The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced the latest winners of the Patents for Humanity program. The recipients showcase the power of innovation to help the less fortunate around the globe. Congratulations to the following teams and individuals VentureWell has supported:
Little Sparrows Technologies for creating a portable low-cost phototherapy device for treating jaundice in infants, which causes 100,000 newborn deaths a year.
Kinnos Inc. for creating time-sensitive color chemicals to ensure proper disinfection procedures by health workers in Ebola treatment centers and other health care settings.
Professor Arup SenGupta of Lehigh University for creating economically sustainable Hybrid Ion Exchange Nanotechnology to mitigate arsenic and fluoride crisis of contaminated groundwater in South & Southeast Asia. This invention has been commercialized via a startup called Drinkwell.
Sanivation LLC for designing a waste processing plant that transforms human waste into sanitary briquettes that replace wood and charcoal for heating and cooking, with four plants serving 10,000 people in Kenya by the end of the year.
The USPTO awards the Patents for Humanity Award to inventors and innovators who use game-changing technology to meet global humanitarian challenges. The program also provides inventors and innovators with business incentives for reaching those in need as well as public recognition of their work.
Read the USPTO announcement for a complete list of winners and honorable mentions.