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Home > News & Events > Events > Event Details

Celebrate Invention 2011

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Photography by Peter Smith

Over 400 gathered at the Michigan League Ballroom this evening to recognize the achievements of U-M researchers involved in the technology transfer process. Among those being honored at the event, known as Celebrate Invention, were University researchers who had, during FY 2011, either disclosed a new invention, had a patent issued, or been involved with a technology that had been licensed to industry. In FY 2011, the University of Michigan broke an all time record, completing 101 technology licenses with corporate partners. During that same period, the University also launched 11 new companies.

In addition to honoring the inventors of 2011, special recognition was given to U-M Ross School of Business professor Tom Kinnear, who was presented with the Ted Doan Award for Outstanding Leadership in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The award, which was initially proposed in 2005 by U-M President Mary Sue Coleman in honor of the late Dow Chemical CEO Ted Doan, was first presented in 2007 to Michigan entrepreneur Herb Amster. Kinnear is the second recipient. The award this evening was presented to Kinnear by Ann Arbor entrepreneur Jeff Williams, the former CEO of HandyLab and Accuri and present CEO of Tangent Medical and Life Magnetics. Kinnear, said Williams, was instrumental over the course of the past several decades in transforming southeast Michigan's start-up environment, having personally assisted in the launches of dozens of high-tech companies. A letter from U-M President Mary Sue Coleman, who couldn't be at the event, was read to the audience. In it, she praise Kinnear for his, "energy, vision and passion for new ideas and inventions," and credited him with having "enhanced the quality of life of the entire state of Michigan."

As in years past, Celebrate Invention primarily revolved around several kiosk areas, where groups of U-M researchers discussed their discoveries that were poised to move into the market, either through start-up or existing companies. Following are the eight groups that were present. View video of the event here.

Highlighted Technology

• LectureTools, Inc. is a web-based learning tool designed for the lecture environment. Instructors upload presentations and add interactive activities to improve student engagement, attentiveness, and participation during lecture. Students are provided an interactive learning environment allowing them to become more organized and engaged in course material. (Perry Samson, Jason Aubrey, Kiran Jagadeesh)
• H3D Inc. - Polaris Project is developing high-precision, easily-portable radiation detection sensors which provide the unique ability to visualize, in real time, the precise 3-dimensional location and isotopic composition of radioactive materials. (Zhong He, Feng Zhang, Willy Kaye, Weiyi Wang)
• Resuscitative Aortic Occlusion System, this resuscitative aortic occlusion device bridges injured soldiers to definitive treatment. Current wartime vascular injury rates are nearly 5 times higher than that of other wars. Non-compressible sites of torso hemorrhage are the leading cause of preventable battlefield death. (Jonathan L. Eliason, Colonel Todd E. Rasmussen)
• U-M Mobile Apps Center helps developers across U-M use their creativity, passion and knowledge of technology to design solutions that enhance the way we connect and share information. (Ryan Vis, Joe Swanson, Cassandra Carson and the ITS Mobile and Web Team)
• 4-D Carbon Nanotube Surfaces technology enables the design and fabrication of complex surface architectures by self-assembly of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). CNT surfaces have novel mechanical, electrical, thermal, and biochemical properties, which can be actively transduced; and can be manufactured efficiently at large scales. (John Hart, Sameh Tawfick, Michael De Volder, Davor Copic, Sei Jin Park)
• SupRA Systems, Inc. provides customized therapy for individuals with impaired arm and hand function resulting from stroke, cerebral palsy, and Parkinson's Disease. The ULTrATM device, expands services via telemedicine technology and allows therapists to quantify treatment progress and effectiveness. (Susan Brown, Jeanne Langan)
• Multimodal Automated Sensory Testing (MAST) System is a portable and battery-operated device platform designed for quantitative sensory testing at the point-of-care. It is comprised of three wirelessly interconnected components: a control computer, a touch screen for patient feedback, and a PID-controlled pressure stimulator. (Steven E. Harte, Grant H. Kruger, Daniel J. Clauw)
• Oral Lab focuses on Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiac Electrophysiology, the Oral lab is primarily engaged in research involving the treatment of arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, radio frequency catheter ablation and supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. This work has successfully spawned the start-up company Ablation Frontiers, which, in 2009, was acquired by Medtronic. Going forward, there are several projects poised for commercialization. (Hakan Oral, Fred Morady, Elif Oral)