Life Sciences Division
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Licensing Agreement with Graviton, Inc., for Research in Micromachined Sensors (November 1998)

Culminating progress in developing novel micromachined sensors, an agreement for a multiyear research effort has been reached between ORNL and Graviton, Inc. of San Diego, CA. Graviton's license of intellectual property will allow commercial development in a number of fields.  The licensing agreement represents the largest commitment of funds by an outside firm for technology transfer.  As a part of the agreement, negotiated by Grady Vanderhoofven of the Office of Technology Transfer, funds in from Graviton will be used for research supporting advanced sensing techniques. The novel concepts for sensing by microcantilevers originated several years ago in a DOE-funded basic research program. A recent internally funded program involving Life Sciences, Instrumentation and Controls, and Chemical and Analytical Sciences Divisions successfully demonstrated the world's first palm-sized, wireless, multiple-input sensor. [Contact R. J. Warmack, warmackrj@ornl.gov, 423-574-6202, Funding Source: WFO (Technology Transfer)]