outlet is a lightweight Bluetooth energy along the joint (see the right photo of Figure 7 (b)).
system embed with a Bluetooth wireless system and The lifetime of our device is approximately 13 hours.
coin battery, which transmits data from the patch to Work is progressing to dramatically reduce the foot-
a desktop, tablet, or phone. Figure 7 (a) illustrates print of the electronics to a postage-stamp size, such
the working procedures of our MSP. End users, such that it can be directly integrated with the polymeric
as athletes, rehabilitation patients, or anyone who component without wires.
would like to track their motion, attach the MSP
onto the targeted body parts, and the strain sensor Analysis of Market and Industry Need
will measure the strain motion and send the strain A global market size report (Figure 8 (a)) pre-
signal in real-time to a computer, tablet, or phone. dicts that stretchable conductive material will rapidly
The computer app provides real-time, quantitative become a billion-dollar market. The global market
performance measures to the end users, allowing size is predicted to reach $1.7 billion for flexible con-
them to monitor, track, and potentially improve their ductive materials by 2026 (39), $2 billion for flexible
motion performance. It is envisioned that the app can electronics by 2018 (40), $34 billion for wearable
be integrated with a myriad of existing data analysis technology by 2020 (41), and $87 billion for smart
software incorporating data analytics. textiles and/or fabrics by 2024 (42). In addition, the
We designed and fabricated our first-generation wearable technology market is expected to grow from
MSP minimal viable product prototype, and its $15.74 billion in 2015 to reach $51.6 billion by 2022 at
photo is in Figure 7 (b). As shown in the figure, one a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.51%
piece of our iono-elastomer is taped to a laboratory between 2016 and 2022 (43).
glove at the finger joint position, and the change in Our motion strain sensor addresses customer
finger strain is measured via a Bluetooth system. needs for wearable electronics in sports, which has
Finally, the result could be directly read out from the an even bigger market potential, as shown in Figure 8
pre-calibrated and custom programmed phone app, (b). Predictions for a global market size of $8.2 billion
where 0% elongation strain is read out when finger for sport devices is anticipated by 2019 (44), $184.5
is not bent (see left photo of Figure 7 (b)), and 38% billion for the sports apparel industry by 2020 (45),
elongation strain is read out when finger is rotated and $1.5 trillion for the global sports industry (46).
Figure 6. The microstructural rearrangement (a) when the iono-elastomer is stretched and (b) when the iono-elastomer is not stretched.
The figure was reproduced from and with permission of the American Chemical Society, copyright 2016 (36).
620 XIE ET AL.
Figure 7. (a) The schematic illustration of envisioned MSP and its operating map. (b) Photographs of minimal viable product prototype
of MSP at 0% elongation strain (left) and 38% elongation strain (right).
IONO-ELASTOMERS FOR WEARABLE ELECTRONICS 621
Potential for Commercialization own health monitoring strain sensor at home. In
Our invention has three favorable aspects: 1) All summary, the motion strain sensor fabrication is
the raw materials are commercially available and technically feasible, cost efficient, and user-friendly.
comparatively inexpensive; 2) the synthesis is easy The potential for commercialization for our
and robust, with nearly 100% conversion and 90% intended product has been validated via two valuable
yield (36, 37); and 3) the manufacturing is simple (liq- activities that included gathering significant voice
uid molding) and the entire manufacturing process of the customer information. We participated in a
is commercially scalable (i.e., photo-polymerization local National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps
is an established, commercially available process). UD site Delaware Startup Launchpad Program
In summary, the manufacturing of iono-elastomer from October 2016 to December 2016 (47). The
is technically feasible, financially efficient, and spa- NSF I-Corps UD site Delaware Startup Launchpad
tiotemporally effective. Program is funded by the Horn Program in Entre-
The commercialization potential of the MSP kit preneurship and Delaware Founders Initiative and
benefits from five key aspects of the invention: 1) the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics
All the required raw materials and electronics parts at UD (47). This seven-week program offers intense
are low-cost, commercially available, and technically hands-on business and commercialization training
feasible. 2) The MSP is optically transparent, remov- based on the Lean Startup method, with a focus on
able, reusable, and tailorable for different body parts business canvas construction, falsifiable hypotheses
and applications; thus, it satisfies customer needs for testing, customer discovery interviews, scientific data
wide range of consumers and end users. 3) It provides analysis, evidence-based decision making, minimum
different levels of comfort to consumers and end viable product design, and unique value proposi-
users by providing the options of attachment to the tion validation spreading. Based on the Lean Startup
body or integration into clothing, orthotics, pros- method, we conducted customer discovery interviews
thetics, or other devices. 4) The MSP kit will provide and defined our customer segments. Through the
numerous customization capabilities to consumers interviews, we not only validated that there is an
as to the shape, dimension, color, and other aspects urgent market and industry demand for our material
of the strain sensor. 5) The MSP kit offers a hands-on and device but also confirmed competitive pricing
experience and allows the customers to DIY their for our invention. These interviews will be discussed
Figure 8. Predicted global market size for (a) wearable technology, flexible electronics, and flexible conductive materials
and (b) sports industry, sports medicine and sport devices.
622 XIE ET AL.
in greater detail in the next section. Our team won stretchable conductive materials on the market is
second place in the final business pitch competition, the stretchable conductive ink from DuPont, which
which was highlighted on the local news (48). The has limited stretchability. In addition, the quantita-
second event is the Blue Hen Proof of Concept Pro- tive analyses on the customer discovery interview
gram (BH-POC Program) (49) organized by UD data, shown in Figure 9, reveal that conductivity and
Horn Program in Entrepreneurship and College of stretchability are the two most important challenges.
Engineering. A direct quote from one of the interviewees incisively
summarizes this: “The challenge for stretchable con-
Customer Discovery Interview ductive material lies in how to reach high stretchability
To develop an understanding of customer needs, without compromising conductivity.” Therefore, we
we conducted 105 customer discovery interviews concluded that there are market and industry needs
within three potential markets: advanced materi- for our stretchable conductive material.
als, wearable electronics, and sensors for sports and The interviewees in wearable electronics are tech-
rehabilitation. The interviewees cover three main cus- nical and business experts in global sports apparel
tomer segments: material suppliers (both technical companies, including Nike, Under Armor, Reebok,
and business sectors in global chemical companies, and Adidas. The interview results could be sum-
including Dow, DuPont, and Gore); business part- marized into two main conclusions. Firstly, current
ners (both technical and business sectors in global wearable electronics require a form factor, such as a
sports apparel companies, including Nike and Under watch band, shirt, or chest band. Oftentimes, these
Armour); and end users (University of Delaware form factors are rigid and uncomfortable to wear,
College of Health Sciences and Delaware Blue Hens so wearable electronics free of form factors are the
basketball team). rising stars in next generation wearable electronics.
Our interviewees in the advanced materials field Secondly, most of the performance tracking products
are technical and business experts, i.e., the early can only measure global body response, such as heart
adapters, from global chemical companies, includ- rate and acceleration. There is a demand for a product
ing DuPont, Gore, and Dow. One of the commercial that could quantify local body performance, such as
Figure 9. The ranking of priority of current challenges in stretchable conductive materials as determined from
customer interviews.
IONO-ELASTOMERS FOR WEARABLE ELECTRONICS 623
range of motion, which is critical for basketball jump market and industry demands for our stretchable
shots, soccer kicks, and baseball pitches, for example. conductive materials and motion strain sensor.
The interviewees in sensors for sports and rehabil-
itation are technical experts in the rehabilitation field Potential Economic, Environmental, and Societal
and end users, such as basketball players. The main Benefits
takeaway messages of the interviews are twofold. The broader impacts of our material and device
Firstly, data provided from current rehabilitation inventions are multifold, including societal, environ-
diagnosis tools are convoluted and difficult to inter- mental, and economic benefits. Sports clothing, as well
pret. Secondly, most of the sensors in those fields can as military, police, firefighter, and industrial uniforms,
only be used indoors. It follows that a more accurate will benefit from integration of our patented highly
and location independent sensor is required, which extensible, flexible conductive materials for use as sen-
suggests that our device is a solution for the major sors and electrical connectors for communication and
unresolved problems raised by the customers. other added functionalities. Aside from this potential
From the customer discovery interviews, we also societal benefit, our stretchable conductive material
defined the two potential commercialization value is made of environmentally friendly raw materials,
chains shown in Figure 10. The preferred route is which will help reduce waste and assist in global sus-
to form a start-up and seek venture capital for toll tainable development. Finally, the raw material cost
manufacturing and direct marketing to customers. for our stretchable conductive material is compara-
The alternative path is to license our technology to tively low. This suggests uncompetitive advantages
an existing company, such as those already inter- in commercialization by both unique capabilities
viewed in our customer discovery work (e.g., Reebok, as well as competitive price points as compared to
Nike, Under Armour) for incorporation into their existing products. While stretchable, skin-mountable,
emerging product lines of performance wearable and wearable strain sensors have tremendous poten-
technologies. tial economic, environmental, and societal benefits,
In summary, we used both literature and customer challenges still remain to be overcome, for which we
discovery interviews to confirm that there are both refer to a recent review (50) and publication (51).
Figure 10. Proposed commercialization value chains: licensing or start-up.
624 XIE ET AL.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Farouil A, Blanchonette I. A pilot evaluation of
We acknowledge the support of the National an electronic textile for lower limb monitoring
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), U.S. and interactive biofeedback. Procedia Engineer.
Department of Commerce, in providing the neutron 2011;13:513–518.
research facilities used in this work. The statements, 7. Rautaray SS, Agrawal A. Interaction with virtual
findings, conclusions, and recommendations game through hand gesture recognition. In: 2011
are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily International Conference on Multimedia, Signal
reflect the view of NIST or the U.S. Department of Processing and Communication Technologies
Commerce. N.J.W and R.X. acknowledge support (IMPACT); 2011 Dec 17-19, Aligarh (India):
of cooperative agreements 70NANB12H239 and IEEE. 244-247.
70NANB15H260 from NIST, U.S. Department of 8. Xiao X, Yuan L, Zhong J, Ding T, Liu Y, Cai
Commerce. R.X. also acknowledges support from the Z, Rong Y, Han H, Zhou J, Wang ZL. High-
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fel- strain sensors based on ZnO nanowire/
lowship Program under Grant No. 1247394. Y.X. and polystyrene hybridized flexible films. Adv Mater
K. Z. Gao acknowledge the support of U. S. Depart- 2011;23:5440–5444.
ment of Energy (DoE), Office of Science, Office of 9. Lu N, Lu C, Yang S, Rogers J. Highly sensitive
Basic Energy Sciences, under DoE contract number skin-mountable strain gauges based entirely on
DE-AC02-06CH11357. elastomers. Adv Funct Mater. 2012;22:4044–4050.
10. Amjadi M, Pichitpajongkit A, Lee S, Ryu S, Park
REFERENCES I. Highly stretchable and sensitive strain sensor
based on silver nanowire-elastomer nanocom-
1. Liu CX, Choi JW. An embedded PDMS nano- posite. ACS Nano. 2014;8:5154–5163.
composite strain sensor toward biomedical 11. Hammock ML, Chortos A, Tee BCK, Tok JBH,
applications. In: Proceedings of the 31st Annual Bao Z. 25th anniversary article: the evolution of
International Conference of the IEEE Engineer- electronic skin (E-Skin): a brief history, design
ing in Medicine and Biology Society. EMBC considerations, and recent progress. Adv Mater.
2009 31st Annual International Conference of 2013:25:5997–6038.
the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology 12. Sun JY, Keplinger C, Whitesides GM, Suo Z.
Society; 2009 Sep 3-6; Minneapolis (MN). p. Ionic skin. Adv Mater. 2014;26:7608–7614.
6391–6394. 13. Chortos A, Liu J, Bao Z. Pursuing prosthetic
2. Kang I, Schulz MJ, Kim JH, Shanov V, Shi D. electronic skin. Nat Mater. 2016;1–14.
A carbon nanotube strain sensor for struc- 14. Wang L, Hu W, Tan T. Recent developments
tural health monitoring. Smart Mater Struct. in human motion analysis. Pattern Recogn.
2006;15:737–748. 2003;36:585–601.
3. Giorgino T, Tormene P, Lorussi F, De Rossi D, 15. Moeslund TB, Granum E. A survey of computer
Quaglini S. Sensor evaluation for wearable strain vision-based human motion capture. Comput
gauges in neurological rehabilitation. IEEE T Vis Image Und. 2001;81:231–268.
