Inventor builds glowing legacy with wood process

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On 15 May, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) unveiled Michael Sykes as the winner of this year’s Modern Marvels Invent Now Challenge, held in partnership with America’s National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation and the History Channel. Mr Sykes had made considerable waves with his Enertia Building System, aka ‘Method of increasing latent heat storage of wood products’ (US 6,933,016) – a revolutionary means of constructing eco-friendly homes.

Sykes’s System involves injecting sections of wood with naturally occurring crystals derived from metallic salts and other sources. This process turns the sections into thermal batteries, enabling them to absorb and store heat. The basic molecular structure of the wood is undisturbed, so the sections still have the appearance of wood and can be sawed and reshaped in the same way. When put together in frames or panels, they provide new houses with instant, heat-efficient superstructures, allowing residents to economise on energy.

Jeffrey Dollinger, president of the Hall of Fame’s Invent Now division, said: ‘The National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation has been recognising the world's most influential inventors for more than thirty years. The Enertia Building System is a great example of the kind of breakthrough that we strive to honor in our programs and we salute the inventive spirit personified by Michael Sykes.’

Sykes received his award from personal computer pioneer, Steve Wozniak. The other finalists were:

SimpleShot – a syringe that can mix a powdered drug with its diluting agent, keeping them in the same container. Invented by Mrs Kim Bertron of Florida

X-Finger – an artificial finger with advanced dexterity, allowing amputees to type and play instruments. Invented by Mr Dan Didrick, also of Florida

iHearSafe – earbuds that limit the volume of sound from electronic devices, preserving users’ hearing. Invented by Mrs Christine Ingemi of New Hampshire

DeSat Counter – a mini medical device designed to alert its wearer to oncoming sleep apnoea by testing blood-oxygen levels. Invented by David Krausman, PhD, of Maryland

Judy Klein-Frimer, co-creator of the Challenge for The History Channel, said: ‘These inventors represent those who have the tenacity to pursue an answer to a question that goes unanswered – just like their famous predecessors, such as Ben Franklin and Thomas Edison ... we are proud to support these inventors of the present who will have a significant impact on advancing our quality of life in the future.’