Four Patent Applications Pending on Water Contamination Detection System
Carlsbad, California, April 25, 2007 — The U.S. Navy and Assure Controls, Inc. recently received confirmation of receipt from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on four new patent applications. Based on technology originally developed and patented by the United States Navy (USN) at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego (SSC San Diego), the four new patent applications extend to areas of proprietary development in the optical measurement process, methods of stimulation, the integration of biological organisms, hardware and software into a unique system for analysis, and the packaging of aquatic research organisms in disposable test kits.
Assure Controls has worked with SSC San Diego since 2005 under a Federal Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). Under the provisions of a CRADA, any new inventions deemed likely to result in new patents can be jointly developed and filed. The four new patent applications were done by SSC San Diego. The co-inventors on the patents are David Lapota, Ph.D., Principal Researcher on the CRADA and employee of SSC San Diego; and Bryan Bjorndal, President and CEO of Assure Controls, Inc.
"This is an outstanding example of cooperation between the Federal laboratory at SSC San Diego and one of our commercial partners. It extends the technology in meaningful ways, leverages the resources of both parties, and provides additional value to the original technology invented, patented and licensed," stated Dr. Stephen Lieberman, Director the Office of Research and Technology Applications SSC San Diego. "One of our objectives is to take unique applications such as this and expand the commercial opportunities."
More than a decade ago the U.S. Navy invented and in 1998 patented technology to measure bioluminescent plankton (dinoflagellates). When exposed to both organic and inorganic contaminants in harmful concentrations the plankton's natural bioluminescence is inhibited or extinguished creating a linear and predictable relationship. Since 1996 the USN and other private contractors have used bioluminescent dinoflagellates in extensive environmental work. Six projects using this technique were completed for environmental impact and risk assessment. These projects assessed performance such as sensitivity and response time to find better methods than standard EPA testing protocols and procedures. Thousands of samples and hundreds of testing results were completed. The data and reports were submitted and accepted by state and federal agencies.
"Dual-use technologies invented by the military and with civilian applications provide a great benefit," noted Bjorndal. "For our company, it is rewarding to be selling new products resulting from research conducted by the Navy, and the innovation provides new capabilities for the U.S. environmental industry." Under the exclusive license signed between the Navy and Assure Controls, royalty payments are paid to the government in exchange for use of the government-funded and patented technology.
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Contact Assure Controls:
Mickele Hughes
p: 760.505.3000 x3
f: 760.306.7872
mhughes@assurecontrols.com
www.AssureControls.com
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