Neur Sys Reh. 2009;17:409–415. 16. Field M, Stirling D, Naghdy F, Pan Z. Motion
4. Lorussi F, Scilingo EP, Tesconi M, Tognetti A, De capture in robotics review. In: 2009 IEEE Interna-
Rossi D. Strain sensing fabric for hand posture tional Conference on Control and Automation.
and gesture monitoring. IEEE T Inf Technol B. ICCA 2009 IEEE; Christchurch (New Zealand),
2005;9:372–381. 2009 Dec 9-11. p. 1697–1702
5. Liu X, Choi JW. Patterning conductive PDMS 17. Yamada T, Hayamizu Y, Yamamoto Y, Yomogida
nanocomposite in an elastomer using micro- Y, Izadi-Najafabadi A, Futaba DN, Hata K. A
contact printing. J Micromech Microeng. stretchable carbon nanotube strain sensor for
2009;19:85019. human-motion detection. Nat Nanotechnol.
6. Helmer RJN, Farrow D, Ball K, Phillips E, 2011;6:296–301.
IONO-ELASTOMERS FOR WEARABLE ELECTRONICS 625
18. Li X, Zhang R, Yu W, Wang K, Wei J, Wu D, Cao copolymers: self-assembly and applications. Buf-
A, Li Z, Cheng Y, Zheng Q, Ruoff RS, Zhu H. falo (NY): Elsevier; 2000.
Stretchable and highly sensitive graphene-on- 30. Evans DF, Yamauchi A, Roman R, Casassa EZ.
polymer strain sensors. Sci Rep-UK. 2012;2:870. Micelle formation in ethylammonium nitrate,
19. Li C, Cui Y-L, Tian G-L, Shu Y, Wang X-F, Tian a low-melting fused salt. J Colloid Interf Sci.
H, Yang Y, Wei F, Ren T-L. Flexible CNT-ar- 1982;88:89–96.
ray double helices strain sensor with high 31. Xie R, López-Barrón CR, Wagner NJ. Self-as-
stretchability for motion capture. Sci Rep-UK. sembly of block copolymers in ionic liquids.
2015;5:15554. In: Shiflett MB, Scurto AM, editors. ionic liq-
20. Liu X, Tang C, Du X, Xiong S, Xi S, Liu Y, Shen uids: current state and future directions, ACS
X, Zheng Q, Wang Z, Wu Y, Horner A, Kim J-K. Symposium Series 1250. Oxford (UK): Oxford
A highly sensitive graphene woven fabric strain University Press; 2017. p. 83–142.
sensor for wearable wireless musical instrument. 32. Welton T. Room-temperature ionic liquids.
Mater Horiz. 2017;27:634–640. solvents for synthesis and catalysis. Chem Rev.
21. Boland CS, Khan U, Backes C, O’Neill A, 1999;99:2071–2083.
McCauley J, Duane S, Shanker R, Liu Y, Jurewicz 33. Wilkes JS. A short history of ionic liquids—from
I, Dalton AB, Coleman JN. Sensitive, high- molten salts to neoteric solvents. Green Chem.
strain, high-rate bodily motion sensors based 2002;4:73–80.
on graphene-rubber composites. ACS Nano. 34. Greaves TL, Drummond CJ. Ionic liquids as
2014;8:8819–8830. amphiphile self-assembly media. Chem Soc Rev.
22. Wang Y, Yang R, Shi Z, Zhang L, Shi D, Wang E, 2008;37:1709–1726.
Zhang G. Super-elastic graphene ripples for flexi- 35. López-Barrón CR, Chen R, Wagner NJ, Bel-
ble strain sensors. ACS Nano. 2011;5:3645–3650. tramo PJ. Self-assembly of Pluronic F127
23. Lipomi DJ, Vosgueritchian M, Tee BC-K, Hell- diacrylate in ethylammonium nitrate: struc-
strom SL, Lee J a, Fox CH, Bao Z. Skin-like ture, rheology, and ionic conductivity before
pressure and strain sensors based on transparent and after photo-cross-linking. Macromolecules.
elastic films of carbon nanotubes. Nat Nanotech- 2016;49:5179–5189.
nol. 2011;6:788–92. 36. López-Barrón CR, Chen R, Wagner NJ.
24. Mattmann C, Clemens F, Tröster G. Sen- Ultrastretchable iono-elastomers with mech-
sor for measuring strain in textile. Sensors. anoelectrical response. ACS Macro Lett.
2008;8:3719–3732. 2016;5:1332–1338.
25. Bae SH, Lee Y, Sharma BK, Lee HJ, Kim JH, Ahn 37. López-Barrón CR, Chen R, Wagner NJ, inven-
JH. Graphene-based transparent strain sensor. tors; University of Delaware, assignee. 2016.
Carbon. 2013;51:236–242. Cross-linked ionoelastomers with outstanding
26. Amjadi M, Yoon YJ, Park I. Ultra-stretchable tensile responses and high ion conductivity. U.S.
and skin-mountable strain sensors using carbon Patent Application 62/393,133. U.S. 2016 Sep 12.
nanotubes–ecoflex nanocomposites. Nanotech- 38. López-Barrón CR, Chen R, Wagner NJ.
nology. 2015;26:375501. 2017, inventors; University of Delaware,
27. Alexandridis P, Alan Hatton T. Poly(ethylene assignee. Stretchable iono-elastomers with
oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene mechano-electrical response, devices incorpo-
oxide) block copolymer surfactants in aqueous rating iono-elastomers, and methods of making
solutions and at interfaces: thermodynamics, thereof. International Patent Application PCT/
structure, dynamics, and modeling. Colloids US17/26621. 2017 Apr 7.
Surfaces A. 1995;96:1–46. 39. Ghaffarzadeh K, Harry Zervos. Conductive ink
28. Riess G. Micellization of block copolymers. Prog markets 2015-2025: forecasts, technologies, play-
Polym Sci. 2003;28:1107–1170. ers. Cambridge (UK): IDTechEx; 2015.
29. Lindman B, Alexandridis P. Amphiphilic block 40. Statista. Smart fabrics/textile global market
626 XIE ET AL.
revenue 2012-2018 | Statistic. [accessed 2017 Nov Global Data Market Research-Access Revenues,
15]. https://www.statista.com/statistics/302526/ Forecasts, Statistics, Business Trends, Products,
smart-fabrics-market-revenue-worldwide/. Leagues, Sporting Goods, Mailing Lists. Houston
41. Wearable Tech Market To Be Worth $34 Billion (TX): Plunkett Research, Ltd. [accessed 2017
By 2020. Forbes. 2016 Feb. May 8]. https://www.plunkettresearch.com/
42. Flexible Electronics Market Size Growth | Indus- statistics/sports-industry/.
try Forecast Report 2024. San Francisco (CA): 47. Delaware Startup Launchpad. Delaware: Uni-
Grandview Research; 2016. versity of Delaware; c2018.
43. Wearable Technology Market by Product - 48. Mordock J. Delaware’s entrepreneurs learn to
2020 | MarketsandMarkets. Northbrook (IL): turn dreams into reality. delawareonline. 2016
MarketsandMarkets Inc; 2015. Dec 2.
44. Transparency Market Research. Sports Medi- 49. Blue Hen Proof of Concept Fund. Delaware:
cine Devices Market to Exhibit 4.40% CAGR University of Delaware; c2018.
from 2029 [press release]. 2015 Dec 13 50. Amjadi M, Kyung KU, Park I, Sitti M. Stretchable,
[accessed 2017 May 8]. : http://www.trans- skin-mountable, and wearable strain sensors and
parency market research. com/pressrelease/ their potential applications: a review. Adv Funct
sports-medicine-device-market.htm. Mater. 2016;26:1678–1698.
45. World sports apparel market is estimated to 51. Drotlef DM, Amjadi M, Yunusa M, Sitti M. Bio-
garner $184.6 billion by 2020 - Allied market inspired composite microfibers for skin adhesion
research. Portland (OR): Allied Market Research; and signal amplification of wearable sensors. Adv
2015. Mater. 2017;29:1701353.
46. Plunkett Research, Ltd. Sports, Teams & Leisure
Industry Statistics, Metrics, Finances, Revenues,
Technology and Innovation, Vol. 19, pp. 627-629, 2018 ISSN 1949-8241 • E-ISSN 1949-825X
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.21300/19.3.2018.627
Copyright © 2018 National Academy of Inventors. www.technologyandinnovation.org
ABSTRACTS FROM THE
STUDENT INNOVATION SHOWCASE FINALISTS
AT THE SIXTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE NAI
Participants in the NAI’s first-ever Student Innovation Showcase.
Ultra-stretchable Conductive Polymer and Dubbed “stretchable electronics,” the material can
Muscle Strain Sensor be incorporated into clothing and sports equipment.
Institution: University of Delaware Applications include stretchable batteries, wearable
Student Member: Ru Xie sensors and integrated circuits. One idea Xie has
Research Advisors: Norman J. Wagner, FNAI and for the material is as a sensor athletes can wear to
Carlos R. López-Barrón measure the displacement of the muscle around a
rotating joint. For example, professional basketball
Ultra-stretchable Conductive Polymer and Muscle players change their posture while shooting the ball.
Strain Sensors are wearable electronic sensors made The sensor can help the players measure how the
of a robust soft material with conductivity and the joint muscle moves to help prevent injuries while
ability to stretch more than traditional materials. their posture changes.
627
628 STUDENT INNOVATION SHOWCASE
Photoelectron Counting Jot Device and High a cost-efficient, readily available, “green” technology
Speed Readout Circuit for Quanta Image Sensor for creating large volume vascularized mammalian
Institution: Dartmouth College tissues.
Student Members: Jiaju Ma and Saleh
Masoodian Korwave
Research Advisors: Eric R. Fossum, FNAI Institution: Arizona State University
Company formed from Technology: Gigajot Student Members: Patrick S. McFarland and
Technology, LLC Trung Dinh
The concept of the Quanta Image Sensor (QIS) was Research Advisor: Vincent Pizziconi
developed as the 3rd generation of solid-state image Company formed from Technology: Korwave
sensors after the charge coupled device (CCD) and Korwave is a mobile, wireless, home health brain
CIS. The QIS differs from the conventional CIS in that monitoring device for patients with epilepsy. Korwave
it is sensitive enough to detect the smallest particle of looks like a hairband for girls or wireless headphones
light, one single photon. The QIS works like “digital for boys. When a seizure happens, the device noti-
film,” in which billions of tiny pixels, called “jots,” fies a caretaker, allowing them to assist the patient.
output binary data (either single-bit or multi-bit) cor- If the seizure lasts too long, Korwave can call 911,
responding to the number of collected photoelectrons providing them with the patient’s location and med-
at a high frame rate (e.g., 1000fps). The combination ical information. Each month, a digest of seizure
of high sensitivity and fast readout gives this sensor activity is sent to the patient’s neurologist, as well as
a film-like exposure response curve, an exciting fea- being sent to the cloud to create a “big data” profile
ture for the photography community. The operating of epilepsy. This long term epilepsy profile is analyzed
principle of the QIS is a major paradigm shift in the using machine learning.
image sensor world and its success will require a com-
bination of innovations in many engineering fields,
such as semiconductor devices, integrated circuits, ElectroPure
and data processing and transmission. Institution: University of Massachusetts Amherst
Student Member: Julie Bliss Mullen
Plant Based Decellularization Research Advisor: David A. Reckhow
Institution: Worcester Polytechnic Institute Company formed from Technology: ElectroPure
Student Member: Joshua Gershlak ElectroPure is a water purification company, and
Research Advisor: Glenn R. Gaudette its primary technology is a water treatment device
Tissue engineering has the potential to increase the for homes and small community systems that com-
number of viable solutions for patients currently bines water quality issues at a competitive price.
awaiting organ and tissue transplantation. However, The ElectroPure device is the only system that kills
one of the major factors currently limiting the clinical all pathogens, maintains water quality throughout
applicability of tissue engineered grafts is the lack of plumbing systems, can be fully tuned to particular
a viable vascular network. This team investigates the customer tastes and needs with sensors, can be engi-
decellularization of plant tissue to act as a scaffold for neering at a full range of sizes, and will never require
both tissue engineering and drug screening. Plants any filter replacement unless heavy metals are a con-
follow the same physiological law of the branching cern. The ElectroPure water treatment device uses
structure of the human cardiovascular system and, as oxidation as a main treatment mechanism. The device
such, plants have that innate microvasculature. This is currently being tested for treatment effectiveness,
team’s decellularization technology should provide scalability, and power consumption.
