Oh, patents! At CES 2025 - Kirin electric salt

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

If you have to cut your salt intake for health reasons, and you are dissatisfied with the bland taste of low-sodium food, rejoice! The Kirin electric salt spoon, a CES 2025 Innovation Honoree in the Digital Health, Accessibility and AgeTech category, offered a solution with a gigantic inventive step.  

The electric salt spoon is brought to you by one of Japan’s top-ranking companies, the 150-year-old Japanese Kirin Brewery Co., now Kirin Holdings, in collaboration with the Japanese Meiji University, Miyashita Laboratory of Frontier Media Science, School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences. The Kirin electric salt spoon replaces dietary salt by applying a patented electric current to the food in your mouth. 

Rest assured, however, that the device has been extensively tested for length and strength of stimulation, according to food type, to eliminate any potentially unbearable sensations. As a result, no worries about running an electric current on the food, in contact with your mouth. An electric current, called electric salt, since it is designed to provide the taste of saltiness, without any of the caveats associated with disobeying professional healthcare orders.

The Kirin electric salt spoon is recited in the European Patent, EP4389198A1, titled Taste presentation device and taste presentation method. A utility patent that discloses the invention, while also reciting all of the associated device-testing research, carried out at Japan’s Meiji University, Miyashita Laboratory. The patent was granted on June 26, 2024, to the Japanese inventors Ai Sato and Homei Miyashita.

The included patent Figure 1 depicts an embodiment of the electric salt invention, recited as the taste presentation device 10. Specifically, the Figure 1 unpacks the invention's components, comprising a first electrode 11, in contact with the user’s body 1, a second electrode 12, in contact with food or drink 2, and a device 13, designed to generate current between the two electrodes 11 and 12. 

More specifically, the Figure 1 depicts the first electrode 11, in contact with the user’s hand, which could instead be the user’s tongue; and the second electrode 12, on a muddler 3a, immersed in food or drink 2. A second electrode 12, on a muddler 3a, which could instead be a spoon, a fork, chopsticks, or even the whole bowl 3, containing the food or drink 2, a dish, a mug, a cup, a straw, etc., without departing from the scope of the invention. Indeed, as long as a current passes through the first electrode 11, in contact with the user’s body 1, and the second electrode 12, in contact with food or drink 2, users were found able to taste varying degrees of saltiness.

However, despite the recited scope of the electric salt invention, that could extend to chopsticks and bowls, a spoon was selected as the first marketed Kirin electric salt product. A selection that was based on survey research results. Results where respondents (29 out of N= 31) ranked ramen noodles and miso soup as the two food items in need of the strongest taste, and therefore as the top two items that needed to be experienced as delicious, when users had been prescribed a bland, low-sodium diet. Recited research results also indicated that the electric salt spoon use, intended to provide the prized strong taste of the two food items, varied according to participants, but all of them experienced increased saltiness.

The patent abstract of the invention is included below. An image of the marketed Kirin electric salt spoon, comprising the two electrodes and current generator with noise reduction unit, is also included above.

In a taste presentation device having a first electrode (11) and a second electrode (12) that are provided to allow an electric circuit to be formed between a food or drink to be taken by a user and a body of the user, and an electric stimulus generation unit (13) that supplies a current for generating an electric stimulation between the first electrode (11) and the second electrode (12), the electric stimulus generation unit (13) includes a noise reduction unit (17A, 17B) that reduces a noise component in the current. [Abstract - EP4389198A1]

References
CES 2025 Innovation Award Honoree
https://www.ces.tech/ces-innovation-awards/2025/electric-salt-spoon/
Kirin Electric salt spoon shop
https://electricsalt.shop.kirin.co.jp/
Kirin Staff (May 20, 2024). Kirin Holdings will begin online sales of "Electric Salt Spoon", a spoon that uses electricity to enhance salty and umami taste*1, on May 20.
https://www.kirinholdings.com/en/newsroom/release/2024/0520_01.html

Oh, patents! Pavegen Systems

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

According to Pavegen Systems, it's not only patents on the soles of your shoes, it’s POWER! Power to light up the world, thousands of footsteps at a time, every day! 

