Patricia Bath ( 1942- )

Patricia Bath

Daughter of Rupert Bath and Gladys Bath, their encouragment allowed Patricia to focus on education to achieve her dreams, which brought about her invention against blidness, the "Cataract Laserphaco Probe."

Background: 

    Excelling at school, she grew fond of the science field, where she became editor of her high schools science paper (winning numerous science awards on the way). In 1960, one of her mentors, Dr. Robert Bernard, added her findings in one of his presentations at an international conference in Washington D.C,winning her a Merit Award from Moademoiselle magazine.

    Completing highschool in only 2 and a half years, she then entered NY's Hunter College, studying
Physics, and Chemistry; Earning a B.A in 1964.From there, Bath went to medical school at Howard University, and after finishing her M.D (in 1968), returned to New York as an intern at Harlem Hospitial.

    From here she started to notice the differences in the visually impaired ratio in white and black patients, and found that the difference was because of the lack of  access to Ophthalmic care in the black communities.

Invention:

Cataract Laserphaco Probe- Baths dedication to treating and preventing blindness led her to the development of the Cataract Laserphaco Probe. Patented in 1988, the Probe used the power of a laser to painlessly and effeciently vaporize the cataracts from patients eyes (which replaced the more common method of using a drill like device to remove the cataracts from ones eye.)

Another invention of Bath's, allowed the restored sight to many people who've been blind for over 30 years. Baths patents are also held in Japan, Europe, as well Canada.

*Quick Note- Patricia Bath is the President and founder of the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindess.

Legacy: Restoring the eyesight of many, Patricia Bath continued to do great things. Which didn't go unnoticed allowing her to win many awards, as well as being the "First Woman" on the faculty of the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institue. Still living strong today, she continues to be shining light to all of those who hope to see one day.

Resources:
MIT inventor of the week: http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/bath.html
http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventors/a/Patricia_Bath.htm
http://www.african-americaninventors.org/inventors.php?id=2



Picture of Patricia Bath, property of:
http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventors/a/Patricia_Bath.htm
Cataract Laserphaco Probe from: http://www.laserfest.org/lasers/pioneers/bath.cfm
laser pic: Foto search Stock IllustrationRF Royalty Free

Dr. Richard Drew (1904 – 1950)

Dr. Richard Drew (1904 – 1950)

 Dr. Richard Drew, a genius in his field, would help to save millions of lifes through his pioneering work in blood preservation.

Background: 

  

Born June 3, to Thomas and Nora Drew,  Richard grew up living close to a farm , where he grew to care and groom them (as well as becoming an expert rider). Richard attended stevens Elementary School and Paul Dunbar Highschool in later years. In highschool he excelled at baseball, football, basketball and track and even won the "James E.Walker Memorial Medal" as the outstanding all-around athlete.

Richard eventually attended Amherst College, and after graduation taught biolgy for 2 years, before entering medical school. In 1940 he became the first African American to earn a Doctor of Science in Medicine Degree, which involved his doctorial thesis titles, "Banked Blood".

Invention

Blood Bank:     During the early years of WWII, where the need for blodd plasma started to intensify, the British were need of blood for their wounded. Dr.Drew was choosen to lead the Blood for Britain program, where he arranged for plasma to be flown to Britain, and set up several blood banks in the country. In February 1941, he was appointed Director of the first American Red Cross Blood Bank, being in charge of blood for use by the U.S Army and Navy. He resigned later though, from the War department sending out a directive that blood taken from white donors, not to be mixed with white donors (which has no basis in scientific fact). This issue caused widespread controversy, and later changed, thanks to Dr.Drew and others whom shown the fallacy.

He eventually returned to Howard University, gaining new distinction. As well as spending time in two more blood projects, in his newly appointed scientific committess. His work proved invaluable, and during WWII, 35 blood banks centers were in operation, saving thousands of lives of wounded U.S servicemen (which would have been lost in earlier wars, due to the fact of blood therapy being unknown)

Legacy:   At the age of 45, Dr.Drew was sadly killed during an automobile accident while driving to a scientific Conference. Even though he's not here today, his pioneering medical work has continued to help save the lifes of many people worldwide; allowing his legacy to remain intact for years to come.

