Nanotech devices for biology research, a new way to pasteurize milk, improvements in cellular phone systems, and new strawberry varieties were among the 41 patents issued to 32 Cornell inventors during fiscal year 2005–06. They were honored Oct. 24 in a recognition ceremony presented by the Cornell Center for Technology, Enterprise and Commercialization in Statler Ballroom B.

Jason Koski/University Photography

“Cornell has a long history of its faculty and staff inventing and receiving patents,” said Richard Cahoon, acting executive director of the center. “Since Ezra Cornell received U.S. Patent No. 3456 on his ‘mole plow’ for laying telegraph cable, Cornell inventors have received hundreds of patents in many different technical fields. CCTEC is currently working with inventors at Cornell on the transfer of patented inventions to the commercial sector through licensing, so inventors and Cornell will realize the transformation of their research advancements to market innovations for the public good.”

In the five years ending with 2004, CCTEC and its predecessor, the Cornell Research Foundation, received 990 invention submissions from Cornell researchers, secured 912 U.S. patents, completed 373 license agreements, and launched 36 startups. Between 1990 and 2004, net income from patent licensing was $26.2 million.

Among the inventors recognized, members of the engineering community include:

• Gregory T. Baxter, biomedical engineering; and Sandip Tiwari, electrical and computer engineering: Electronic Gain Cell Based Charge Sensor.
• Geoffrey W. Coates, chemistry and chemical biology; and Lewis Fetters, chemical and biomolecular engineering: Functionalized Poly(ethylene-co-syndiotactic propylene).
• Harold G. Craighead, applied and engineering physics; Jonas Korlach, biochemistry, molecular and cell biology; Mathieu F. Foquet, applied and engineering physics; Michael Levene, applied and engineering physics; Stephen W. Turner, applied and engineering physics; and Watt W. Webb, applied and engineering physics: Method for Sequencing Nucleic Acid Molecules.
• Harold G. Craighead, applied and engineering physics; Jonas Korlach, biochemistry, molecular and cell biology; Michael Levene, applied and engineering physics; Watt W. Webb, applied and engineering physic; and Stephen W. Turner, applied and engineering physics: Zero-Mode Clad Waveguides for Performing Spectroscopy with Confined Effective Observation Volumes.
• Zygmunt J. Haas, electrical and computer engineering: Methods and Systems for Concurrent Paging of Mobile Users in Cellular Networks and Independent-Tree AdHoc Multicast Routing.
• Edwin C. Kan, electrical and computer engineering: Chemoreceptive Semiconductor Structure.
• Brent M. Ledvina, mechanical and aerospace engineering; Mark L. Psiaki, mechanical and aerospace engineering; Paul M. Kintner, electrical and computer engineering; and Steven P. Powell, electrical and computer engineering: Real-Time Software Receiver.
• Dan Luo, biological and environmental engineering: Controlled Nucleic Acid Delivery System.
• Michael L. Shuler, biomedical engineering: Self-Priming Micropump.
• Sandip Tiwari, electrical and computer engineering: Scalable Nano-transistor and Memory Using Back-side Trapping.

—Bill Steele, Cornell Chronicle Publications