STUDENT INNOVATION SHOWCASE 629
Traffic Stop would protect citizens’ rights and help maintain
Institution: University of Florida the safety of those involved. Traffic Stop is a mobile
Student Members: Michelle Emamdie, Jessica application that allows drivers to exchange informa-
Jones, Isabel Laurenceau, DeKita Moon tion with officers during traffic stops. Additionally, it
Research advisor: Juan E. Gilbert, FNAI allows law enforcers to complete the same tasks that
The media has covered countless news stories involv- are involved in routine traffic stops without having
ing the tragic killings of both police officers and to leave their patrol cars. When a traffic stop is in
citizens nationwide. Currently, there are no tech- progress, drivers and police officers can communicate
nology solutions available that serve as a medium through the mobile devices of drivers and the laptops
of communication between officers and drivers that used in police vehicles.
Technology and Innovation, Vol. 19, pp. 631-634, 2018 ISSN 1949-8241 • E-ISSN 1949-825X
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.21300/19.3.2018.631
Copyright © 2018 National Academy of Inventors. www.technologyandinnovation.org
BUILDING IMPACTFUL NATIONAL ACADEMY OF INVENTORS
(NAI) CHAPTERS
Karen J.L. Burg
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
INTRODUCTION Spotlight will also discuss the importance of academic
The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has invention recognition and the role the NAI chapter
several initiatives that advance its core mission to plays in that process.
honor and promote academic invention and inven- Both the panel and the new Chapter Spotlight have
tors, including member institutions, the Fellows grown out of an increasing need for information from
program, and local chapters. The last item in this the NAI’s constituencies. As a member of the NAI
category, local chapters, has not heretofore received Board of Directors, I share information about the
as much attention as the other programs, but there NAI with others, and I am frequently asked questions
is a growing recognition that local NAI Chapters are like:
an important way for individual member institu- • What is a chapter?
tions to recognize and honor inventors, to celebrate • What is the purpose of a chapter?
leadership who foster and nurture innovation, and • Who belongs to a chapter?
to engage the next generation of innovators. • How do we launch a chapter?
The growing importance of local chapters of the
NAI has been the stimulus for the very first panel dis- My answers to those questions are built on the funda-
cussion dedicated to chapters at the NAI 6 Annual mental belief that each chapter should be constructed
th
Conference and for the creation of a new feature in to suit the needs, opportunities, and personalities
Technology and Innovation (T&I), the T&I Chapter of a particular organization. In other words, there’s
Spotlight. Building on the important conversations no one-size-fits-all, cookie cutter scheme. To that
started during the panel discussion, each new T&I end, we can learn about each other’s chapters and
issue will highlight information about chapters, consider good and bad practices elsewhere as we
exploring different facets of invention and innovation reflect on the fabric of our own organizations and
communities across the globe, including how NAI what aspects might be the best fit for each. Our hope
chapters support those communities, what initiatives is that both the panel and the Chapter Spotlight serve
they are undertaking or will undertake to support as a starting point for an exchange of ideas, providing
invention, and, most importantly, how to success- an opportunity to ponder the logistics of launching,
fully establish and grow impactful NAI chapters. The growing, evolving, and institutionalizing a chapter. As
_____________________
Accepted: October 15, 2017.
Address correspondence to Karen J.L. Burg, H-325 CVM, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30606, USA. E-mail: [email protected]
631
632 BURG
we all know, great ideas are fairly simple to conceive; such chapter events included inviting speakers to talk
however, the execution or translation of the idea is the about technology-rich subjects, discussing technol-
much more difficult step, one that’s often confounding ogy and invention relevant policies and specifics of
and can leave a great idea exactly that—a great idea the particular institution, and honoring or involving
with unfulfilled opportunity. student and alumni inventors.
So, what makes an “impactful” NAI chapter? A Panelists acknowledged that the benefits of
chapter can, and should, be so much more than an launching chapters include both the obvious—a wish
honorific entity. An NAI chapter isn’t just a curricu- to promote a culture of invention—and the not so
lum vitae filler, i.e., an organization with no meetings obvious—the protection of federal and /or taxpayer
or involvement, something I refer to as an “Annual interests by the promotion of invention within the
Banquet Honor Society.” Rather, an NAI chapter pro- federal sector, visibility with board of trustee mem-
vides the opportunity to change local innovation bers and leaders (e.g., university presidents), and the
culture, to provide teaching moments, to inform use of chapters as an intellectual property mentoring
public policy, and to impact global innovation. To tool for new hires. Regarding the latter, all agreed that
achieve these types of impactful outcomes, however, the chapters can serve as a conduit for knowledge
it’s important to determine what goals or output make dissemination, allowing us to share the importance
sense for your very individualized organizations of patenting and teach members about the existing
and entities and to ask yourselves how to construct technology transfer processes, things that are partic-
impactful chapters that will benefit your organiza- ularly valuable to junior and aspiring inventors.
tions rather than trying to clone processes that are Several panelists also noted that chapters serve as
successful and relevant elsewhere. the home for a very unique inventor network of indi-
viduals who don’t normally interact with each other.
THE PANEL DISCUSSION For example, students have been quick to appreciate
The 6 annual NAI conference featured a panel the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that
th
of outstanding individuals from a diverse group of NAI chapters have helped to create. Given our role in
institutions, all of which have launched successful innovation promotion, the incorporation of students
chapters. The institutions included public, private, in chapter activities, providing student memberships
and federal entities. My sincere thanks to panelists and honoring student invention, giving students the
Vikki Hazelwood (Stevens Institute of Technology), opportunity to network with faculty invention men-
Todd Keiller (Worcester Polytechnic Institute), Ste- tors, and giving faculty inventors the opportunity to
phen Russell (Space and Naval Warfare System Center help mold the next generation of entrepreneurs are
Pacific), and Jan Thornton (Auburn University) for crucial activities. Two panelists at academic institu-
providing insights from their organizations. tions mentioned the particular importance of the
involvement of another key figure of the inventor
Benefits of Chapters network—the chief academic officer (e.g., the pro-
The conversation opened with some general vost). The provost’s presence at chapter celebratory
observations on the role and value of chapters. The events symbolizes a change from the traditional aca-
panelists agreed that a chapter can be the starting demic rewards structure where innovation has not
point for a change in (or establishment of) campus had a home and highlights the interconnection of
innovation culture. Specifically, it can be a great moti- curriculum and technology transfer activities.
vator and enthusiasm builder for faculty members; it While return on investment for starting a chapter
can also be a way of involving students and alumni was largely limited to anecdotal examples such as
in, and raising their excitement about, the innova- good will and enthusiastic participation in events, one
tion process. To that end, it can provide professional panelist was surprised at the impact of the chapter
development opportunities and other meaningful and the resulting attention from federal entities as
activities to build momentum and excitement, going well as a perceived increase in patent disclosures. All
beyond a very simple “rah rah” sentiment. Ideas for panelists found that the chapter provided inventors
BUILDING NAI CHAPTERS 633
with the potential to build unique collaborations and generally started with people who frequent technol-
elevate invention. They noted anecdotally that the ogy transfer offices and those who are excited about
disclosures, following establishment of the chapter looking beyond basic publishing, teaching, and con-
networks, captured very different, cross-disciplinary ducting research. The panelists found that this type
ideas that were thoroughly considered and seemed of filter for initial membership results in individuals
closer to translation (perhaps due to the presence of passionate about technology and commercialization.
multiple, very different eyes on the idea). On the other hand, the panelists agreed that welcom-
ing all to chapter events helps more broadly advertise
Challenges with Chapters the chapter mission and more widely promote an
While the discussion largely focused on the pos- invention culture. Most panelists described having
itive aspects of creating and running local chapters, honorary members, such as administrators or staff
the panelists did not omit the failures and challenging who are instrumental in supporting invention or
moments we face in moving chapters forward, as students who are just beginning to involve themselves
everyone can learn from and, more importantly, learn in the disclosure and patenting process.
to avoid those triangular wheel creation moments.
One challenge is deciding which events to hold and Institution Chapter Highlights
when to hold them. The panelists provided examples Beyond the general discussion, the panelists were
to highlight the point that the chapter members them- eager to share individual highlights from their insti-
selves must be involved in the chapter events planning tutions, underscoring successes and best practices.
process, or one runs the risk of having under-attended
events due to lack of attention to member needs and • Stephen Russell noted that the Space and Naval
time constraints. Programming should be based on Warfare System Center Pacific chapter activities
the interests and needs of the individual members have led to two main outcomes: 1) an uptick
of each chapter and scheduled so as to maximize the in the number of patent disclosures in the past
possibility of attendance. year and 2) a surprising amount of positive
Another potential danger for a chapter is the “one attention and support from technology-focused
person” operation, meaning a chapter that lasts only federal agencies such as the Department of
as long as the interests or employment of that individ- Defense, emphasizing the unintended benefits
ual. To avoid this particular ill, we discussed different of starting a chapter.
ways of institutionalizing chapters—by involving • Jan Thornton expressed that the Auburn
direct reports or other administrators in the chapter University’s chapter has helped like-minded
discussions and oversight, for example—so that the individuals on her campus get out of their siloes
chapter and institutional connection to NAI does to share ideas and build important connections.
not dissolve if one passionate organizer moves on In addition, chapter members have established
in interest or location. The panelists also noted that by-laws and elected officers, and, with this effort
once traditions are established, expectations run high, to functionalize and formalize the chapter, the
thus helping promote self-sufficiency and longevity chapter has become a household term across
of the chapter. To that end, capturing meeting and campus. This has allowed invention to become
event planning details in archival format can help an integral part of the culture, which has been
build long-term memory and facilitate the institu- positive for technology transfer and the uni-
tionalization of chapters. versity as a whole.
• Todd Keiller highlighted two ways that the
Chapter Membership Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is work-
Most panelists referred to restricting formal mem- ing to honor inventors. The WPI Hall of Fame
bership invitations, at least initially, to those who are is an entity for those receiving a royalty check,
the inventor of record on patents issued at the par- and the honorary license plate initiative is for
ticular institution (not prior institutions). Invitations those with licensed patents. He also described
634 BURG Technology and Innovation, Vol. 19, pp. 635-637, 2018 ISSN 1949-8241 • E-ISSN 1949-825X
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.21300/19.3.2018.635
Copyright © 2018 National Academy of Inventors. www.technologyandinnovation.org
the importance of honorary membership of for a member institution. In addition to the many
alumni and students in the WPI chapter in pros mentioned by the panelists, other benefits
stimulating interactions between students, fac- include the opportunity for inclusion in NAI pub-
ulty, and alumni, thus building out the inventor lications including T&I, presentations and national
network. press releases, receipt of exclusive electronic news
• Vikki Hazelwood described the establishment and updates from the NAI, eligibility for leadership
of a new section in the Stevens Institute of Tech- positions within an active chapter, and member dis-
nology faculty activity report, specifically for counts for the NAI annual meetings. More detailed
reporting of and evaluation of entrepreneur- information regarding membership may be found at 1 2
ship. This is a great step marking the change http://www.academyofinventors. org/ benefits.asp. Nicolas Torno and Kimberly A. Macuare
of academic culture to honor invention equally My hope is that those of you who are faculty 1 Patents and Inventions, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
with other faculty activities. Her words resonate members and/or administrators at our member insti- 2 National Academy of Inventors, Tampa, FL, USA
with all of us, “Some of these things hopefully tutions will begin thinking about the needs on your
become part of an institutional culture as own campuses or within your own organizations and
opposed to an individual effort.” Moreover, assess how a new or continuing chapter might best Chapter founded in: June 27, 2017
Vikki notes that student excitement surround- serve those needs, creating truly functional chapters Number of Chapter Members: 14
ing invention has grown exponentially, in large with high impact. My wish is that you will contin- Number of collective patents: 423
part due to chapter activities. ually think about the needs and opportunities and Fun fact: The trophy awarded to inventors was inspired by
how your chapter might evolve with time. That is, I the Cannes Film Festival award.