Pavegen Systems is a British company that manufactures pavement tiles designed to harvest the kinetic energy of pedestrian footsteps and/or vehicle traffic, in view of transforming this energy into electricity used for street lamps and buildings. Technically, the invention consists in capturing kinetic energy in the form of linear motion and translating it to rotational movement suitable for driving the rotor of an electric generator.   

Beyond generating about 2.1 watts per hour of energy in high pedestrian traffic areas (or 20 seconds of light with each footstep), the Pavegen Systems tiles also become part of the Internet of Things (IoT), creating data for use in marketing, for transportation and in municipalities. “It’s knowing where people are” according to one of the inventors, Laurence Kemball-Cook, CEO and Founder of Pavegen Systems. It is also knowing what people do, when for example the tiles installed in a fitness center are connected to mobile devices, in view of providing various sorts of health fitness feedback to users, considering the number of their steps.

In the future, Pavegen Systems intend to produce tiles to pave roads and harvest the kinetic energy of vehicle traffic. But this is apparently more difficult, considering the tremendous traction forces of heavyweight traffic, and the resistance of the materials required to pave roads.

This real and sparkling clean, green technology, designed for the 21st-century urban center, was awarded the SXSW™ 2017 Interactive Innovation Award in the Smart Cities category.

This invention was disclosed in the following patent family:

• WO2011138585 (A1) ― 2011-11-10 - Energy harvesting
• US2013068047 (A1) ― 2013-03-21 - Energy harvesting
• US8736088 (B2) ― 2014-05-27 - Energy harvesting 
• EP2567091 (B1) ― 2017-03-29 - Energy harvesting
• EP2567091 (A1) ― 2013-03-13 - Energy harvesting
• BR112012029524 (A2) ― 2016-12-06 - Energy harvesting 
• AU2011249636 (B2) ― 2014-07-10 - Energy harvesting
• AU2011249636 (A1) ― 2012-11-22 - Energy harvesting
• CN102906422 (A) ― 2013-01-30 - Energy harvesting 
• CN102906422 (B) ― 2015-08-19 - Energy harvesting

The abstract of this invention is included below as well as a patent figure drawing of the Pavegen systems motion converter. 

The present application describes techniques for the harvesting of kinetic energy from the movement of people and/or vehicles. A motion converter is discussed which converts linear progression caused by traffic-related impulse forces, to be converted to rotational motion for driving the rotor of an electricity generator. An assembly for harvesting energy including the motion converter and a floor unit are also described 

          [Abstract - US2013068047 & Family]

References

Pavegen Systems

http://www.pavegen.com

SXSW™ 2017   (South by SouthWest)

https://www.sxsw.com/ 

Oh, patents! Tilt Brush

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Have you ever painted in space... without paper.... that is, in 3D VR (Virtual Reality) "using a room as your canvas”?

If you have not and have entertained the thought of jumping into VR with paint brushes, then you are in for a thrilling treat with Tilt Brush -- an award-winning application, which most recently garnered the SXSW™ 2017 Interactive Innovation Award in the VR and AR category! 

Painting inside 3D VR software (wearing a 3D headset and manipulating the handheld controller palette and brush ) is exactly how you might paint with Tilt Brush, and even record and playback your art piece. Using an extraordinary array of paint brush effects such as dry and wet ink, patterns, metal, lights, animated, volumetric, refraction and music reactive strokes, you can paint, draw, sculpt, animate and re-invent the possibilities --out of 2D Flatland paper, and into 3D space! 

See the Tilt Brush launch video!

Tilt Brush was originally developed by Skillman and Hackett, a company that develops rapid prototyping and VR applications. The company was then purchased in April 2016 by Google Inc, and is now part of the Google VR portfolio.

This invention is disclosed in a family of 2 patents, using a dress form as the anchoring object and fashion design as a possible domain of application:

• US20160370971 - Dress form for three-dimensional drawing inside virtual reality environment

• WO2017048685 - Generation of three-dimensional fashion objects by drawing inside a virtual reality environment

The abstract of this invention is included below with the Figure 3 patent drawing.

Systems and methods are described for producing a representation of a display of a three-dimensional virtual reality environment and defining a dress form object within the virtual reality environment. The virtual reality environment is configured to receive interactive commands from at least one input device coupled to a computing device and associated with a user. Fabric movement simulations are generated by animating the dress form object according to configured animation data and displayed in the virtual reality environment. The display being may be generated in response to receiving a movement pattern indicating movement of the dress form object. (Abstract WO2017048685 and US20160370971)

Tilt Brush is available on HTC VIVE and OCULUS Rift VR platform headsets. 

