Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Dr. Gary J. Van Berkel
Dr. Vilmos Kertesz

Instruments for mass spectrometry are used in various applications, including chemical detection and life sciences. Demand for improvement and enhanced capabilities for new applications have experienced fast growth in recent years. This need is expected to continue and provide growing markets in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and biotechnology. Currently available mass spectrometers include sampling systems for analysis, however; these components lack speedy automation between sampling and do not offer the possibility of continuous sampling across a solid surface such as a tissue.

Researchers at ORNL have developed a novel sampling system for mass spectrometry that is of interest to a variety of industries, including these growing industries. Dr. Van Berkel and colleagues at ORNL developed a liquid microjunction surface sampling probe (SSP) that provides mass spectrometry with a simple and efficient ambient surface sampling method that can be coupled with any liquid introduction source. The SSP system allows discrete spot sampling and continuous sampling during line scan, for rapid qualitative and quantitative screening of samples from surfaces in targeted and discovery detection modes.

ORNL has partnered with industry for several years to address the needs of mass spectrometer producers and end users. These partnerships with industry include multiple sponsored research relationships such as CRADAs, Material Services Orders (MSOF) for work for others, and Beta-Testing relationships to explore commercial applications. These commercial collaborations have provided industrial feedback for the inventors to enhance and develop inventions that meet the needs of industry. UT-Battelle supported these relationships and the development of this technology for commercially relevant applications by funding a number of maturation projects, patenting the technology worldwide and copyrighting end user friendly software. This extensive patent portfolio was attractive to many of our industrial collaborators, and was optioned and then later licensed to a leading mass spectrometry company.

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Dr. Richard Riedel
Mr. Ronald G. Cooper
Dr. Lloyd G. Clonts

The Position Sensitive Detector (PSD) Electronics System and Neutron Detector Assembly, also known as the "8Pack," is a compact neutron detection system that was developed for the Department of Energy's Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), a record-setting neutron science facility located at ORNL. The 8Pack detector system is an integrated electronics and neutron detector assembly, combining commercial Reuter Stokes linear position neutron detectors with high-speed modular PSD electronics and software developed at ORNL for the SNS.

The PSD electronics and software can determine both the time and position of a captured neutron, enabling very accurate neutron time-of-flight measurements. It has large-area detector coverage, extremely low power requirements, and digital communication capability. SNS engineers developed the electronics and software for the integrated detector system to accommodate the very large detector areas and high count rates required by the SNS. Interest in the product for commercial applications has ranged from other neutron science facilities to security applications, such as monitoring land, air, and sea shipping.

The PSD Electronics System contains two major subsystems: the preamplifier circuit and the signal-processing unit. The preamplifier design is a lesson in simplicity, allowing high speed, low power, and low production costs to be combined in an easy-to-manufacture unit. The preamplifier circuit amplifies the extremely low signal provided by the detector to a voltage level that can be used by the signal processor.

The PSD Electronics System Neutron Detector Assembly provides significant benefits to the neutron scattering community, including the abilities to obtain accurate neutron event positioning and neutron time-of-flight measurements and to optimize detector count-rate capabilities, all at extremely high speeds and in a compact, integrated assembly. The design of the system also eliminates the need for construction and on-site calibration.

The PSD Electronics System is the result of a technology transfer to GE Energy–Reuter-Stokes Measurement Solutions, involving both patent and copyright license agreements that were signed in May 2008. The technology transfer allowed GE Energy to market the PSD Electronics System assembly worldwide and enabled it to rapidly scale up production of the assemblies for SNS's NOMAD detector. The SNS NOMAD detector, scheduled to go on line in 2010, will be used to study advanced materials technology, including those related to high-temperature superconductors, powerful lightweight magnets, aluminum bridge decks, and stronger, lighter plastic products. Pharos, a solar-powered version of the PSD system intended for homeland security applications, won an R&D 100 Award in 2007.

