USPTO - United States Patent and Trademark Office, Hispanic Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program event series, Madrid Protocol & international protection, Checking application status & viewing documents, Checking registration status & viewing documents, Enforcing your trademark rights/trademark litigation, International intergovernmental organizations, Transferring ownership / Assignments help, Office of the Chief Communications Officer. In 1971, Villafaa left to set up rival company Cardiac Pacemakers Inc. to develop a cardiac pacemaker using a new lithium battery invented by engineer Wilson Greatbatch (who was featured in another 1996 Innovative Lives program). 11 Inspiring Famous Hispanic Scientists. A Netflix series based upon her life, Self Made, premiered in March 2020. At the age of 17, he invented and patented his "chromoscopic adapter for television equipment.". Additionally, the date of October 12 also known as Columbus Day or Da de la Raza falls inside this 30-day window. File a patent application online with EFS-web, Single interface replacement for EFS-Web, Private PAIR and Public PAIR, Check patent application status with Patent Center and Private PAIR, Pay maintenance fees and learn more about filing fees and other payments, Resolve disputes regarding patents with PTAB. Baez was a Ph.D. student at Stanford University in the 1940s when he and Kirkpatrick developed grazing incidence reflective optics for the examination of living cells. From birth control pills to color television, Mexican inventors have contributed to creating many notable inventions. Guatemalan-born Luis von Ahn is regarded as one of the pioneers of crowdsourcing. Khler "for theories concerning the specificity in development and control of the immune system and the discovery of the principle for production of monoclonal antibodies. It launched in 1888, leading to other countries to design and test similar submarines around the world. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, William R. Cumpiano was granted U.S. Patent 5,333,527 for a "Compression Molded Composite Guitar Soundboard. Luis von Ahn is also the co-founder ofDuolingo, a completely free app that has caused major buzz among those wanting to learn another language. Learn about these inventors who regretted their inventions. Philanthropist and entrepreneur Madam C.J. Argentinian surgeon Domingo Liotta developed the artificial heart in the late 1950s. However,more famously, Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman astronaut, participating in four space shuttle flights for a total of 978 hours in space. Born in California, Elena T. Medo has been granted nine U.S. Inventors Jacob Fitzgerald and William H. Silver applied for a patent for the 'potato-masher and fruit-crusher' which was designed to crush the potato through a series of small holes, similar to a garlic press. From the first electrical submarine to transdermal medical patches, you can thank Hispanic inventors for these incredibly important innovations. Ochoa was also featured in the Smithsonian Latino Centers Our Journeys/Our Stories traveling exhibition alongside Mexican innovator Mario J. Molina, winner of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Paul J. Crutzen and F. Sherwood Rowland for their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone.. Bez died of natural causes on the 20th of March 2007 in Redwood City, California. Csar Milstein (1927-2002): A Pioneer in the Field of Monoclonal Antibodies #8. Guerrilla warfare was developed in Spain. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/list-of-hispanic-inventors-1991700. File a trademark application and other documents online through TEAS. Alejandro Campos Ramrez was a poet, publisher and inventor from Galicia who became known world-wide for his invention: table soccer or foosball. He is also credited with developing clips for pencils and pens, which enable them to fit into shirt pockets. For the next three hours, you enjoy the vibrant colors and pristine pictures as your favorite team defeats the opposition. Left: Victor Leaton Ochoa, inventor and Mexican revolutionary, undated, AC0590-0000008. By 2022, they are expected to be produced at a rate 25 times greater than the previous decade. On April 18, 1965 (at the age of 48), he was killed in an automobile accident in Puebla while traveling back from Las Lajas, Veracruz, where he had been examining a television transmitter. Marianne Paguia Gonzalez, a technologist and systems engineer at JPL-NASA, gives us insights into her work for the space agency and a whole lot of pointers on getting into NASA. As a veteran of three space flights, logging over 719 hours in space, she was also an electrical engineer with patents on high-tech optical . Source. (1941-) is an engineer and inventor. More than 40 transdermal products with ingredients like nicotine, hormones, painkillers, and antidepressants have received FDA approval. At the age of 100, he was received at Buckingham Palace by King Edward VII. ", Born in the Dominican Republic, Hoyma J. Mazara was granted U.S. Patent 7,798,868 for "Electrical Switching Apparatus and Terminal