References

Tilt Brush

https://www.tiltbrush.com/

Blog Drew Skillman

https://blog.drewskillman.com/
Rose, F. (Jan 4, 2017) The making of virtual art with Google’s Tilt Brush – NYTimes.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/04/arts/design/the-making-of-virtually-real-art-with-googles-tilt-brush.html

SXSW™ (South by SouthWest)

https://www.sxsw.com/

INPI 2016 Innovation trophies – The winners!

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The winners of the 2016 INPI Innovation trophies in the four categories of Trademark, Patents, Research and Design, are the following:

• Obut®, a pétanque ball company in the Trademark category.  
• Wandercraft, a firm designing robotic exoskeletons for wheelchair users, striving to create ordinary lives for extraordinary people, in the Patent category. 
• LAPHIA (Laser and Photonics in Aquitaine) an interdisciplinary cluster of research, operating with funds from the University of Bordeaux, bringing together multidisciplinary teams focused on laser and high energy physics, photonics and materials, and innovative imaging, in the Research category.
• Procédés Chénel, a firm creating interior design solutions made of paper, with a more than 100-year old history, dating back to 1896, in the Design category.

The lucky winners not only received an Ora-ïto designed trophy. They were also treated to 25 years of macaron dessert creations, celebrating the 25th annual award of the INPI Innovation Trophies, offered by the master pastry-chef and President of the Jury Pierre Hermé.

As for the People’s Choice Trophy, where you might have cast a vote, results remain undisclosed.👠

References

INPI 2016 Innovation Trophy Awards
https:/ww.inpi.fr/fr/trophees-inpi-2016

Pierre Hermé

http://www.pierreherme.com/

Ora-ïto

https://www.ora-ito.com/en/

Obut

https://www.obut.com/

Wandercraft

http://www.wandercraft.eu/

LAPHIA

http://laphia.labex.u-bordeaux.fr/en/

Procédés Chénel
https://chenel.com/

Oh, patents! People’s choice - 2016 INPI Innovation awards !

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Below is your chance to vote for your favorite five inventions, among a selection of 40 historical French inventions!  Just click, and validate your 5 selections…

Actually, this is not as easy as it sounds… considering the significance of the nominated inventions! You will be choosing among such transformative, and enduring, innovations as:  

•  pressure cookers (la cocotte minute, invented in 1952)
•  seamless hosiery (les collants DIM sans coutures, invented in1956)
• "Rosi” skis (invented in 1942 by Abel Rossignol)
•  Pleyel pianos (invented in 1844 by Ignace Pleyel)
•  Michelin radial tires (invented in 1946)
•  food mills (le moulin à légumes, invented in 1932 by the star inventor Jean Mantelet)
• non-stick cooking pans (invented in 1955, and marketed under the brand name Tefal)
•  the Eiffel Tower (invented by Gustave Eiffel, in 1884)
•  parachutes (co-invented by a woman called Jeanne Geneviève Labrosse in 1802!)
•  autonomous underwater diving suits (le scaphandre autonome invented in 1864)
•  the “godillot” (shoes) (invented in 1862 by Alexis Godillot)
•  tracing paper (invented in 1802 by Canson)
•  shopping carts (le caddie, invented in 1957 by Raymond Joseph)
•  airplanes (invented in 1890 by Clément Ader)
•  high speed trains (le TGV, invented in 1981 by engineers at the SNCF)

... plus many more that you will surely recognize.

Do go ahead though, and try to choose, even if you might find it a bit difficult … Just perusing the list of historical nominees is immensely illuminating! It will also familiarize you with some of France’s greatest contributions to better, easier, more enjoyable and safer  lives.

The results of the People’s choice of five, all-time, favorite inventions will be posted along with the six INPI Innovation awards, conferred on December 14, 2016, on the occasion of the 25th Annual INPI Innovation awards ceremony.