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Dr. James E. Parks, II
Dr. William P. Partridge, Jr.
Dr. Kent Froelund

The "Fuel in Oil" technology enables a user to determine the amount of fuel dilution in engine oil, which can occur as fuel efficient engines are operated in advanced modes to meet increasingly lower emissions regulations. The condition thins the oil, lowers the lubricating ability, and can lead to higher engine wear, increased oil consumption, and in extreme cases, engine failure. Fuel dilution also is associated with modern diesel particulate filters, injection systems, and use of biodiesel fuels. The technology uses a light source to detect fluorescent dye added to the fuel. The light source excites the oil, and as the oil returns to its non-excited state, the fluorescing light emitted from the oil is transmitted to an analytical instrument, which is used to record the amount of fuel in the oil. Conventional techniques require sending a sample of the oil to an analytical lab, resulting in up to two days' delay for results. This new technology provides real-time feedback, can be configured to take measurements at many different points in the engine system, and is portable to use in a broad range of engine applications.

Dr. James E. Parks, II and Dr. William P. Partridge, Jr. of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) were the inventors of the Fuel in Oil technology, both having expertise in advanced diesel engine controls and optical spectroscopy. Their knowledge of the challenges in controlling engine parameters for active regeneration of emission control devices formed the basis for the problem to be addressed. Dr. Kent Froelund of Da Vinci Emissions Services, Ltd. was the commercialization partner. Dr. Froelund is an entrepreneur in engine R&D testing and his company specializes in combustion engine lubrication and emissions testing services and equipment.

The technology was developed under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) project with Cummins Engine Company, which raised the problem of fuel dilution of oil. Commercialization of the technology began with a patent license agreement between UT-Battelle, LLC (the management and operations contractor for ORNL) and Da Vinci Emissions Services, Ltd.

The benefit of the technology transfer effort is that a small niche market is now able to operate with significantly improved technology—faster, less expensive, and capable of detecting fuel contamination in lower amounts than other methods. As a result, less time is needed to monitor and calibrate an engine, which will enable faster improvements to both engine efficiency and reduced emissions. Furthermore, a small U.S. business now has the potential to double in size and eventually move the licensed technology into the global arena.

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ARS South Atlantic Region

Dr. Matias B. Vanotti
Dr. Ariel Szogi
Dr. Patricia D. Millner
Dr. John H. Loughrin
Dr. Patrick G. Hunt

The technology is a cost-effective method for treatment of livestock waste that is an alternative to open lagoons—the dominant method of treating hog waste throughout the country. The technology has changed the way of thinking about manure management by solving multiple challenges in modern livestock production. These challenges include atmospheric emissions, excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), pathogens and food safety, odors, and affordability of treatment.

The Second Generation Technology for Green and Profitable Management of Manure Team has developed and effectively transferred a new technology that can solve all these problems. In addition, it generates value added organic fertilizer and carbon credits along with increased animal productivity. The nominees actively participated in all aspects of technology transfer, such as the invention of a new waste treatment system, the demonstration and on-farm verification at full scale, the writing of numerous technical reports and publications, the organizing of field days, customer workshops and meetings with industry, developing environmental crediting methodology, and interacting with a number of national and international organizations with common goals of a cleaner environment and profitable agriculture.

As a result of these efforts, the State of North Carolina established a Lagoon Conversion Program to financially assist farmers in the conversion of lagoons to new environmental superior technology. This will upgrade the existing swine production facilities to cleaner technology. Another benefit of the new technology is the improved animal productivity and health. With executed contracts by the commercial partner, in 2009 (after the 1st year of lagoon conversion), the technology is being used to treat 70 million gallons/year of concentrated swine effluent generated by 50,000 head of swine (producing 125,000 swine/year).

The second-generation system was discussed in a chapter of "Manufacturing Climate Solutions: Carbon-Reducing Technologies and U.S. Jobs," published in 2008 by Duke University on technologies that could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create green jobs in the United States. The new technology was showcased by Environmental Defense Fund at the first Middle Class Task Force meeting organized by the White House. The technology was highlighted as one of five technologies with the quickest path to creating green jobs.

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ARS Mid-South Area

Dr. Phillip Klesius
Dr. Joyce J. Evans
Dr. Craig A. Shoemaker

Streptococcal disease is the cause of severe economic losses to farm-raised fish, especially in tilapia aquaculture. The causative bacteria are Streptococcus iniae and S. agalactiae. Both are ubiquitous pathogens that infect all sizes of fish and no effective methods of control are available. These pathogens are reported to cause death rates of 30 to 50% in aquaculture operations. The disease is characterized by erratic swimming and behavior, missing or cloudy eyes, deformities and rapid death. These pathogens are highly infectious for brain tissues. Vaccination is the best method to prevent disease and offers the safest alternative to use of antibiotics and chemicals that can contaminate food and the environment.

