US issues first patent for Estonia since 1991
21.06.2010, 16:35Tallinn University of Technology (TTÜ) has received a US patent for a materials study method that makes it possible to establish the properties of substances, materials and structures.
One of the authors of the invention, professor Mart Min, said that it is possibly the first US patent for an Estonian invention since 1991.
The invention makes it possible to decide the properties of a substance, structure or material on the basis of an electrical simulation signal. One of the structures could be man, starting with cells, cell cultures, tissues or organs. For example, the invention would make it possible assess how the restoration of circulation proceeds in tissues after an operation.
To take the method into use, it is necessary to develop medical instruments. According to earlier information, they are being developed by the Eliko technology development centre.
Min said that there were agreements with some small companies for the preparation of the invention for serial production. Earlier Min has told BNS that it could cost in the range of 10 million kroons.