CONCLUSION encourage you to customize the design of your chap-
Since the founding of the first NAI chapter at the ter to your own institution’s needs and situation and As a part of the mission of the National Academy of us specifically because we are very much involved in
University of South Florida in 2010, local chapters fine-tune the design as your organization changes and Inventors® (NAI) to enhance the visibility of tech- defending our inventions through U.S. patents. We
have come a long way, and we now have 43 local new opportunities arise. Please use the T&I Chapter nology and innovation and honor and encourage do a lot of work in the U.S to get many U.S. patents,
chapters. These chapters showcase the great diversity Spotlight as food for thought and please consider academic invention, Technology and Innovation something that has always been part of our strategy,
of the NAI, as they include both public and private contributing your own chapter lessons learned, good (T&I) is pleased to announce the inauguration of a and I must say that it has been a winning strategy.
universities, institutions large and small, and chapters and bad, so that we may all benefit. Please know that new feature—the NAI Chapter Spotlight, which will Anytime we want to further develop, find licensees, or
ranging from six to over 400 members. In total, NAI the NAI staff and board members are always happy showcase best practices and innovative ideas being get some R&D collaboration for our inventions, get-
chapters have inducted over 2,400 inventor members to discuss these topics and/or serve as dot-connec- implemented in NAI chapters around the world. ting U.S. patents can make a huge difference. Because
who collectively hold over 14,000 patents. tors to the many others who have developed highly For our first Chapter Spotlight, we are starting with we were getting these U.S. patents, it made sense for
Establishing a local chapter has myriad advantages successful NAI chapters. Institut Pasteur in Paris, France, which just launched us to join the NAI.
its inaugural chapter in June 2017. Head of Patents
and Inventions Nicolas Torno recently sat down with Who gets invited to join the Institut Pasteur
T&I to discuss why Institut Pasteur started a chapter, chapter?
how the new chapter fits into their larger innovation Basically, we decided to have an objective
community, and what invention recognition means approach. We used a database that is able to analyze
to faculty members. a patent portfolio for you, so we decided to take the
whole portfolio for Institut Pasteur containing U.S.
Why start an NAI chapter? patents that have not expired. So, that was one crite-
Although the NAI is not as well known in Europe rion for us, as we didn’t want to go too far in the past.
as in the U.S., it was an interesting opportunity for And then, from all those hundreds and hundreds
_____________________
Accepted: October 15, 2017.
Address correspondence to Nicolas Torno, Associate Vice President Technology Transfer and Industrial Partnership, European Patent Attorney, Head of
Patents and Inventions, Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris cedex 15 - France. Tel: 33 (0)1 45 68 80 93; Fax: 33 (0)1 40 61 30 17.
E-mail: [email protected]
635
634 BURG Technology and Innovation, Vol. 19, pp. 635-637, 2018 ISSN 1949-8241 • E-ISSN 1949-825X
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.21300/19.3.2018.635
Copyright © 2018 National Academy of Inventors. www.technologyandinnovation.org
the importance of honorary membership of for a member institution. In addition to the many
alumni and students in the WPI chapter in pros mentioned by the panelists, other benefits
stimulating interactions between students, fac- include the opportunity for inclusion in NAI pub-
ulty, and alumni, thus building out the inventor lications including T&I, presentations and national
network. press releases, receipt of exclusive electronic news
• Vikki Hazelwood described the establishment and updates from the NAI, eligibility for leadership
of a new section in the Stevens Institute of Tech- positions within an active chapter, and member dis-
nology faculty activity report, specifically for counts for the NAI annual meetings. More detailed
reporting of and evaluation of entrepreneur- information regarding membership may be found at 1 2
ship. This is a great step marking the change http://www.academyofinventors. org/ benefits.asp. Nicolas Torno and Kimberly A. Macuare
of academic culture to honor invention equally My hope is that those of you who are faculty 1 Patents and Inventions, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
with other faculty activities. Her words resonate members and/or administrators at our member insti- 2 National Academy of Inventors, Tampa, FL, USA
with all of us, “Some of these things hopefully tutions will begin thinking about the needs on your
become part of an institutional culture as own campuses or within your own organizations and
opposed to an individual effort.” Moreover, assess how a new or continuing chapter might best Chapter founded in: June 27, 2017
Vikki notes that student excitement surround- serve those needs, creating truly functional chapters Number of Chapter Members: 14
ing invention has grown exponentially, in large with high impact. My wish is that you will contin- Number of collective patents: 423
part due to chapter activities. ually think about the needs and opportunities and Fun fact: The trophy awarded to inventors was inspired by
how your chapter might evolve with time. That is, I the Cannes Film Festival award.
CONCLUSION encourage you to customize the design of your chap-
Since the founding of the first NAI chapter at the ter to your own institution’s needs and situation and As a part of the mission of the National Academy of us specifically because we are very much involved in
University of South Florida in 2010, local chapters fine-tune the design as your organization changes and Inventors® (NAI) to enhance the visibility of tech- defending our inventions through U.S. patents. We
have come a long way, and we now have 43 local new opportunities arise. Please use the T&I Chapter nology and innovation and honor and encourage do a lot of work in the U.S to get many U.S. patents,
chapters. These chapters showcase the great diversity Spotlight as food for thought and please consider academic invention, Technology and Innovation something that has always been part of our strategy,
of the NAI, as they include both public and private contributing your own chapter lessons learned, good (T&I) is pleased to announce the inauguration of a and I must say that it has been a winning strategy.
universities, institutions large and small, and chapters and bad, so that we may all benefit. Please know that new feature—the NAI Chapter Spotlight, which will Anytime we want to further develop, find licensees, or
ranging from six to over 400 members. In total, NAI the NAI staff and board members are always happy showcase best practices and innovative ideas being get some R&D collaboration for our inventions, get-
chapters have inducted over 2,400 inventor members to discuss these topics and/or serve as dot-connec- implemented in NAI chapters around the world. ting U.S. patents can make a huge difference. Because
who collectively hold over 14,000 patents. tors to the many others who have developed highly For our first Chapter Spotlight, we are starting with we were getting these U.S. patents, it made sense for
Establishing a local chapter has myriad advantages successful NAI chapters. Institut Pasteur in Paris, France, which just launched us to join the NAI.
its inaugural chapter in June 2017. Head of Patents
and Inventions Nicolas Torno recently sat down with Who gets invited to join the Institut Pasteur
T&I to discuss why Institut Pasteur started a chapter, chapter?
how the new chapter fits into their larger innovation Basically, we decided to have an objective
community, and what invention recognition means approach. We used a database that is able to analyze
to faculty members. a patent portfolio for you, so we decided to take the
whole portfolio for Institut Pasteur containing U.S.
Why start an NAI chapter? patents that have not expired. So, that was one crite-
Although the NAI is not as well known in Europe rion for us, as we didn’t want to go too far in the past.
as in the U.S., it was an interesting opportunity for And then, from all those hundreds and hundreds
_____________________
Accepted: October 15, 2017.
Address correspondence to Nicolas Torno, Associate Vice President Technology Transfer and Industrial Partnership, European Patent Attorney, Head of
Patents and Inventions, Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris cedex 15 - France. Tel: 33 (0)1 45 68 80 93; Fax: 33 (0)1 40 61 30 17.
E-mail: [email protected]
635
636 TORNO & MACUARE
of patents, the system analyzed the best, most cited later HIV-2. Institut Pasteur was also in the cen-
inventors and the most cited patents, and we calcu- ter of treating the first HIV patients at that time in
lated the final score from an aggregate of the two. France and trying to develop as quickly as possible
We ranked our inventors objectively with no some immunological tests to screen the patients and
politics involved to see what we would get. What basically try to contain the epidemic. We have also
is interesting is that, in fact, among the 20 or 25 discovered many different great inventions since,
highest-scoring inventors, we found that they were such as discovering the most virulent and oncogenic
our most famous inventors. There was a very nice strains of HPV, the human papilloma virus that is
consistency between our objective ranking and data responsible for many cases of ovarian cancers in
analysis and our own opinions on the matter. From women. All these inventions provided a huge con-
this process, and with advice from communications tribution to medicine and society.
and from then-President Christian Bréchot, we This is why I think the NAI is beneficial—because
selected the inventors to elect for the first launch of it keeps reminding all of us that universities and non-
the NAI Chapter at Institut Pasteur. profit research institutions are fundamental and
need to be encouraged, and that their contribution
How does an NAI Chapter support the innovation to progress in many areas of science, education, and
community at Institut Pasteur? medicine is huge. Everything that is a new product or
Christian Bréchot, the former president of Institut a new technology has, in one way or another, come
Pasteur, and I, with the help of both of my colleagues out of those institutions and universities.
in the communications department, thought a lot
about what a local chapter of the NAI would mean What does invention recognition mean to faculty
here at Pasteur and worked to make it consistent researchers?
with our baseline and underlying strategy so that it The celebration of our local chapter, with Paul San-
fit Institute Pasteur culture, which was very import- berg and Christian Bréchot, was a success. Everyone
ant. Innovation is part of the culture of the Institut. seemed very happy to be there and very thankful to
If something arises from research and science in Institut Pasteur and the NAI to be finally recognized
microbiology, for example, then it is moved forward in a ceremony with awards for their contributions to
to the application of science to provide new products, Institut Pasteur and to society. Of course, their con-
new vaccines, and new diagnostics. tributions for their scientific achievements through
Invention and innovation is part of our genes and their publications have been well established and
our history. Indeed, 130 years ago, Louis Pasteur filed recognized, but what was missing was a recognition
some of the first patents in the field of microbiology. of them as inventors.
In fact, he was handwriting his patent applications at Some of the inductees are indeed very famous sci-
the time. He wrote patents protecting a process for entists who are well known for their ability to produce
beer fermentation using yeast strains and for a process some very nice publications in the best journals, but
for treating wine so that it can age without deterio- not all of Institut Pasteur’s scientists are inventors,
rating, basically pasteurizing the wine. So, from the and our inventors had—until then—lacked some
beginning, Louis Pasteur was very much involved recognition from Institut Pasteur for their inventive
in developing and protecting these inventions. He contributions. We saw during the celebration the
was, in fact, also doing some technology transfer at emotion of the scientists who were finally also being
the time. It was very early of course, and we can’t recognized for their contributions as inventors, and
really call this technology transfer, but his discoveries it was a great moment to share.
were used by companies such as Carlsberg, now a On this day, we were all reminded that scientists
worldwide beer company. can be involved in the academic track as well as the
More recently, of course, in the past several years, discovery and development of inventions. In fact,
we have seen more great inventions, such as the dis- both are intertwined, and both can cross-pollinate
covery of the agent causing HIV-1 and then two years each other.
NAI CHAPTER SPOTLIGHT 637
What unique recognition has Institut Pasteur the national or international press there and open
created for its inventors? up the ceremony to everyone on the campus. So,
To embody recognitions, we decided to prepare
some very nice trophies. We wanted it to look like a
César or Oscar trophy for movie stars. It was designed
to look like the Festival de Cannes trophy somehow.
All of these top inventors, with two Nobel Prize win-
ners among them—these are the inventors who made
breakthroughs in their fields, and that is outstanding,
so we decided that they really deserved a trophy that
was like an Oscar.
Why is recognizing academic invention in these
ways important?
I think in today’s society, and in the media and
the culture, movie stars or famous football players
get more attention and privilege than someone who
is fighting for finding an HIV cure or a vaccine for
neglected diseases in Africa or other life changing
inventions. I think we are forgetting that there are
very important persons behind those inventions who
are changing everyone’s lives. Society is not providing
these inventors enough recognition and reward, so
I think it’s an overall worldwide culture that I think
needs to be changed. Figure 1. A banner welcoming attendees to the chapter launch
I think inventors as superheroes. Only few know event to celebrate inventors featuring the specially designed tro-
them, but maybe it’s a condition of being a superhero phy presented to each inventor.
to live in the shadow of society. You fight and you
do good for society, but you are not famous. You are
like Superman in your day-to-day life. You just put for the next edition, we will open up to the campus
glasses on, and you work for The Daily Planet. This is and to the press. This is necessary to communicate
intrinsic to the condition of the real superheroes—the more broadly on the campus about recognizing the
real superheroes in our society are not the ones that contribution of our scientists as inventors.
are in the headlines every day or in People magazine.
They are not the football stars. The definition of a What lies ahead?
superhero is the one that knows to stay in the shadows I think the Pasteur local chapter is a great event
and work for the benefit of human kind. Inventors, to organize once every two years to continue this
in that sense, are superheroes. celebration and open it up to the whole campus. We
will continue this work to provide the recognition
What lessons have you learned in starting the the inventors deserve. They are our heroes working
chapter? in the shadow of fame, trying to make a difference,
For the first ceremony, we decided to organize an trying to move their inventions forward, sometimes
intimate gathering, which was not open to everyone taking some risks in their careers to try to transform
on the campus. That was a choice of the organization. their inventions into actual new products to solve
But, in retrospect, it would have been great to have global health issues.