However, no effective vaccines to prevent S. iniae and S. agalactiae disease were available for farm-raised fish. Fish vaccine development is more scientifically challenging than those developed for terrestrial vertebrates. To mitigate streptococcal disease in farmed food fish, the ARS vaccine team developed two modified killed vaccines that consisted of formalin-killed cells and molecular fractioned extracellular products from S. iniae and S. agalactiae.

Extracellular product was demonstrated to be produced by the 72 hour bacterial cell fermentation and was shown to stimulate the fish immune system. The innovative combination of killed cells and extracellular product was demonstrated to provide safe and efficacious immune protection against streptococcal disease, in a manner superior to a vaccine that consisted of killed cells only. This type of cellular vaccine is the standard for the majority of fish vaccines today.

The technology transfer mechanisms were Trust Fund Cooperative Agreements, CRADAs, patents, material transfer agreements, and licensing by ARS, Office of Technology Transfer. These transfer mechanisms were initiated by the vaccine team to accomplish the commercialization of S. iniae and S. agalactiae vaccines. PerOs/Benchmark Biolabs requested exclusive licenses for the S. iniae and S. agalactiae vaccines following their announcement in the Federal Register in 2008-2009. PerOs/Benchmark Biolabs received master vaccine cultures by material transfer agreement (in 2008) and a license is pending (execution is imminent).

PerOs/Benchmark Biolabs have estimated sales of 50 million vaccine doses at a customer cost of $1.9 million in 2009, with an increase in fish value of $10-12 million annually. The potential economic benefit of these vaccines approaches $50 million annually worldwide.

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NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

Mr. Anthony R. Kelley

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and Quality Monitoring and Control (QMC) of Kingwood, Texas, have collaborated to develop the Balanced Flow Meter, a unique, robust, safe, and accurate multi-hole orifice plate that determines the fluid flow rate in piping, channel, and conduit systems. The technology delivers dramatic cost savings due to decreased energy consumption. The Balanced Flow Meter is also impacting national legislation on swimming pool safety systems, and is projected to be a part of the Orion spacecraft.

The Balanced Flow Meter's design also provides 10 times the accuracy of standard orifice-based fluid flow meters, resulting in significant cost-savings to industries such as gas and oil refinery. This new approach to meter design improves on the older, standard orifice plates — meters that regulate how much and how fast fluids move through a channel or pipe. While the standard plates have just one hole through which fluids flow, the balanced flow meter has multiple holes and requires less straight pipe to function.

The technology also has none of the moving parts that are in other metering systems, making it more reliable, less likely to malfunction and less expensive to manufacture. Other significant benefits include considerable noise reduction and its ability to be used in different systems without modifying the hardware. There are millions of standard orifice plate installations worldwide, and successful commercialization will result in replacement of those with Balanced Flow Meter plates.

MSFC led the development activity and generated the goals and objectives as related to NASA, which included: measurement of less than 1% error; LOX-safe operation; low permanent pressure loss; minimal straight pipe length requirements; operability in gas and liquid flow (initial cryogenic flow is typically high speed gas flow); low probability of failure; ability to accommodate wide variations in temperature, pressure, vibration, and flow conditions; operation in any gravity environment; and minimal intrusion into the flow path.

The technology was patented in 2007 and transferred via an exclusive license to A+FlowTek, a small, woman-owned business formed by QMC to sell the commercialized product. QMC participated in testing and evaluation while under contract to MSFC, often utilizing its compressed air gas flow facility. The company developed the commercialization plan, licensed the technology from MSFC, ultimately created A+FlowTek to commercialize the devices, and has marketed and sold the product globally.

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NASA Kennedy Space Center

Jose Perotti
Angel R. Lucena, Jr.
Bradley Burns
Curtis Ihlefeld
Karen Bassignani

NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has recently partnered with Graftel Incorporated under an exclusive license agreement for the manufacture and sale of the Smart Current Signature Sensor. The Smart Current Signature Sensor and software were designed and developed to be utilized on any application using solenoid valves. The system monitors the electrical and mechanical health of solenoids by comparing the electrical current profile of each solenoid actuation to a typical current profile and reporting deviation from its learned behavior.

