NASA Johnson Space Center SBIR STTR Program Technology Innovations
- Paper number
IAC-07-E5.1.07
- Author
Dr. Kumar Krishen, Johnson Space Center, United States
- Year
2007
- Abstract
The accomplishments of the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program will be presented. The SBIR Program was established by U.S. Congress in 1982 to provide increased opportunities for small businesses to participate in research and development (R\&D), to increase employment, and to improve U.S. competitiveness. The program's specific objectives are to stimulate U.S. technological innovation, use small businesses to meet federal research and development needs, increase private-sector commercialization of innovations derived from federal R\&D, and foster and encourage participation by socially disadvantaged businesses. Legislation enacted in 2000 extended and strengthened the SBIR program and increased its emphasis on pursuing commercial applications of SBIR project results. The STTR Program awards contracts to small business concerns for cooperative research and development with a non-profit research institution, such as a university. The goal of the U. S. Congress in establishing the STTR program is to facilitate the transfer of technology developed by an RI through the entrepreneurship of a small business. The small business and its partnering institution are required to sign an agreement on how intellectual property will be shared between them. Modeled after the SBIR Program with the same basic requirements and phased funding structure described above, STTR is nevertheless a separate activity and is separately funded. Technologies that have resulted from JSC SBIR STTR Program with world-wide commercial impact will be discussed. These technologies include: - A device for regenerating iodinated resin beds to extend their useful life for water disinfection resulting in a simple, low cost, non-capital intensive alternative to chlorination based water purification systems. Known as the microbial check valve (MCV), this technology provides a means of preventing back contamination of a drinking water supply by microorganisms. This technology eliminates bacteria and viruses in contaminated water using patented ion exchange resin feature that removes virtually all residual iodine from treated water. - Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis or LASIK is the most widely performed surgical procedure for vision corrections in the recent past. It uses a laser and eye-tracking device to reshape the cornea and is based on technology used to assist spacecraft in delicate docking maneuvers. SBIR technology enables LASIK to provide unmatched precision. -A miniature physiological monitoring device capable of collecting and analyzing a multitude of signals in real time with capability to transmit this medical data from remote locations to medical centers for diagnosis and medical intervention. - A Micro-encapsulated Phase Change Materials (MPCM) as a new thermal management system for fibers and fabrics giving rise to new line of garments and thermal enhancing environments. - A highly electropositive material that attract and retain electronegative particles in water, such as virus, bacteria, mammalian cells (osteoblasts), endotoxins and macromolecules such as DNA and RNA.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-E5.1.07.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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