Technology and Innovation, Vol. 19, pp. 639-643, 2018 ISSN 1949-8241 • E-ISSN 1949-825X
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.21300/19.3.2018.639
Copyright © 2018 National Academy of Inventors. www.technologyandinnovation.org
THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE’S
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL INVENTORS HALL OF FAME
Philippa Olsen and Linda Hosler
Office of the Chief Communications Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has partnered with the non-profit
National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) since 1973. The USPTO and NIHF together run the
museum located at USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia; induct extraordinary inventors
to the NIHF; and sponsor programs to encourage creativity, exploration, and inventiveness
in people of all ages and backgrounds, including children, teachers, parents, college students,
and independent inventors.
Key words: Patents; Intellectual property; Education; USPTO
USPTO PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
INVENTORS HALL OF FAME The USPTO is a founding partner of NIHF, which
The United States Patents and Trademark Office was established to raise awareness and to honor the
(USPTO) has partnered with the non-profit National individuals who conceived, patented, and advanced
Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) since 1973. The great technological achievements since the birth of
USPTO and NIHF together run the museum located our nation. NIHF has played a pivotal role in support-
at USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia; ing the importance of a strong patent and trademark
induct extraordinary inventors to the NIHF; and system and in recognizing the contributions of inven-
sponsor programs to encourage creativity, explo- tors and innovators whose patents have changed the
ration, and inventiveness in people of all ages and world.
backgrounds, including children, teachers, parents, This partnership is essential to furthering the
college students, and independent inventors. USPTO’s mission of disseminating information to
_____________________
Accepted: October 15, 2017.
Address correspondence to Linda Hosler, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA.
E-mail: [email protected]
639
640 OLSEN & HOSLER USPTO AND NIHF PARTNERSHIP 641
the public regarding patents, trademarks, and the future; and builds a community of inductees who technological achievements that helped stimulate picture of the progression and development
value of intellectual property (IP) protection, part spark the innovative mindset of future generations. growth for our nation and beyond. NIHF inspires the of the camera and interact with cultural touch-
of our significant commitment to education and NIHF inductees are active in all aspects of its pro- next generation of innovators by connecting them stones of imaging history.”
outreach. This commitment also includes providing gramming—program development and inspiration, through stories of invention. The interactive gallery • Qualcomm: “Plug into the story of Qualcomm’s
domestic education outreach at all levels, including curricula creation, program participation, and phil- of icons allows you to discover how these innovators smartphone technology, powered by our patent
programming specifically tailored to underserved anthropic support. have shaped the world around us. The most recent system. Started decades ago with the aim of
and underrepresented audiences. The NIHF accepts inventor nominations from all inductees are featured in a special display where you giving each person their own phone number,
By combining the resources of the USPTO and sources, with the indispensable criterion for induc- can see prototypes of their inventions and hear them today these innovations enhance the lives of
NIHF, the partners are able to better champion the tion into the Hall of Fame requiring candidates to discuss their inventive processes. billions of people around the world.”
value of inventions, children’s education programs, hold a U.S. patent that has contributed significantly The exhibit “Intellectual Property Power” cel- The museum also has exhibits that illuminate the
teacher professional development, and annual to the nation’s welfare and the advancement of science ebrates the story of IP and communicates its history of patent examination and the job of patent
inventor recognition events. NIHF offers a compre- and useful arts. significance to progress, innovation, and culture. examiners. Visitors can see how the USPTO and the
hensive education and inventor recognition program The NIHF induction ceremony—where the world’s To illustrate how trademarks and patented material process of patent examination have changed over
involving children, college students, and world-class foremost inventors are honored in a celebration high- make modern amenities possible, this experience the past 200 years and view patent models that were
innovators unlike any other program in the United lighting their outstanding contributions to society—is features installations from many major corporations submitted to the office in the 1800s.
States. Its national education network can be found held annually in Washington, D.C. and institutions:
in all 50 states and in more than 1,500 schools. • The Ford Motor Company: “Take a seat in a Camp Invention
The NIHF Museum one-of-a-kind ride—a 1965 Ford Mustang Camp Invention, founded in 1990 by the USPTO
NIHF PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS The NIHF Museum, located at the USPTO merged with a 2015 Ford Mustang. You’ll get a in partnership with NIHF, is another important ini-
NIHF celebrates the visionaries whose inventions headquarters in Alexandria, features the inductees’ hands-on experience with Intellectual Property tiative. Inspired and informed by NIHF inductees,
have changed our world; shares engaging stories of inventive legacies and is free and open to the public. Power and see first-hand how patents fuel the Camp Invention is a national summer enrichment
extraordinary inventors, the obstacles they over- The museum showcases the more than 500 inventors evolution of technology.” program for children in grades K-6 that not only
come, and their relevance to our past, present, and who have been inducted into NIHF and their great • The George Eastman Museum: “Get a full promotes creativity and inventive thinking through
Figure 1. 2016 inductee Victor Lawrence, who made a high-speed, global internet possible, adds his name to the Gallery Figure 2. Students learn about the science of bubbles as part of Camp Invention at Hyattsville Elementary School,
of Icons during the Illumination Ceremony at the NIHF Museum in Alexandria. Maryland, Summer 2017.
USPTO AND NIHF PARTNERSHIP 641
technological achievements that helped stimulate picture of the progression and development
growth for our nation and beyond. NIHF inspires the of the camera and interact with cultural touch-
next generation of innovators by connecting them stones of imaging history.”
through stories of invention. The interactive gallery • Qualcomm: “Plug into the story of Qualcomm’s
of icons allows you to discover how these innovators smartphone technology, powered by our patent
have shaped the world around us. The most recent system. Started decades ago with the aim of
inductees are featured in a special display where you giving each person their own phone number,
can see prototypes of their inventions and hear them today these innovations enhance the lives of
discuss their inventive processes. billions of people around the world.”
The exhibit “Intellectual Property Power” cel- The museum also has exhibits that illuminate the
ebrates the story of IP and communicates its history of patent examination and the job of patent
significance to progress, innovation, and culture. examiners. Visitors can see how the USPTO and the
To illustrate how trademarks and patented material process of patent examination have changed over
make modern amenities possible, this experience the past 200 years and view patent models that were
features installations from many major corporations submitted to the office in the 1800s.
and institutions:
• The Ford Motor Company: “Take a seat in a Camp Invention
one-of-a-kind ride—a 1965 Ford Mustang Camp Invention, founded in 1990 by the USPTO
merged with a 2015 Ford Mustang. You’ll get a in partnership with NIHF, is another important ini-
hands-on experience with Intellectual Property tiative. Inspired and informed by NIHF inductees,
Power and see first-hand how patents fuel the Camp Invention is a national summer enrichment
evolution of technology.” program for children in grades K-6 that not only
• The George Eastman Museum: “Get a full promotes creativity and inventive thinking through
Figure 2. Students learn about the science of bubbles as part of Camp Invention at Hyattsville Elementary School,
Maryland, Summer 2017.
642 OLSEN & HOSLER
Figure 2. Graduate and undergraduate student winners of the 2015 Collegiate Inventors Competition on stage at the USPTO.
hands-on STEM activities but also educates children Collegiate Inventors Competition
with age-appropriate introductions to the workings Also founded in 1990, the Collegiate Inventors
of USPTO and teaches them the value of patents, Competition encourages students’ innovative creativ-
trademarks, copyrights, and the American IP pro- ity, helping them break boundaries as they envision
tection system. a better society. It promotes collegiate competition
The program is taught in all 50 states plus among the country’s finest universities and connects
Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico by local, certi- the inventive spirit to entrepreneurship—encour-
fied teachers who receive professional development aging students to see the value of their ideas to our
training. Camp Invention reaches 120,000 children in society, continue to develop their inventions, patent
1,500 schools nationwide each summer and exponen-
tially more through teachers who report transferring their work, seek investors, start businesses, and con-
Camp Invention strategies to their own classrooms. tribute to new economies.
In 2017, 18,000 teachers and counselors participated Entries to the competition represent disciplines
in Camp Invention, each receiving on average 32.5 as varied as medical devices, biotechnology, nano-
hours of professional development. technology, renewable energy, robotics, and systems
Camp Invention develops an entirely new curric- engineering. Finalists are determined through two
ulum every year, allowing the program to provide a tiers of judging. In the preliminary round, entries
variety of different experiences for the many children are reviewed by expert judges in the applicant’s field
who participate over multiple years. NIHF inductees of invention or research. The scores from the pre-
help shape the curriculum, and it covers all fields of liminary round help to determine the finalists who
STEM. There is also a strong IP and entrepreneurial gather at the USPTO for an immersive judging and
component to help students think about marketing feedback experience with NIHF inductees and top
and commercializing their inventions. officials from the USPTO.
USPTO AND NIHF PARTNERSHIP 643
The competition is marketed to faculty and stu- innovation for people of all ages and backgrounds.
dents at over 1,000 colleges and universities and Future goals for Camp Invention include expanding
awards over $100,000 in prizes annually to first, scholarships for underserved audiences and increas-
second, and third prize winners in both the under- ing the scope by growing its preschool, after-school,
graduate and graduate categories. A large number and middle school programs. At the NIHF Museum
of Collegiate Inventors Competition Finalists have in Alexandria, ongoing renovations and new exhibits
gone on to start their own businesses, license their are being planned, including a new trademark display,
technologies through university technology transfer a veterans display, an updated USPTO patent history
offices, and continue their research at the graduate section, as well as the annual updates unveiled each
and postdoctoral levels. May to recognize new inductees. NIHF also plans
to increase its support for the USPTO’s Patents for
FUTURE WORK Humanity program, which recognizes innovators
The USPTO and the NIHF will continue their who use game-changing technology to meet global
strong partnership in the future in order to encourage humanitarian challenges.
Technology and Innovation, Vol. 19, pp. 645-651, 2018 ISSN 1949-8241 • E-ISSN 1949-825X
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.21300/19.3.2018.645
Copyright © 2018 National Academy of Inventors. www.technologyandinnovation.org
THE NAI FELLOW PROFILE: AN INTERVIEW WITH
DR. FRANCES LIGLER
Frances S. Ligler and Kimberly A. Macuare 2
1
1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
Raleigh and Chapel Hill, NC, USA
2 National Academy of Inventors, Tampa, FL, USA
Celebrated researcher, inventor, and educator Dr. Frances Ligler recently granted an interview
to T&I, in which she discusses her exciting new work in microfluidics and tissue-on-chip, the
innovative research and educational collaborations between the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, and the value in leading from behind.
INTRODUCTION
Technology and Innovation (T&I) is honored to
present Dr. Frances Ligler—pioneer in biosensors
and microfluidics—as the subject of this issue’s NAI
Fellow Profile. After 28 years at the United States
Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Ligler now serves
as the Lampe Distinguished Professor of Biomedical
Engineering at North Carolina State University (NC
State) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill).
Ligler received her B.S. in biology and chemistry
from Furman University and her D.Phil. in biochem-
istry and D.Sc. in biosensor technology from Oxford
University. Her prolific career has spanned a variety
of research areas, including biosensors, microfluid-
ics, tissue-on-chip, biochemistry, immunology, and
proteomics. She is the author of over 400 full-length
publications, inventor on 31 issued U.S. patents,
and creator of 11 commercial biosensor products.
Among her many accolades, Ligler is a member of
the National Academy of Engineering; a fellow of (photo courtesy of Frances Ligler)
_____________________
Accepted: October 15, 2017.
Profiled Inventor: Frances Ligler, D.Phil., D.Sc., NC State University, 4307 Engineering Building III, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA. Tel: +1 (919) 515-1049.