Click here to vote, and to wander through France’s history of great inventions! 👠   

*INPI - Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle (France's national patent office)  
INPI People's Choice Awards - INPI Innovation
http://innovation.inpi.fr/

Oh, patents! Quell®

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

QUELL®, winner of an Innovation Award in the Wearable Tech category at SXSW® 2016, is wearable patented pain-relief technology that is 100% drug-free and non addictive. [Quell® (1)]

Developed by NeuroMetrix, Inc, Quell® is neurotechnology worn as an upper calf band, just below the knee. Quell® is Bluetooth™-enabled so that it can upload information and be controlled via a portable iOS or Android phone app.

The principle of the Quell® neurotechnology is to provide an electrode that stimulates sensory nerves according to a patented Optitherapy™ algorithmn of pulse waveform (intensity, duration and shape) and pulse pattern specification (frequency and duration of session), considering user feedback and within clinically specified parameters. 

Neurostimulation of sensory nerve fibers is thus delivered knowing that sensory nerves carry pulses to the brain, which in turn have the capacity to trigger the release of endogenous opioid-like peptides called enkephalins. The release of endogenous opioid-like enkephalins is a natural response with an analgesic effect that has the capacity to centrally block pain signals in the body. Additionally, the release of enkephalins targets δ-opioid receptors which are different from the μ-opioid receptors, targeted by opioid pain medication, thus creating a synergistic effect. [Quell® (2); Ghelardini et. al, 2015]

The Quell® technology called WINS (Wearable Intensive Nerve Stimulation) is FDA-approved for day and night treatment of chronic pain. It is recommended as an adjunct to medication for all sorts of chronic pain (e.g.; lower back and leg pain, diabetic pain and fibromyalgia). 67 % of users reported a reduction in the use of pain medication, 81 % in the reduction of chronic pain [Quell® (3)].

As the device works during the night, tracking sleep patterns too, it is also designed to break the cycle of pain-disrupted sleep, which amplifies pain and reduces activity during waking hours.

The various functions and aspects of the NeuroMetrix Inc. neurotechnology inventions are disclosed in at least 70 patents, embodied in three additional devices:

1. The wearable SENSUS® pain management system, developed more specifically for neuropathic pain, resulting for example from diabetes;
2.  The hand-held device called NC-Stat®- DPN-Check® for measuring and quantifying peripheral neuropathy, and
3. The Advance® NCS (Nerve Conduction Study) System, designed for studying and measuring nerve conduction in any setting.

US2015148865 titled Apparatus and method for relieving pain using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation recites those apsects of the Quell® invention pertaining to the automated adjustment of the intensity of the neurostimulation and its intensification during a therapy session to avoid habituation. 

The Quell® invention disclosed thus resolves many of the prior art problems in the field of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), in particular as related to portability of the devices, wiring, user training and user support to regulate the right amount of stimulation, duration of the sessions and the issues of habituation.

The Abstact of the invention is included below, as well as a patent drawing of the electrode band. An image of the marketed Quell® device is also included above.

Apparatus for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in humans, the apparatus comprising: a housing; stimulation means mounted within the housing for electrically stimulating nerves; an electrode array releasably mounted to the housing and connectable to the stimulation means, the electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes for electrical stimulation of nerves; control means mounted to the housing and electrically connected to the stimulation means for controlling at least one characteristic of the stimulation means; monitoring means mounted to the housing and electrically connected to the stimulation means for monitoring at least one characteristic of the stimulation means; user interface means mounted to the housing and electrically connected to the control means for controlling the stimulation means; display means mounted to the housing and electrically connected to the control means and the monitoring means for displaying the status of the stimulations means; and a strap attached to the housing; wherein the strap is configured to hold the housing, stimulation means and electrode array at a specific anatomical location to treat pain. [US2015148865] 

References

NeuroMetrix® Inc. http://www.neurometrix.com/

Quell® (1)  http://www.quellrelief.com/

Quell® mecanism of action (2)  http://www.quellrelief.com/files/Quell%20HCP%201%20page%20(3).pdf

Quell® – Clinicians  https://www.quellrelief.com/clinicians

NC-Stat® - DPN-Check®  http://www.dpncheck.com/

Sensuc ® pain management system  http://www.sensusrx.com/

Advance™ system  http://www.advancencs.com/

Ghelardini,C.,  Di Cesare Mannelli, L. , & E. Bianchi (2015) The pharmacological basis of opioids

Clin Cases Miner Bone Metab. 2015 Sep-Dec; 12(3): 219–221 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4708964/