NOAA Patented Technologies Available for Licensing Archives

BloomSCOPE

Background When algae grows rapidly and excessively, it is called a “bloom.” Algal blooms can produce toxins invisible to the naked eye. These blooms are harmful because the highly potent toxins of some algae species can cause direct harm to people, animals, fish, and ecosystems. They can also cause indirect harm, such as when blooms decompose and remove oxygen from the water (hypoxia), suffocating fish and other aquatic life. HABs can occur not only in freshwater, but in marine ecosystems as well. HAB toxins can contaminate drinking water, cause skin and respiratory irritation, and even lead to illness or death after eating contaminated seafood. They can be fatal to pets, livestock, and dry-land wildlife, and decimate fish populations. Because of the multifaceted nature of the harm caused by HABs, there is a massive opportunity for companies who want to partner with technical experts to help communities and local industries solve the challenges HABs present. Summary of the Invention BloomSCOPE is a microscope system designed to quickly detect and identify harmful algae in water. BloomSCOPE uses low-cost hardware to attach smartphones to compound teaching microscopes, and advanced artificial intelligence/machine learning allows BloomSCOPE to use video and high-resolution still images to find algal cells in samples of water. Licensing Information NOAA is seeking qualified licensees to manufacture and sell this technology, which is patent pending in the United States. Interested parties should contact the NOAA TPO at noaa.t2@noaa.gov for more information.

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HyperSPEC

Background When algae grows rapidly and excessively, it is called a “bloom.” Algal blooms can produce toxins invisible to the naked eye. These blooms are harmful because the highly potent toxins of some algae species can cause direct harm to people, animals, fish, and ecosystems. They can also cause indirect harm, such as when blooms decompose and remove oxygen from the water (hypoxia), suffocating fish and other aquatic life. HABs can occur not only in freshwater, but in marine ecosystems as well. HAB toxins can contaminate drinking water, cause skin and respiratory irritation, and even lead to illness or death after eating contaminated seafood. They can be fatal to pets, livestock, and dry-land wildlife, and decimate fish populations. Because of the multifaceted nature of the harm caused by HABs, there is a massive opportunity for companies who want to partner with technical experts to help communities and local industries solve the challenges HABs present. Summary of the Invention The HyperSPEC system is a kind of camera that uses machine learning with a hyperspectral imaging system to detect and map HABs. It uses hundreds of wavelengths of light to examine HABs in a level of detail and clarity never before possible, improving scientists and resource managers’ ability to spot the blooms, figure out the level of risk from their toxins, and predict where and when they will happen. Licensing Information NOAA is seeking qualified licensees to manufacture and sell this technology, which is patent pending in the United States. Interested parties should contact the NOAA TPO at noaa.t2@noaa.gov for more information.

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A black drone with an orange base set on a beach.

HABMapper

NOAA Patented Technologies Available for Licensing, NOAA Patented Technology, Technology Marketplace / By Caroline Kolar

Background When algae grows rapidly and excessively, it is called a “bloom.” Algal blooms can produce toxins invisible to the naked eye. These blooms are harmful because the highly potent toxins of some algae species can cause direct harm to people, animals, fish, and ecosystems. They can also cause indirect harm, such as when blooms decompose and remove oxygen from the water (hypoxia), suffocating fish and other aquatic life. HABs can occur not only in freshwater, but in marine ecosystems as well. HAB toxins can contaminate drinking water, cause skin and respiratory irritation, and even lead to illness or death after eating contaminated seafood. They can be fatal to pets, livestock, and dry-land wildlife, and decimate fish populations. Because of the multifaceted nature of the harm caused by HABs, there is a massive opportunity for companies who want to partner with technical experts to help communities and local industries solve the challenges HABs present. Summary of the Invention HABMapper is a sensor that uses data from hundreds of wavelengths of light to locate or identify harmful algal blooms. It can be mounted on drones or other mobile platforms that lets users immediately detect the presence, location, and quantity of harmful or toxic algae in water near beaches or other bodies of water. A drone can fly around a body of water with a HABMapper attached, and the HABMapper will identify the presence of blooms that pose a risk. Small and self-contained, it can be deployed by hand, on a boat, or on a vehicle, and provides real-time HAB information that improves targeted water sampling and leads to better forecasts of human health risk. Licensing Information NOAA is seeking qualified licensees to manufacture and sell this technology, which is patent pending in the United States. Interested parties should contact the NOAA TPO at noaa.t2@noaa.gov for more information.

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DinoSHIELD

NOAA Patented Technologies Available for Licensing / By Caroline Kolar

Patent pending Background When algae grows rapidly and excessively, it is called a “bloom.” Algal blooms can produce toxins invisible to the naked eye. These blooms are harmful because the highly potent toxins of some algae species can cause direct harm to people, animals, fish, and ecosystems. They can also cause indirect harm, such as when blooms decompose and remove oxygen from the water (hypoxia), suffocating fish and other aquatic life. HABs can occur not only in freshwater, but in marine ecosystems as well. HAB toxins can contaminate drinking water, cause skin and respiratory irritation, and even lead to illness or death after eating contaminated seafood. They can be fatal to pets, livestock, and dry-land wildlife, and decimate fish populations. Because of the multifaceted nature of the harm caused by HABs, there is a massive opportunity for companies who want to partner with technical experts to help communities and local industries solve the challenges HABs present. Summary of the Invention DinoSHIELD addresses critical gaps in HAB management by providing the first naturally-derived, biodegradable, and removable active control option for marine environments. It allows for targeted treatment of high-priority areas and creates intervention options for emergency scenarios threatening critical infrastructure or public health. The system bridges the divide between preventative measures and post-bloom remediation, offering a proactive intervention capability particularly valuable for protecting critical infrastructure (e.g., desalination plants, power station cooling intakes) and high-value recreational areas. It uses biologically derived algicidal compounds produced by the marine bacterium Shewanella sp. IRI-160. The technology encompasses several methodologies for bacterial cultivation, compound extraction, preservation, and targeted deployment. Collectively, these methods create the first environmentally responsible solution for active HAB mitigation in marine systems. The system provides revolutionary capabilities for: Licensing Information NOAA is seeking qualified licensees to manufacture and sell this technology, which is Patent Pending in the United States. Interested parties should contact the NOAA TPO at noaa.t2@noaa.gov for more information.

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An aerial shot of a beachfront community with a dark red wave coming up under the water.

Doing well by doing good: How U.S. companies can benefit from mitigating Harmful Algal Blooms

Featured Story, Hardware & Sensors, NOAA Licensed Technology, NOAA Patented Technologies Available for Licensing, Oceans, Coasts & Great Lakes, Tech Focus Area, Technology Marketplace, Technology Partnerships Office News, Technology Transfer / By Caroline Kolar

Did you know that U.S. companies can license and commercialize NOAA technologies, bringing cutting-edge solutions to the marketplace? Some technologies currently available can help to combat a particularly noxious scourge – Harmful Algal Blooms.

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