Corresponding Author: Kimberly A. Macuare, Ph.D., Associate Editor, Technology and Innovation, Journal of the National Academy of Inventors at the
®
USF Research Park, 3702 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 165, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. Tel: +1 (813) 974-1347. E-mail: [email protected]
645
646 THE NAI PROFILE
the American Institute for Medical and Biomedical of the interests of all of us. That’s been really fun
Engineering, the National Academy of Inventors, because I get to learn a lot of new science and raise
the American Association for the Advancement of awareness about areas that they don’t know anything
Science, and the Society for Photooptical Instrumen- about. I get to help out wherever I’m needed, without
tation Engineering; a 2017 inductee of the National having to push a personal agenda. In that context,
Inventors Hall of Fame; and a two-time recipient of I’m working with Glenn Walker on microfluidics and
Presidential Rank Awards. making disposable pumps that are programmable
Because her research interests have ranged widely, and can be used to drive microfluidic systems for less
Ligler has had major impacts in many key areas, than a penny. We actually have a patent filed on that
including bioterror defense, environmental mon- technology, and we’re trying to get it to the point of
itoring, food safety, and drug delivery. Her early being ready for commercialization.
work focused heavily on biosensors. In this field, she A second project I’m working with several profes-
did seminal work on the development of detection sors on is in the tissue-on-chip area. Before I came
systems based on optical biosensor technology, devel- down here, Michael Daniele and I figured out how
oping portable, automated biosensors for detection to use microfluidics to make capillaries by the meter
of everything from pathogens to pollutants to explo- with cells inside them. These microvessels really reca-
sives. These sophisticated biosensors provide data pitulate new capillaries, and we’re using them to make
for high-impact decisions; for example, the military vascularized tissue on the chip. With investigator Ke
fielded Ligler’s biothreat detection systems during Cheng, from the College of Veterinary Medicine at
Desert Storm for base protection. More recently, she NC State, we have actually made tissue patches that
has moved into other areas, such as microfluidics and we’ve used to restore function in rat hearts following
tissue-on-chip. She and her fellow researchers are a heart attack. We’ll be doing pigs next because it
already making great strides, showing early positive actually works amazingly well. The patches stimulate
results in the use of microfluidic strategies for cre- vasculature and muscle tissue to reform in areas that
ating materials laden with cells that can be used to would ordinarily fill with scar tissue, and that’s pretty
mimic natural tissue and organ function, a potential exciting.
game-changer in regenerative medicine. Ligler has The other area I’m working on is engineering drug
also been an exemplar in the translation of research delivery with Zhen Gu, a rather incredible faculty
to commercial products and has been instrumental member. The idea is to make smart materials that
in stimulating important collaborative research and control release of insulin automatically for diabetic
educational initiatives at NC State and UNC-Chapel patients. When glucose is high, insulin is released,
Hill. and when glucose goes back to a normal level, the
Dr. Ligler recently granted an interview to T&I, in release stops. The smart material is introduced
which she discusses her exciting new work in micro- painlessly either into the skin or just below the skin.
fluidics and tissue-on-chip, the innovative research Mouse studies show that you don’t have to monitor
and educational collaborations between UNC-Chapel glucose levels to keep the correct amount of insulin
Hill and NC State, and the value in leading from in the bloodstream. Now we are trying to scale up
behind. to perform similar studies in larger animals prior to
testing in people.
INTERVIEW
T&I: The diversity of your work strikes me. Could
T&I: Why don’t you tell me a little about some of the you talk about how working with people from dif-
current projects you’ve been working on? ferent disciplines drives and promotes cutting-edge
work?
Ligler: I don’t have my own lab, but I support four
postdocs that I have placed in more junior profes- Ligler: My interest is two-fold. I find the science
sors’ labs, usually assistant professors, so we can do very exciting, but I’m also interested in helping the
something that’s not tied to a grant—something that young faculty members (as well as the postdocs)
can be pretty innovative and follow the intersections build successful careers. I’m basically there to fill in
THE NAI PROFILE 647
the gaps and help with whatever is necessary, whether biosensors increasingly user friendly. To me, it was
it’s project management, writing proposals, writing a relief when other people started losing sleep over
papers, or mentoring the postdocs or the students to the threat of bioterriorism, appreciated the need for
do what they need to do to further their careers— a practical detection system, and explored a variety
basically filling in the gaps. of approaches for biothreat detection.
I also do a lot of bridging, so if a project needs a The current problem dominating biodefense
particular expertise, I help find that expertise and considerations is that the biothreats themselves are
bring in those collaborators, both from within North moving targets. The biotech industry has moved so
Carolina and outside. Some faculty members need fast in terms of providing tools for new (and very
that help, and some of them don’t. useful) product design, and making these tools easy
I also try to ask the questions that a younger sci- to use, that I don’t think the security community will
entist or engineer might not have thought about yet. ever catch up with the capability of biowarfare in
I have a broader perspective than most faculty mem- terms of defense. What we can do is learn a lot from
bers on what it takes to get things into the hands of pandemics and how they move through a community.
the users or into a corporate environment, how to If we can defend ourselves against Mother Nature,
deal with the legal aspects of patents or contracts, we can also defend ourselves against bioterrorists. I
or how to find the people that know how to do that. think that that realization has become more perva-
Probably the most valuable thing I do is ask questions. sive, and the medical community has become much
more involved in biodefense than they used to be,
T&I: Just as now, your earlier work with biosen- and I think that’s necessary.
sors was very diverse, covering food safety, disease The idea of trying to have a monitor that will
diagnosis, and pollution control, among other areas. protect you against everything a bioterrorist might
However, I was particularly drawn, probably because produce is not very practical anymore. You really
of our historical moment, to the work you have done have to know what you’re looking for ahead of time.
on biological terrorism defense. How did that work If the intelligence community can tell us what we’re
on biosensors respond to the increased threats of up against, that’s fine. We can build a sensor for
bioterrorism that we face in our modern times? almost anything, but we cannot build sensors against
Ligler: The time period for that work spans 27 years. everything.
When we first started out, lasers were huge devices, T&I: It’s analogous in a lot of ways to hackers and
and we were going to put one in the middle of the computer viruses. We try to stay one step ahead of the
ship and dangle fibers out of the portholes. It was ever-evolving viruses by creating systems to defend
that crude. I realized that we could use antibodies against them, but there is always another one around
to recognize toxins and biological molecules and the corner.
convert the recognition event to an optical signal.
So, we worked very closely with the people in the Ligler: Yes, we probably have a little longer time
optical sciences to take advantage of the develop- factor than those fighting computer viruses do, but
ments in the telecommunications industry and make the idea is the same. But, again, we have a wonderful
biosensors smaller and more portable. The manu- model in what Mother Nature does; she’s a terrifying
ally operated biosensor that went to the first Persian terrorist. So, if we practice defense with Ebola, SARS,
Gulf War weighed 150 pounds and would keep your and Zika and learn from those kinds of situations,
tent warm at night. The technology advanced a long those lessons will help us as much as anything.
way very rapidly; by the mid-90s, we had made bio- T&I: Branching out from the science, I was wonder-
sensors with increased capability that weighed less ing if you could talk about this joint appointment you
than 10 pounds, were fully automated, and could fit have with NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill and the
on a small drone. We continued to take advantage role you play in stimulating translational research by
of the technology that came out of the cell phone linking those two institutions.
industry and the communications industry to make
648 THE NAI PROFILE
Figure 1. Frances Ligler in the lab with postdoctoral fellow Edikan Ogunnaike and Professor Zhen Gu.
Ligler: My role is basically as a bridge. When I came a result, ended up with the undergraduate program
to North Carolina, I expected to help our new fac- in arts and sciences at Chapel Hill to combine with
ulty get incorporated with contacts at both the UNC the undergraduate program at NC State, which was
School of Medicine and the NC State College of Engi- very engineering oriented. Due to the newly defined
neering and to create a seamless culture between the joint program, the undergraduate programs on both
two. That role has expanded. I’ve actually gotten very campuses are now formally accredited engineering
extensively involved with the UNC Eshelman School programs.
of Pharmacy and the College of Veterinary Medi- The changes in the undergraduate program have
cine at NC State. These interactions, from a research been startling. Because of the resources of both insti-
point of view, are very productive. People really want tutions, we’ve really been able to establish a whole
to work together, and in biomedical engineering, new curriculum structure that teaches undergradu-
everybody is used to doing interdisciplinary work. ates both the breadth of hardcore engineering across
They know they need clinicians for both animals and bioengineering and the depth in the subsets of bio-
people. They know that relationships are essential engineering that personally intrigue them. We’ve
for engineering solutions that make a difference—so also built interactions with the very entrepreneurial
that part of my job is really easy. The challenge is business community in Research Triangle Park, so
identifying the opportunities. students have the option to work both in labs or
This bridge building actually includes more than do internships in industry. The students also have
research. The Joint Department of Biomedical Engi- opportunities through some of our very generous
neering started out with a graduate program in the donors to develop potential products, patent them,
medical school at Chapel Hill and the college of engi- and take them to market.
neering at NC State, and that’s pretty much where we We have a tremendous service culture among
were when I joined the department. We went through our undergraduate students. They have started an
a very extensive strategic planning initiative and, as organization called Helping Hands and make fingers
THE NAI PROFILE 649
for any kid in North Carolina who is missing fingers. Ligler: I think micromanagement certainly stifles
The students will update these prosthetic hands on a innovation, although attention to detail is certainly
yearly basis as the kid grows, which most parents can’t important and gets more and more important as
afford. This is only one of many service activities that you get further down the development pathway. Let
our students lead or to which they contribute their me give you an example. Let’s say you have a vision
time and talents. They’re a very socially conscious for something you want to create, like a biosensor,
group. and you need to bring people with different skills
In addition to professional development and lead- together to actually bring this vision to the point of
ership opportunities, we are rescheduling courses to being a product. You have to get everybody on the
make it more possible for undergraduates to study same page in terms of what the vision is and rely on
abroad, which is very hard for engineering students. them to help you identify the critical problems that
Our graduates will operate in a global community, so have to be solved to make it work. You rely on them
they need to appreciate other cultures. What’s going to have the expertise to come up with solutions in
on in the undergraduate program is groundbreaking concert with other people in the group. Sometimes
on both a national and international level. We have solutions come from places where you don’t expect
visitors over next week from one of the universities them. So you’re basically motivating people to solve
of Japan because they’re interested in what’s going on the problems to get a vision into reality. During this
and how we’ve created such a unique enterprise so process, I do what I call my “sheepdog thing”: repeat-
early on in the educational experience. A lot of this edly remind everyone what the vision is and keep
development is actually led by our students. They them going in the same direction while providing
tell us what they want to do, and we try to help them the freedom to modify the vision into something
figure out what kinds of skills they need to follow a that really works. They may come up with six things
particular pathway. For example, based on a plan this creation could do instead of the four that you
for going to industry vs. medical school vs. graduate had thought of originally. You have to allow them
school, we help them understand what kinds of skills to add their own interpretation of what they want
they need to build. I never expected to get involved the outcome to be as long as it makes sense to solve
with the undergraduates when I got here, and now the problems that need to be solved. In that case,
I’m spending a lot of time with them and enjoying you’re continually motivating people and continually
every minute of it. reminding them of what the vision is and where we’re
trying to go but letting them create their own winding
T&I: Everyone talks in entrepreneurial culture about path as long as it’s going in the right direction. And
collisions. It sounds like you have really found a way you motivate them to care—to care about the final
to guide these collisions. outcome and care about the views of other people
Ligler: Yes, we are actually engineering the collisions. because other people can be helpful to them in solving
We even have an office now in Research Triangle Park. their problems—and to communicate respectfully
We have a nexus there halfway between both colleges with colleagues, not wasting time and not going off on
where students and faculty meet and participate in tangents. So, there’s a lot of motivation involved, and
the entrepreneurial networking activities that go on the final product is usually better than the original
there. Some students even have gotten involved in vision. I lead best from behind.
the ethics initiative that the Rotary Club has started. T&I: One thing I loved was reading about your pas-
There is no shortage of interesting activities for a sion for reading about explorers growing up. What
motivated student. role did that reading, and your other childhood expe-
riences, play in your choice of science as a career?
