Patents

NASA Tech Briefs, Nov 2004

Over the past three decades, NASA has granted more than 1000 patent licenses in virtually every area of technology. The agency has a portfolio of 3000 patents and pending applications available now for license by businesses and individuals, including these recently patented inventions:

Computer Program for Microwave Antenna

U.S. Patent No. 6,675,050

G. Dickey Arndt, James Carl, and Phong Ngo, Johnson Space Center

Benign prostatic hypertrophy or hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common medical problems experienced by men over 50. Hyperplastic enlargement of the prostate gland often leads to obstruction of the urinary tract. Microwaves have been used to necrose malignant, benign, and other types of cells and tissues, but problems occur when there is a lack of focusing or direction of the energy, thereby damaging healthy tissue.

This invention is an apparatus, method, and computer simulation suitable for treating BPH. A catheter includes a small-diameter, disk-loaded monopole antenna surrounded by fusion material having a high heat of fusion and a melting point preferably at or near body temperature. Microwaves from the antenna heat prostatic tissue to promote necrosing of the tissue that relieves the pressure of the prostatic tissue against the urethra as the body reabsorbs the necrosed tissue. A computer simulation is provided that can be used to predict the resulting temperature profile produced in the prostatic tissue.

Wire Insulation Defect Detector

U.S. Patent No. 6,677,761

Owen R. Greulich, Ames Research Center

The presence of insulation defects in electrical wiring used in the Space Shuttle poses serious risks. Similar problems exist in all aircraft and in industrial facilities. It is extremely difficult to identify cracked insulation when it is exposed, and nearly impossible to detect if it is not visually accessible. This invention provides a method and apparatus that enables remote detection and localization of short and open circuits, and of very small defects in the insulation of wires.

Wiring defects are located by detecting a reflected signal that is developed when an are occurs through the defect to a nearby ground. The time between the generation of the signal and the return of the reflected signal indicates the distance of the are from the signal source. Currently available techniques such as Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) and Dielectric Withstand Voltage (DWV) are combined in this technique, which uses hardware to create the signal and to filter the returned signal.

Video Monitoring System for Car Seat

U.S. Patent No. 6,696,943

Susan Vinz Elrod and Richard W. Dabney, Marshall Space Flight Center

Parents who want to occasionally see their child in a car seat while driving must take a quick look over their shoulder, which represents a serious driving hazard. Furthermore, many child car seats mount in a rear seat and are designed to face backwards. A variety of mirror assemblies have been designed for use with car seats, but they require alignment that differs from driver to driver.

This invention provides a video monitoring system for use with a car seat that is not limited by the type or design of the seat. At least one video camera is mounted in the car seat to generate a video image signal of the occupant sitting in the car seat. A transmitter is mounted to the car seat and coupled to the video camera for wirelessly transmitting the video image signal. A receiver located remotely with respect to the car seat receives the video image signal. A video display coupled to the receiver displays an image based on the video image signal. A portable housing encases both the receiver and video display.

For more information on the inventions described here, contact the appropriate NASA Field Center's Innovative Technology Transfer Partnerships (ITTP) Office.