B -- NEUTRAL BUOYANCY RECOVERY DEVICE PATENT LICENSING OPPORTUNITY

The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is seeking potential commercial partners to license a patent that describes a neutral buoyancy recovery device (NBRD) that should have direct application for safe rescue of injured or incapacitated swimmers from swimming pools or other water environments. NAWCWD recently received a notice of allowance from the US Patent and Trademark Office for a patent application for said neutral buoyancy recovery device and anticipates the imminent issue of a patent for said invention. The NBRD for retrieving an immobile object or incapacitated individual from a liquid pool utilizes neutral buoyancy to assist a rescuer and help protect the retrieved object or individual from further injury. Because it is initially neutrally buoyant, the NBRD can be easily submerged under the surface of the liquid and safely placed under the object or individual to be recovered or rescued. One or more bladders integral to the NBRD can be inflated to create positive buoyancy when desired and when safe to do so, thus causing the NBRD and the object (or individual) mounted on the NBRD to rise and float on the liquid surface. The inflatable bladder(s) is located in a space between two panels integral to the NBRD. The bladder(s) may be inflated manually or by using compressed gas canisters. Various straps and ropes can be used to stabilize the object or individual as the NBRD is maneuvered on the surface of the liquid. Standard water rescue backboards are always positively buoyant and require that the backboard be forced underneath the victim to overcome the positive buoyant force, thus opening up the opportunity for additional serious injury, particularly when back or neck injuries or bone fractures are involved. In addition, smaller rescuers have difficulty overcoming the standard rescue backboard?s positive buoyancy and therefore cannot complete the rescue. When used as a water rescue device, the primary advantage of this invention over standard water rescue backboards is that the board is initially neutrally buoyant and thus can be easily and safely positioned under an incapacitated or injured swimmer before inflating and floating the NBRD rescue board, thus greatly reducing the possibility of unnecessarily causing additional serious injury due to the rescue process itself. If necessary, once the rescued swimmer is safely aboard the NBRD, the swimmer can be further physically stabilized and protected against further injury with straps, splints, and cushions before the NBRD, with rescued swimmer aboard, is extracted from the water. A large potential market for this invention is anticipated to be public swimming pools and commercial water craft that have a real need to be able and ready to rescue injured or incapacitated swimmers or accident victims from a water environment while at the same time minimizing the potential for further serious injury caused by the rescue process itself. Companies involved in the manufacture and sale of water safety and rescue devices and systems should have interest in this licensing opportunity. Parties potentially interested in licensing this technology for commercial sale or desiring additional information about this invention or the Navy?s patent licensing process itself should contact the NAWCWD China Lake Technology Transfer Office at the address listed below on or before April 30, 2002. The objectives of the Navy Domestic Technology Transfer Program are: (1) to disseminate technology originally developed in support of military applications for alternative uses in the public and private sectors; (2) to provide joint cooperative development programs that address problems of critical concern to the Navy and other agencies or organizations; and (3) to leverage research and development opportunities of mutual interest to the Navy and industrial organizations. In pursuit of these objectives, the Navy transfers technology to other Federal Government agencies, state and local governments, small and large United States businesses, nonprofit organizations and such public service organizations as schools, hospitals and foundations. Under the Navy Domestic Technology Transfer Program, the Government is permitted to receive funds from a non-Federal party. However, the Government is not permitted to fund a non-Federal party. For more information contact Dr. Willard P. Webster of the Technology Transfer Office, Code 4T1100D, at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, CA 93555-6100, telephone: +1 (555) 000-0000. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute an RFB or RFP; it is not a commitment by the Government, and does not guarantee any future contracts to be let by the Government. Participation in this announcement is strictly voluntary and does not in any way suggest, imply, or impose a U.S. Government obligation or guarantee for future contractual related services, agreements, or other considerations.