T&I: You have said in regards to your leadership of
research groups that your role is that of a motivator. Ligler: I think my interest in explorers was very
What makes that an effective strategy for leading natural because Daniel Boone was a relative and
innovation in particular? Have you experienced other Abraham Lincoln was a relative, and I grew up in
leadership styles that stifle innovation? Kentucky hearing about life in their time. My aunt
650 THE NAI PROFILE
had an antique shop that still had bullet holes in it underserved kids, and we don’t mind if we have to
from the war with the Native Americans. I grew up go a ways to get there.
running around the woods with my coonskin cap and I also have started working with Kelly Sexton,
my hound dog. I grew up racing my horse around who is the assistant vice chancellor for technology
stumps, pretending that I was “counting coup” on commercialization and new ventures at NC State.
the teepees of an enemy tribe. I spent a lot of time She and I want to start to do more to educate women
in the woods: My mother was an avid fisherman, faculty locally and show them that invention and
my father and brother hunted, and my grandmother patenting is a good way to get your ideas into the
would take us out to identify the wildflowers every hands of the people who need them. It’s about more
spring. I grew up with a closeness to nature. My dad than making money; it’s also about social benefit.
used to cut up fish and say, “Look. This is a female And they don’t have to give their lives away to do this.
fish, and these are the eggs and this is what she ate They can license their patents if they get them to the
for lunch. This is the liver, and these are the lungs.” I point a company would be interested in the invention.
was always amazed and interested in how organized There’s a lot of opportunity awareness we are trying
everything was inside an animal. My fascination with to create and ideas we’re trying to push. Hopefully,
biology developed naturally and in a very immediate if we are successful in attracting more female and
way. My first research project was at Oak Ridge Labs, minority inventors here, then our strategy will catch
and I was isolating a factor that controls growth in on at other places. Dr. Sexton made the observation
fish. I spent a lot of time out on the TVA lakes water that NC State has a lot more female inventors who
skiing home, and I thought, “If this is science, this is are students and staff than faculty. So, that creates
for me.” It didn’t quite work out that way, but it was the optimistic possibility that the younger people
such a completely natural segue from my childhood coming up are not as inhibited as the older ones in
experiences. terms of pursuing patentable intellectual property.
I also had a very good high school science teacher T&I: This interview is going to be in the conference
that got me involved in doing research to figure out issue, and this year’s conference theme was “Pillars
how things worked from a biology point of view. As I of Innovation.” As a master innovator yourself, what
got more and more into biology, I got more fascinated do you think are the key pillars on which innovation
with what’s going on at the molecular level, so that’s rests?
why I went into biochemistry.
Ligler: I was talking with my husband about this,
T&I: Thinking about those childhood influences, and we came up with three pillars for innovation.
I wanted to take that idea full circle to your induc- Using a takeoff from Thomas Edison’s quote (Edi-
tion into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. At the son was the first inventor from NRL elected to the
time, you seemed really excited about their educa- National Inventors Hall of Fame and I was the third),
tional activities and the opportunities those activities I would say the three pillars of innovation are focus,
offered to impact young inventors, especially females. inspiration, and perspiration. In terms of focus, it’s
What kinds of things do you have in mind? understanding what the capability is that you really
need to solve a problem. It’s not thinking in terms of
Ligler: The National Inventors Hall of Fame invited technologies but asking what capabilities a user needs
me to participate in Camp Invention for elementary to solve his problems, and then, with that real under-
school students this summer. My husband and I both standing of the user, it’s trying to think very broadly
got involved, and it was a blast. I had so much fun. on what might be ways to get that capability, in the
We’re already signed up for two camps next summer. very broadest sense. Then you have inspiration, where
The excitement of the kids is amazing, and I got so you think of one or two, maybe three, ways in which
many hugs! What those kids are doing is wonder- to create the capability. You think of which option
ful, and it’s also a very mixed crowd at those camps, is practicable—not practical, but practicable from a
so I want to get more involved with that. We’d like commercialization perspective, from a marketing
for them to find us a camp where there are more perspective, from a user operational perspective.
THE NAI PROFILE 651
The third pillar is perspiration. It takes a lot of hard FS, Adams AA. Microfabricated blood ves-
work to make something happen. sels undergo neoangiogenesis. Biomaterials.
2017;138:142-152.
CONCLUSION 4. Cummins BM, Chinthapatla R, Lenin B, Ligler
Despite her legion honors and accolades, Ligler is FS, Walker GM. Modular pumps as programma-
disarmingly humble, quick to credit others, and more ble hydraulic batteries for microfluidic devices.
than comfortable leading others from behind. She Technology. 2017;5(1): 21-30.
clearly understands that the work takes precedence 5. Bhatia SK, Shriver-Lake LC, Prior KJ, Georger
over ego or any territorialism a researcher might have. JH, Calvert JM, Bredehorst R, Ligler FS. Use
As she notes, “One of the reasons I’m so focused on of thiol-terminal silanes and heterobifunc-
people now is that I realized to get a new technology tional crosslinkers for immobilization of
into the hands of the user in a manufactured phase antibodies on silica surfaces. Anal biochem.
takes ten years if you’re lucky. I don’t know if I have 1989;178(2):408-413.
ten years left, so I’m trying to teach other people how 6. Rowe CA, Tender LM, Feldstein MJ, Golden JP,
to do it.” Through her amazing contributions and Scruggs SB, MacCraith BD, Cras JJ, Ligler FS.
inspiring presence, Ligler is doing just that: teaching Array biosensor for simultaneous identification
those around her about the value of research, the of bacterial, viral, and protein analytes. Anal
necessity to translate technology, and the impera-
tive to bring people and institutions together to spur Chem. 1999;71(17):3846-3852.
innovation and hopefully change the future for the 7. Delehanty JB, Ligler FS. A microarray immuno-
better. assay for simultaneous detection of proteins and
bacteria. Anal Chem. 2002;74(21):5681-5687
FURTHER READING 8. Taitt CR, Anderson GP, Ligler FS. Evanescent
1. The Frances Ligler Story [video]. National wave fluorescence biosensors. Biosens Bioelec-
Inventors Hall of Fame. 2017 May 5, tron. 2016;20(12):2470-2487.
2:57 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/ 9. Ligler FS, Taitt CAR. Optical biosensors: present
watch?v=-LXDx5OOfTE. and future. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science; 2002.
2. Chen Z, Wang J, Sun W, Archibong E, Kahkoska 10. Ateya DA, Erickson JS, Howell PB Jr, HIlliard
AR, Zhang X, Lu Y, Ligler FS, Buse JB, Gu Z. LR, Golden JP, Ligler FS. The good, the bad, and
Synthetic beta cells for fusion-mediated dynamic the tiny: a review of microflow cytometry. Anal
insulin secretion. Nat Chem Biol. 2017. https:// Bioanal Chem. 2008;391(5): 1485-1498.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29083418. doi: 11. Ligler FS. Perspective on optical biosensors
10.1038/nchembio. 2511. and integrated sensor systems. Anal Chem.
3. DiVito KA, Daniele MA, Roberts SA, Ligler 2009;81(2):519-526.
INNOVATION
IRX
Therapeutics
IRX Therapeutics, a University of
South Florida (USF) spinout and
partner for 20 years, is a clinical-
stage company developing novel
immunotherapies focused on re-
ducing the immune suppression
that is seen in the cancer tumor
microenvironment, restoring immune
function, and activating a coordi-
nated immune response against the tumor. Based on immunotherapy studies conducted at USF,
Dr. John W. Hadden’s findings led to new insights into how cancers subvert cellular immunity, a
better understanding of what human tumors undergoing immune regression look like, and a prod-
uct, IRX-2. The company’s lead candidate, IRX-2, is a proprietary therapeutic containing numerous
active cytokine components. The positive Phase 2a results for IRX-2, including encouraging
five-year survival data in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, provide a strong basis for
the growth of the company in the area of immuno-oncology. Currently, IRX-2 is being studied in an
ongoing phase 2b clinical trial in patients with newly diagnosed stage II, III, and IVA squamous cell
carcinoma of the head and neck and also in preoperative early stage breast cancer. The company
has accelerated the enrollment for this study and will be opening 50 additional sites this year. IRX’s
Board of Directors recently appointed Mark Leuchtenberger as president, chief executive officer,
and director and Monil Shah as chief operating officer. Mr. Leuchtenberger and Dr. Shah are two
biotechnology industry veterans who bring extensive experience in corporate and operational
leadership and oncology drug development to IRX.
More information can be found at:
www.IRXTherapeutics.com
Technology and Innovation, Vol. 19., pp. 653-654, 2018 ISSN 1949-8241 • E-ISSN 1949-825X
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.21300/19.3.2018.653
Copyright © 2018 National Academy of Inventors. 653 www.technologyandinnovation.org
INNOVATION
BioReNEW, Inc.
BioReNEW, Inc. is a University of South Florida (USF) start-up company dedicated to improving world sanita-
tion problems by using microbes to break down waste. Developed by Dr. Daniel Yeh, associate professor of civil
and environmental engineering at USF and his team, the company’s patented NEWgenerator technology gener-
ates nutrients, energy, and water by safely recovering them from wastewater without being hooked up to sewer
lines. The system is paired with a device with a sewage tank, like a portable toilet. The battery-run generator
pulls waste and wastewater from the tank and then runs it through a membrane-based cleaning filter. That
draws out nutrients as well as water that is then chlorinated for future toilet flushing. Yeh is the principal investi-
gator of a newly-awarded two-year $1.14 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for this innova-
tive technology. Yeh and USF postdoctoral researcher Dr. Robert Bair will soon install a new and improved
version of the NEWgenerator in Durban, South Africa, and will begin field testing with their partners at the
University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, in early 2018. They are one of four crews selected by the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation to develop technologies called Reinvented Toilets that help solve water and sanita-
tion problems in Durban and worldwide. Yeh’s NEWgenerator technology has been the recipient of several
awards, including a $50,000 prize from the Cade Museum in Florida, a previous $100,000 grant from the Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation in 2011, and a $200,000 award from the government of India, where the innova-
tive technology is being field tested in the coastal city of Trivandrum.
More information can be found at:
BioReNEWinc.com
654
Aims and Scope contested areas of science where a consensus is lacking is
included in this category. Commentaries are shorter than
The journal Technology and Innovation, Journal of the regular manuscripts and must contain information that is
National Academy of Inventors (T&I) is a forum for pre- likely to invoke scientific discussion with the objective of
sentation of information encompassing essentially the promoting the development of a consensus.
entire field of applied sciences, with a focus on transfor-
mative technology and academic innovation. Owing to Patent Reviews: New patents of interest to the readers of
the broad nature of the applied sciences, authors should T&I are included in this category.
be guided by the interest of the readers who are likely to Book Reviews on Innovation and Technology: Solicited
be knowledgeable non-specialist scholars. Contributions or unsolicited short reviews of relevant books and issued
containing the following information will be considered patents are considered for publication in this category.
for publication:
Preparation of Manuscripts
• Description of advances in transformative technol-
ogy and translational science Submissions to Technology and Innovation must be in
• Critical assessments of a segment of science, engi- English, in an editable Microsoft Word-compatible elec-
neering, medicine, or other technologies tronic file, typed, 12-point font, double-spaced, formatted
• Economics of a technology, governmental and policy for 22 × 28 cm (8.5 × 11 in) with a margin of 2.5-3 cm (1
action, and innovation as related to intellectual prop- in) at the top, sides, and bottom of each page. Tables should
erty be placed on separate page(s) sequentially at the end of the
• Environmental (including human health) impact of manuscript (after the ‘Reference’ section). Figures should
various technologies be submitted separately from text.
• Articles on historical, societal, ethical, and related
aspects of science,engineering, medicine, or tech- Title page: Each paper should include a title page with the
nology, provided they are written for the scientific title of the paper, submission type, name(s) of author(s),
community and in a style compatible with a scien- and complete affiliation(s). Provide a short title to be used
tific journal as running head. Indicate the author to whom correspon-
• Articles should have a discussion on the process of dence and proofs should be addressed (i.e. ‘corresponding
innovation and invention author’), and provide a complete physical mailing address,
phone, fax, and email address.
Because T&I serves a multidisciplinary audience, authors
are urged to avoid writing for specialists. In particular, they Title: The title should be as short as possible but fully
are discouraged from using expressions that are under- descriptive.
standable only to a select audience of specialists. For Submission Type: The author should indicate the type of
example, mathematical expressions should be explained submission that best describes their manuscript (Article,
in words to assure their appreciation by nonmathemati- Commentary, Editorial, or Patent Review).
cians. All contributions will be subjected to peer review
and will be evaluated on the basis of their general useful- Abstract and key words: The abstract should contain a
ness for the readers, including scientific quality, originality, summary of the article, including its results in 250 words
and compliance with the style and format of the journal. or less. Because many abstracting services use the abstract
The following categories of contributions will be consid- without reference to the content, the authors are urged to
ered for publication: succinctly provide the essence of the paper in the (up to)
250 words allocated. Additionally, provide 3 to 6 key words
Articles: Most articles will be review format with no min- after the abstract.
imum or maximum length. The journal subscribes to the
concept that the length of an article is determined by its Tables and figures: Tables and figures should be under-
content. However, a preference will be given for articles standable without excessive reference to the text;
that are between 7 and 15 published pages. particularly, units and quantities should be clearly iden-
tified. In general, material should be presented in tables
Commentaries and Discussions: (Letters to the editor, or figures but not in both. Avoid very wide or long figures
editorials, and similar contributions also fall into this cat- and tables that would not fit on a printed page. By default,
egory.) These are subjected to peer review and are required tables and figures will appear in B&W. If color figures are
to follow T&I format and style and must be consistent with necessary or desired, there is a charge for their reproduc-
the requirements of a scholarly journal. The discussion of tion. Figures should be submitted at the highest resolution
i
ii
possible, preferably 300dpi at 7 inches (width or height). questions about references or other formatting issues,
Low-resolution files that appear pixilated when printed please contact T&I at [email protected].
will NOT be accepted for publication.
