During Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson's visit in January, ten Jefferson Lab staff members were awarded patents for inventions created while pursuing Jefferson Lab's mission.

Stan Majewski and Randolph Wojcik, Physics Division, received patent certification for their dual energy, scanning beam laminographic x-radiography process. The improvements in the design of a scanning x-ray device can be used for medical imaging and non-destructive analysis of materials. The duo's unique, multiple energy detector improves the sensitivity and image quality over what is currently available in x-radiography.

A superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) window assembly improvement made by Larry Phillips and Thomas Elliott, Accelerator Division, earned them a patent. They improved upon the design of the microwave window assemblies currently used in the CEBAF and FEL accelerators. Their new design increases the energy efficiency of the accelerator and simplifies the assembly process. This technique could be used when CEBAF technology is applied to future state-of-the-art accelerator systems for scientific, industrial or defense applications.

The Physics team of Brian Kross, Stan Majewski, Lukasz Majewski (Stan's son), and Carl Zorn now share a patent for their flexible, liquid core light guide, which includes focusing and light shaping attachments. This invention adds to a number of patents Jefferson Lab scientists have previously disclosed on flexible light guides, which have applications in basic research, medicine and illumination. Many companies have already expressed interest in commercializing this technology. This patent adds a versatile focusing element to the Lab's flexible light guide design ‹ allowing concentration or expansion of an illuminated area.

Majewski, Wojcik and Zorn also teamed up to improve the performance of light guides over a wide temperature range allowing them to be used in environments between 0 and 140 degrees F enhancing their operational range.

Another invention with broad potential for application is William Brooks' incipient fire detection system. The Physics staff member earned a patent for developing a new type of fire detection system that is so sensitive within contained environments it could detect a fire just starting. The system uses infrared light to detect the products of combustion before visible flame and smoke are apparent. This invention has both industrial and commercial applications.

Majewski, Daniela Steinback, Andrew Weisenberger and Wojcik developed a compact, high-resolution, gamma ray imaging device for scintimammography and other medical diagnostic applications. Their compact, highly-sensitive detection system for medical imaging uses biological traces that emit weak gamma rays to pinpoint cancer in the body. This device is the basis for the collaboration of the first commercial spin-off from Jefferson Lab. Dilon Technologies, Inc., is currently developing a commercial breast imaging system based on licenses of this technology. The first systems are undergoing clinical trials at the University of Virginia and Johns Hopkins University.

David Kashy, Physics, was awarded a patent for designing a new radiofrequency shielded bellows. This is an important improvement for the vacuum chambers used to transport high-brightness electron beams for physics research and Free Electron Lasers. Kashy's innovation provides a significantly lower-cost method of manufacturing this hardware than the current process.

Each of these individuals received a plaque recognizing their achievement as well as a monetary award from SURA. The Southeastern Universities Research Association now holds 17 Lab-initiated patents for inventions created while staff pursued Jefferson Lab's mission.

The Lab's License and Patent Review Committee carefully reviews each disclosed invention and determines the appropriate action to take after considering available resources, relationship to core technologies and potential for commercialization, scientific value or technological advancement.

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