Health of electromechanical systems and specifically of solenoid valves is a primary concern of the Space Shuttle program and aerospace industry in general. The potential of delaying scheduled launch of vehicles and/or personnel injury due to failure of electromechanical systems requires the program to continuously disassemble, inspect, and test Ground Support Equipment (GSE) valves and flight systems valves to assure their readiness. Furthermore, disassembly inspection and testing of these systems pose an additional potential risk of hardware failure. There is a great need to incorporate monitoring devices in ground and flight systems to be able to continuously monitor the health and performance of these valves during real operating conditions. It is very advantageous to the program to detect degradation and/or potential problems before they happen. This will not only provide a safer operation, but will save the cost spent on unnecessary inspections. The smart current signature sensor (SCSS) presents a method for a non-invasive, in-situ determination of the health and performance of a solenoid valve by continuously monitoring its electrical current signature.

NASA/Kennedy Space Center's (KSC) Innovative Programs and Partnerships Office applied for a U.S. Patent on the Smart Current Signature Sensor. The patent issued as U.S. Patent 6,917,203, in July 2005. Graftel originally contacted NASA/Kennedy Space Center's IPP office in 2003, but was unable to pursue licensing at that time. However, the company again contacted Kennedy in 2008 with renewed interest in licensing the technology for use in the nuclear power industry and submitted an application at that time. The license was signed November 7, 2008. Graftel's goal is to develop the technology into a hand-held testing device for their customer base in the nuclear power industry. The device will be used to perform diagnostic testing on electromechanical valves used in nuclear power plants. Initially, Graftel plans to have working units within the first year of license in order to show customers and allow them to put purchase requests into their next year's budget.

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Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD)
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a very serious, often fatal, viral disease of domestic animals and humans that occurs throughout sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. A team of scientists from ARS, NASA, DoD, and CDC (RVF Outbreak Early Warning Team) developed a highly innovative and effective method to forecast RVF outbreaks based upon global climate conditions that determine the local and regional ecological conditions leading to the emergence of the virus in Africa. RVF causes severe infections in livestock, resulting in mortality as high as 80%, and produces very serious human disease and death. To prevent or mitigate disease outbreaks and expansion into immunologically naïve regions of the globe, it is important to accurately predict when and where outbreaks will occur. This had not been possible until the Team discovered that outbreaks of the disease are episodic and closely linked to global and regional climate variability, based upon study of a 1997-1998 RVF outbreak that occurred in the Horn of Africa, which involved 5 countries with a loss of ~100,000 domestic animals, ~90,000 human infections, and a World Organization for Animal Health estimated loss from trade restrictions of more than $100 million.

Using satellite measurements of global and regional elevated sea surface temperatures, and subsequent elevated rainfall and satellite derived-normalized difference vegetation index data, the Team developed a model and surveillance system to predict, with lead times of 2.5- 4.5 months, specific areas where outbreaks of RVF in humans and animals were expected and occurred in the Horn of Africa, Sudan, and Southern Africa at different time periods from September 2006 to February 2009. Predictions were first confirmed by entomological investigations and subsequently by field investigations of virus activity in the areas the Team identified by reported cases of RVF in human and livestock populations. This represents the first series of prospective predictions of RVF outbreaks that has been transferred to international, country and local human health, agricultural and animal health organizations and officials; and provides an important baseline for improved early warning, control, response planning and mitigation.

The Team's early warning technology was transferred via direct alerts to international and national agricultural and health authorities, web sites, and international presentations and publications mechanisms starting in 2006 of the elevated risk of RVF outbreaks in the Horn of Africa. The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) issued, for the first time in their history, warnings of an impending RVF outbreak. In response to this international warning, national authorities in Kenya and neighboring countries, and collaborating components of the CDC, DoD, and ARS initiated enhanced surveillance activities in at-risk areas, eventually detecting the virus in mosquitoes in December 2006, weeks prior to subsequent reports of unexplained hemorrhagic fever in humans in this area.

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