The designated corresponding author will receive a proof
Tables: Present each table on a separate page at the end of of their article in PDF format via email before publication.
the manuscript (i.e., not within the body of the text). Pro- The corresponding author should answer all queries at this
vide a short title for each table. Cite all tables sequentially time and carefully check all editorial changes within 48
in the text and provide publishing staff with a cue for where hours of receipt. Corrections at this stage should be limited
they should approximately appear in the manuscript (e.g., to printer’s errors and minor changes. No major changes
‘INSERT TABLE 1’) when published. Tables should be in or rewrites are allowed.
an editable format.
Open Access: To help authors reach maximum exposure
Figures: Figures should be submitted separately from the for manuscripts published in Technology and Innovation,
text. Cite all figures sequentially in the text and provide T&I utilizes Open Access publishing. Fees are billed when
publishing staff with a cue for where they should approx- a manuscript is accepted for publication.
imately appear in the manuscript (e.g., ‘INSERT FIGURE
1’) when published. All figures must be high-quality art Open Access Fee Rates
work in electronic format. Lettering should be large enough Standard Single Submission: ..................................$1,000
to be readable when reduced to fit page or column size. NAI Fellow Contributed Single Submission: ..........$800
Avoid light lettering and gray shading. SPECIAL NOTE: If you are interested in publishing with T&I but believe
Figures in accepted submissions are printed for free in you will be unable to meet the Open Access fees, please
black & white. If you wish to have your figures reproduced contact T&I at [email protected] or (813)
in color, there is an additional fee for this service. All leg- 974-1347.
ends for figures should be included on a separate page at
the end of the manuscript. Copyright: If data from any source other than the authors
is used in tables or figures, it is the responsibility of the
Equations: All equations should be typewritten. Math- authors to obtain permission to reproduce such material.
ematical notations should be simple and suitable for a Editorial staff may ask authors to provide proof that per-
multidisciplinary audience. For example, fractions within mission has been granted from the original publisher and
fractions and subscripts within subscripts should be indicate the source when signing our copyright forms.
avoided. Where possible, incorporate equations into the
text rather than as a separate figure. For any questions relating to the formatting or submit-
ting of manuscripts, please contact T&I at tijournal@
Units, quantities, and abbreviations: Use SI (metric) units academyofinventors.org or (813) 974-1347.
and international quantities and abbreviations. Equivalent
values in other systems may be used, provided their metric Ethics Statement
equivalents are included in every case. Note that percent,
ppm, and ppb are not metric units. The publishers and editorial board of Technology and Inno-
vation have adopted the publication ethics and malpractice
Footnotes: Avoid text footnotes. Footnote material should statements of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
be incorporated into the text for the benefit of the readers, (http://publicationethics.org/resources/guidelines). These
editors, and printers.
guidelines highlight what is expected of authors and what
Financial Disclosure: The authors should indicate any they can expect from the reviewers and editorial board in
financial or other relationships connected with the infor- return. They also provide details of how problems will be
mation in the article. handled. Briefly:
Acknowledgment: If an acknowledgment is included, it Author Responsibilities: Authors listed on a manuscript
should not contain lengthy descriptions of the reason for must have made a significant contribution to the study and/
the acknowledgement. or writing of the manuscript. During revisions, authors can-
not be removed without their permission and that of the
References: For references, please follow CSE citation-se- other authors. All authors must also agree to the addition
quence style. Information about CSE citation format can of new authors. It is the responsibility of the correspond-
be found at http://www.scientificstyleandformat.org/Tools/ ing author to ensure that this occurs.
SSF-Citation-Quick-Guide.html. If you have additional
iii
Financial support and conflicts of interest for all authors ulent data or plagiarism, during or after the publication
must be declared. Further information on this can be process, they will be investigated by the editorial board,
obtained from the International Committee for Medical including contact with the author’s institution if necessary
Journal Editors (http://www.icmje.org/). so that a decision on the appropriate corrections, clarifi-
cations, or retractions can be made. The publisher agrees
The reported research must be novel and authentic and to publish this as necessary so as to maintain the integrity
the authors should confirm that the same data has not of the academic record.
been and is not going to be submitted to another journal
(unless already rejected). Statements made in the introduc-
tion and discussion should be supported by appropriate Protection for Research Participants
references, and sufficient experimental detail should be pro- These policies are in accordance with the recommenda-
vided to allow for repetition of the study by another group. tions of The International Committee of Medical Journal
Plagiarism of the text/data will not be tolerated and could Editors (ICMJE)
result in retraction of an accepted article. Any text or fig-
ures reproduced for another source require the permission n Humans
of the original copyright holders (normally the publishers). 1. If experiments or research reported in the article
Any manipulation of figures should be equally applied and involve human subjects, the authors must indicate
described in the text (including pseudocoloring) and must if their procedures were approved by an Institu-
not change the meaning of the figure. tional Review Board, ethics committee, or similar
regulatory oversight committee. If a review board
When humans, animals, or tissue derived from them have or committee is not available, the authors should
been used, then mention of the appropriate ethical approval indicate that their procedures are in accordance
must be included in the manuscript. with the Helsinki Declaration as revised in 2013.
Reviewer responsibilities: Reviewers are expected to 2. Manuscripts must be accompanied by a statement
not possess any conflicts of interest with the authors and that the informed consent of research participants
research. They should review the science objectively and was obtained prior to participation or that docu-
provide recommendations for improvements where nec- mentation of informed consent was waived by the
essary. When aware of relevant published work not being Institutional Review Board, ethics committee, or
cited, the reviewers should recommend inclusion of these similar regulatory oversight committee.
references. If the reviewer feels that they would be unable
to repeat the study as described, then additional meth- If images or other identifying information is included in
odological details should be requested. Any unpublished the manuscript, explicit written informed consent of the
information read by a reviewer should be treated as con- individual/patient must be obtained and included with
fidential. your submission. Measures to protect the confidentiality
of the individual(s) should also be employed. If consent
Editorial responsibilities: The editors will select an appro- cannot be obtained, you are encouraged to contact the edi-
priate number of reviewers for the manuscript so that they tor for further guidance.
can make an informed decision about whether to reject/
accept a manuscript. Their decision must be based only on n Animals
the paper’s importance, originality, clarity, and suitability If experiments or research reported in the article involve
for the journal. They must not have a conflict of interest animals, the authors must indicate if their procedures were
with the authors or work described. The anonymity of the performed in accordance with the U.S. Public Health Ser-
reviewers must be maintained.
vice’s (PHS) Policy on Human Care and Use of Laboratory
Should problems come to light after acceptance, then the Animals and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory
editors agree to promote the publication of corrections Animals and were approved by appropriate institutional
and/or retractions as deemed necessary. review committee(s).
Publishing responsibilities: The publisher agrees to ensure Editors reserve the right to reject manuscripts if there is
that, to the best of their abilities, the information that they doubt that appropriate ethical standards have not been
publish is genuine and ethically sound. If publishing ethics met in research involving human and animal subjects or
issues come to light, not limited to accusations of fraud- if there is reason to suspect research misconduct.
CALL FOR PAPERS
Special Editor: Kevin J. Parker, University of Rochester, [email protected]
Technology and Innovation (T&I) is currently soliciting manuscripts for a special issue on
patent infringement in the innovation economy.
The Constitution of the United States establishes the legal framework for granting limited term, exclusive
rights to inventors in the U.S., and similar frameworks exist in other countries. Patents are a vital part of
the innovation economy and the advancement of technology and its commercial applications. Once exclu-
sive rights are granted for an invention in the form of an issued patent, the topic of patent infringement
can
become a major concern. News headlines dramatize the largest cases, for example, the $900 Million
Kodak v. Polaroid dispute over instant photography in the early 1990s. However, for smaller companies,
start-ups, and university inventors, the complexity of identifying and challenging infringers can be daunt-
ing. Yet, the future of the start-up or the university invention may depend on recognition of the key issues
surrounding infringement.
We seek rigorous scholarly articles addressing the spectrum of issues surrounding patent infringement,
particularly relating to the perspective of university inventors and small start-ups. Areas of interest in-
clude:
• overviews or reviews of trends in patent infringement cases and laws (U.S. or international)
• history and significance of patent infringement cases
• the current state of patent infringement practices, costs, and timelines in the U.S.
• university inventors and university tech transfer perspectives on patent infringement
• reforms of infringement laws, costs, and timelines for the 21 century
st
• alternative strategies for challenging infringement
• the requirements for identifying infringing products
• case studies that illuminate key decisions and issues of infringement
• specific infringement concerns by sector: biotech, computers, aerospace, nanotech, and others.
Initial manuscripts should be submitted by September 3, 2018. Instructions for authors, including journal
policies, manuscript formatting information, and author forms, can be found at: http://academyofinventors.
org/ti/resources.asp.
T&I is published by the National Academy of Inventors and presents information encompassing the
entire field of applied sciences, with a focus on transformative technology and academic innovation, and
welcomes manuscripts that meet the general criteria of significance and scientific excellence. We publish
original articles in basic and applied research, critical reviews, surveys, opinions, commentaries, essays,
and patent and book reviews of interest to our readers.
If you have questions or would like to submit a manuscript, please contact the
associate editor of T&I, Kimberly Macuare, at [email protected].
CALL FOR PAPERS
Special Editor: Kevin J. Parker, University of Rochester, [email protected]
Technology and Innovation (T&I) is currently soliciting manuscripts for a special issue on
patent infringement in the innovation economy.
The Constitution of the United States establishes the legal framework for granting limited term, exclusive
rights to inventors in the U.S., and similar frameworks exist in other countries. Patents are a vital part of
the innovation economy and the advancement of technology and its commercial applications. Once exclu-
sive rights are granted for an invention in the form of an issued patent, the topic of patent infringement
can
become a major concern. News headlines dramatize the largest cases, for example, the $900 Million
Kodak v. Polaroid dispute over instant photography in the early 1990s. However, for smaller companies,
start-ups, and university inventors, the complexity of identifying and challenging infringers can be daunt-
ing. Yet, the future of the start-up or the university invention may depend on recognition of the key issues
surrounding infringement.
We seek rigorous scholarly articles addressing the spectrum of issues surrounding patent infringement,
particularly relating to the perspective of university inventors and small start-ups. Areas of interest in-
clude:
• overviews or reviews of trends in patent infringement cases and laws (U.S. or international)
• history and significance of patent infringement cases
• the current state of patent infringement practices, costs, and timelines in the U.S.
• university inventors and university tech transfer perspectives on patent infringement
• reforms of infringement laws, costs, and timelines for the 21 century
st
• alternative strategies for challenging infringement
• the requirements for identifying infringing products
• case studies that illuminate key decisions and issues of infringement
• specific infringement concerns by sector: biotech, computers, aerospace, nanotech, and others.
Initial manuscripts should be submitted by September 3, 2018. Instructions for authors, including journal
policies, manuscript formatting information, and author forms, can be found at: http://academyofinventors.
org/ti/resources.asp.
T&I is published by the National Academy of Inventors and presents information encompassing the
entire field of applied sciences, with a focus on transformative technology and academic innovation, and
welcomes manuscripts that meet the general criteria of significance and scientific excellence. We publish
original articles in basic and applied research, critical reviews, surveys, opinions, commentaries, essays,
and patent and book reviews of interest to our readers.
If you have questions or would like to submit a manuscript, please contact the
associate editor of T&I, Kimberly Macuare, at [email protected].
The words you are searching are inside this book. To get more targeted content, please make full-text search by clicking here.
Discover the best professional documents and content resources in AnyFlip Document Base.
Search