Connector Assembly thereof" and U.S. Patent 7,695,313 for "Electrical Enclosure, and Panel Assembly and Mounting Assembly therefor.". She also contributed to creating three patents in the field of optics. His early work with controlled drug delivery techniques, particularly his early thoughts on transdermal patches, sparked an increase in a study into innovative drug delivery systems. We are fortunate to have his papers in the Archives Center at the National Museum of American History. Born in Hungary and then later he migrated to Argentina, Jozsef Bir Laszlo was granted U.S. Patent 2,258,841 October 14, 1941 for a "Fountain Pen" - the father of the modern ballpoint pen. Norton is a master of figuring out a new purpose for each discarded part. Not only has she won numerous awards for her pioneering career and been inducted into boththe California Hall of Fame and the US Astronaut Hall of Fame, but also she has six schools named after her in four USstates. As a teacher of vocal pedagogy, Garca was extremely curious about the mechanics of the human voice. Gonzlez-Sanabria became the highest ranking Hispanic at NASA's Glenn Research Center in 2002. The primary active component of one of the first birth control pills, which Syntex Laboratories, Inc. later branded as Norinyl, was norethindrone. #11. Like all other human ethnicities, Hispanics have their fair share of great minds and inventors. (2021, July 31). When in use, it would adapt black-and-white TVs to color without the need to buy a new set. Liotta is not only a gifted heart surgeon, but hes also responsible for creating the first artificial heart used in a human being! You sit down on the couch, turn on the TV, and prepare to watch the weekends biggest game. Chemist, Luis Miramontes co-invented the contraceptive pill. Though grouping such a diverse collection of people under a single rubric -- particularly the politically expedient but dubious term Hispanic - isn't ideal, it does make room to explore their wide-ranging array of backgrounds and accomplishments. Of course there are many more inventors and innovators who merit further attention. A decade later, other submarine designs struggled to match its performance, and the Spanish Navy eventually retired the project. A whole bag of letters could be destroyed by one good rain or snow. Courtesy of NASA, A few stories of often overlooked inventors and innovators in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. A later version, shown here, had a framework of steel tubing with wings that he wanted to construct so they could fold back and over the plane so it could be stored in a barn or garage. On February 8, 1963, he was permitted to transmit Paraso Infantil on the station he founded in Mexico City, XHGC-TV, the country's first officially announced color broadcast. According to their website: Emilio Sacristan of Santa Ursula Xitla, Mexico, invented an air-pressure powered driver for pneumatic ventricular assist device (VAD). Victor Ochoa was a Mexican inventor and revolutionary who patented the electric brake in 1907. In addition, he was a journalist, writer, union leader, and political activist. Art by Stephany Torres for Remezcla. Hispanic inventors have made considerable contributions to science and technology throughout the ages. Nevertheless, the University of Knigsberg later awarded him an honorary M.D. Known for: Born into slavery, George Washington Carver became a foremost botanist, inventor and teacher . He recently won the prestigious Lemelson-MIT prize and currently works full-time as the CEO of Duolingo. In 1936, Ochoa returned to Sinaloa, Mexico, where he reportedly died nine years later. From award-winning astronauts to some of the brilliant botanists of the 21st century, we're celebrating these famous Hispanic scientists who've had a positive impact on their field. It could travel at max speeds of nearly eight knots and hold a crew of 12. Born in Los Angeles, California in 1958, Ellen Ochoa is probably the best known example of a successful Hispanic inventor and innovator. Garcia did not foresee the significance of laryngoscopy for medicine; instead, he was concerned about the movements associated with the development of the singing voice. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876. Dr. Liotta developed the organ in 1969 at a hospital in Houston, Texas. Manny Villafaa at St. Jude Medical headquarters, June 27, 2013. These bandages were found to be especially beneficial for controlled drug delivery. Peruvian engineer Claudio Castilln Lvano created a portable respirator and incubator for premature babies. Henry submitted her first patent, for a vacuum ice cream freezer, while still a college student in 1912, and moved to New York City in 1924 to found two companies to sell . A doctorate holder and one of the world leaders in semiconductor technology . While serving as Secretary of Health, he traveled to China and Israel, where he signed agreements with President Ephraim Katzir and Premier Chou En-lai. In 1995, he was awarded the National Medal of Technology and has also been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Top List of Mexican Inventors. It was expanded to its current month-long duration by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. That honor for the earliest incubator ever developed goes to a device created in 1800s France. Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman to go to space when she served on a nine-day mission aboard the shuttle Discovery in 1993. He spoke withstudents about his development of the AcceleGlovean electronic glove that translates sign language into written and spoken form. He was also the first one to build a tunnel under a navigable river. Paper-bag-making machine. Needless to say, this list is in no particular order and is not exhaustive. During the Spanish Civil War in 1936, Campos was injured and had to stay in the hospital for a long time. Victor L. Ochoa Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. from Santa Clara University, School of Law. Search recorded assignment and record ownership changes, Offering opportunities for independent inventors, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and intellectual property (IP) professionals to learn about resources available to the. Famous Hispanic Inventors Who Changed The World. According to the Smithsonian Institution, Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman astronaut. Von Ahn is also a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the language-learning software Duolingo and a consulting professor in the Computer Science Department at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ellen Ochoa. We would like to know what you found helpful about this page. Have a comment about the web page you were viewing? Mara Gonzlez patented processes to diagnose invasive amebiasis, a parasitic disease that kills over 100,000 people each year. California-born Luis W. Alvarez was the sole winner of the 1968 Nobel Prize in Physics for his decisive contributions to elementary particle physics, in particular the discovery of a large number of resonance states, made possible through his development of the technique of using hydrogen bubble chamber and data analysis. He was also the first Hispanic inductee into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1978 for his radio distance and direction indicator (US Patent2,480,208). In her second patent, 276,364, granted in 1962, she changed the design by eliminating the buttons and replacing them with rotating reels that displayed the topics and study materials. So every time you turn on the TV and enjoy your favorite show or sport, remember the contributions of Gonzlez Camarena! Hispanic-Americans, both immigrants and their descendants, have changed the world through their contributions to science, industry, the arts, sports, and politics on Earth, obviously, but even beyond. His invention became famous in its day when opera singer Jenny Lind, who had had vocal damage from overuse in her early 20s, gave him credit for rescuing her career, thanks in part to Garca's groundbreaking device. In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, we took a look at some of those influential figures who have brought important innovations to a variety of . Dr. Villalobos would combine his highly precise scalpel with a microtome into a new device that enabled researchers to cut very thin slices of tissue, minerals or plant matter to be examined under the microscope. America's white-male-centered imaginings of inventorship and patenting extend beyond the nation's borders, in . https://www.thoughtco.com/list-of-hispanic-inventors-1991700 (accessed March 4, 2023). However, the norethindrone version developed by Miramontes' team was approved shortly after and has since become an industry standard. I am slowly compiling a database thathopefully will provide the basis for more in-depth research on Hispanic inventors and innovators for publications, programs, and exhibitions at the Smithsonian and beyond. Liotta belonged to several international medical associations throughout his life. He is best known as the creator of an electrical glove called the "AcceleGlove," which converts American Sign Language hand gestures into spoken and written words. The Kirkpatrick-Bez X-ray reflection microscope uses X-rays to enlarge images of small or far-off objects. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. "Hispanic or Latino refers to a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race. His field is electrical engineering, and the sensor-studded glove was his doctoral engineering project. There he met a lot of children who complained that they couldn't play football. So, here are just a few of the many Hispanic creative minds who have made some of the most significant contributions to the modern world. Frank S. Greene, an electrical engineer, inventor, teacher, and advocate, was a Silicon Valley powerhouse. We are not responsible or liable for the availability of links to websites or resources, or for any content, advertising, products, services, or other materials on or available through these websites or resources, or for your reliance thereon. Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, STS-110 Atlantis mission specialist, works the controls of the Canadarm2 robotic arm in the Destiny Laboratory on the International Space Station, April 11, 2002. He also owned several patents in the USA, Argentina, and France. Chewing Gum. He received the US patent 2296019 on September 15, 1942, for his " chromscopic adapter for television equipment". Walker, she manufactured beauty products for other African-American women using formulas she developed after working for a pharmacist who taught her chemistry. Transderm-Nitro was soon after approved for angina. In 1991, Ann Tsukamoto and her team patented a discovery that would change the medical field forever stem cell transplants. Ruiz Robles was a dedicated teacher and educator who began her career at a time when only 25% of the female population knew how to read and write. Photo by Sandy Schaeffer for NSF. Do you have a favorite Hispanic inventor of your own? CAPTCHA stands for Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart and was invented in 2000 in part by Guatemalan professor of computer science, Luis Von Ahn. He was made Minister of Science in the final year of the Marcos Prez Jimnez dictatorship and was forced to flee Venezuela in 1958 when the regime was abolished. Ms. Mar-Spinola is currently serving her second term as a PPAC member. Patents 4,229,845 and 5,046,203 for a "Collapsible Hammock Support.". Although today underwater travel and leisure is so commonplace that you can stay at underwater hotels like these, it was once a leading-edge and daring technological advancement. ThoughtCo, Jul. Ochoa also developed the adjustable wrench and the Ochoaplane (an aircraft with foldable wings). He also developed the three-phase system of electric power transmission. Other inventions he patented in the USincluded: a reversible motor (USPatent718,508), a pen for fountain pens (US Patent825,153), rail magnetic brakes (US Patents867,147 and 873,587), a windmill (US Patent1,319,174), and wrenches (US Patents1,417,196 and 1,454,333). It was a man by the name of Philip B. The app provides free language education covering 33 languages and serving about 300 million users worldwide according toNBC News. First observed as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson in 1968, the commemoration has expanded to a month-long event honoring the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. The Three-Light Traffic Signal, Invented by Garrett Morgan in 1923. Plasma engine for rockets. He called it the chromosomic adapter for television equipment. In 1963, he saw his invention succeed with the first color television broadcast. He was the first to transmit the human voice via radio waves, sending a signal from one radio tower to another. Fortunately, the more I search, the more stories I unearth of Hispanicengineers, scientists, and other specialists developing inventions and innovations in fields ranging from aerospace and information technology to chemical engineering and medical devices. Domingo Santo Liotta, who was born in Argentina to Italian immigrants in 1924, became a pioneer in heart surgery. In the spirit of "Hispanic Heritage Month," we at IE thought it might be nice to collate some of the greatest inventors and scientists from the diverse and talented wider Hispanic community. Brunel was a popular civil engineer from Britain, responsible for building bridges and also the first major British railway. Guillermo Gonzlez Camarena (1917-1965), an electrical engineer by trade, invented a chromoscopic converter in 1940 at the age of 23. He sold the patent in 1907 to the American Brake Company in Seattle. Sara Alvarez Kleinsmith is a writer and wellness professional whose work has appeared in The Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, and We Are Mitu. Additionally, on September 16 and September 18, respectively, Mexico and Chile commemorate their respective independence days. 3. The inventor was issued U.S. Patent No. He did serve two years in jail and lost his U.S. citizenshipfor organizing an army in the United States for the purpose of invading Mexico. After his release, President Theodore Roosevelt restored his citizenship by a special proclamation in 1906. Bellis, Mary. In 1969, Liotta developed the total artificial heart that would be used for the first time at St. Lukes Episcopal Hospital in Houston. Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on the 18th of February, 1924, Humberto Fernndez-Morn Villalobos was a Venezuelan research scientist who made numerous significant scientific contributions. Can you describe the problem? Chief among them was the invention of the diamond knife or scalpel and a significant advancement in the creation of electromagnetic lenses for electron microscopy based on superconducting technology. Baez was a Ph.D. student at Stanford University in the 1940s when he . The development of sign language dates back to the 17th century and has given those with hearing loss the ability to communicate easily. Every day they scavenge around the junkyard for mechanical parts to turn into new inventions. Born in El Salvador, Jacobo G. Maria was granted U.S. Patent 4,366,935 for a "Device and Process for Spinning or Twisting and Winding Yarn.".