Resources: http://www.bridgew.edu/hoba/drew.htm

http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventors/drew.htm

http://esperstamps.org/aa13.htm

http://www.african-americaninventors.org/inventors.php?id=49

Image Dr. Richard Drew property of:

http://www.african-americaninventors.org/inventors.php?id=49

Bkood donation clipart graphics <free clipart now>

http://www.freeclipartnow.com/science/medicine/people/give-blood.jpg.html

Lonnie G Johnson (1949- )

Lonnie Johnson



Background:
    Born October 6, 1949 in Mobile, Alabama, Lonnie Johnson would soon grow fond to tinkering with objects to see how they work. Lonnie and his dad (a world war II veteran) even built a pressurized Chinaberry shooter out of Bamboo shoots before he was 13; and at 13 was already racing on the highway with a go-kart that he fixed together with a lawn mower (I still playing my playstation 2 at this age). Growing later to tinker with more ambitious feats, and even winning  a national inventing competition for a compressed air power robot, he named "Linex", in his senior year of highschool.

    He eventually graduated from Tuskegee University with a B.S in Mechanical Engineering, and then furthered his education with a Masters in Nuclear Engineering. After his Masters, Mr. Johnson joined the air force where he was later assigned to the Strategic Air Command (helping developement of the stealth bomber program).


Inventions:

*Most notable inventions

*    Super Soaker- While still working with in the Strategic Air Command, he still had inventions of his own that he was working on, and accidently while working on heat pump that was environmentally friendly (that used water instead of Freon). While testing his prototype heat pump one night, he blasted a stream of water in his bathroom, and like everyone's first time shooting one of these, was astounded by its power. He later spent several years marketing and testing it out, and when it finally was mass produced ranking among the worlds top 20 toys bestselling every year since its creation.

*    JTEC ("Johnson Thermoelectric Energy Converter")- One of Lonnie G. Johnsons most recent projects is an advanced heat engine that will convert solar energy into electricity with double the efficenty of current methods. It's only a prototype so far, but perfecting this would allow means of gaining solar power competitve with that of coal; allowing the dream of effiecient renewable solar energy to come in to fruition.


Other inventions- Johnson has 40+ patents, and continues to invent in toys as well thermo- fluid dynamics. As well as his work for NASA, Johnson and his company are also working on an improved radon detector for the home, as well as many other projects.



Legacy:     Going strong, and receiving numerous honors, Lonnie Johnson still continues in creating new inventions for the future; but no one can forget about one of his most enjoyable and classic creations, the "Super soaker".














Refrences:


http://www.biography.com/people/lonnie-g-johnson-17112946?page=2

http://www.african-americaninventors.org/inventors.php?cat=&limit=18&page=2

http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/johnson.html


Image Lonnie Johnson property of:
http://www.african-americaninventors.org/inventors.php?cat=&limit=18&page=2

Toygun: http://www.freeclipartnow.com/toys/toy-sniper-gun.jpg.html

Garrett Morgan (1877-1963)

Garrett Morgan (1877-1963)

Background:   

Garrett Morgan, an inventor of many things, had a large impact in America as well as the world, with notable inventions just as the Morgan Traffic signal and gas mask.

    Born to Sydney and Elizabeth Morgan (former slaves), he spent childhood primarily with schooling and working on the farm with his siblings (10 others). Though his time in Kentucky was cut short, having to move to Cincinatti in search of a job (at the age of 14!), he hired a tutor to continue his studies.

    In 1895, he moved to Cleveland, Ohio working as a repair man on sewing machines, for a clothing manufacturer. From his deligent work, news traveled fast landing him many job offers from many manufacturing firms in the area.

   Quick Fact: In 1896, he married Madge Nelson; sadly ending in divorce in later years.

Inventions:

*notable inventions

* Gas Mask- July 25, 1916, the media caught hold of his marvelous feat, as he and a team of volunteers wearing the masks, rescue 32 men trapped in an underground tunnel 250 ft beneath Lake Erie, after an explosion. After the rescue, fire departments from all around the country requested to buy this "gas mask", Being revisioned  throughout the years, just as by the U.S army in World War I.

* Morgan Traffic Signal- After seeing an accident between a carriage and an automobile, Garret Morgan sought to solve this problem. November 20, 1923, Morgan was granted a U.S patent for his inexpensive to produce signal, also gaining patents in Canada and Britain. His traffic signal was "T" shaped pole device with Go, Stop, and all directional stop posistion (for pedestrians to cross).

His traffic signal was used throughout America until being replaced with the traditional, Red, Green, and yellow traffic light we use now.

 In 1907, he opened his sewing machine and repair shop, later accidently discovering the liquid that straightened his fabric, also straightened hair. Which later became a cream that he packaged and began his creation of the G.A. Morgan Hair Refining Company. Also he created a black oil dye, curve tooth pressing comb as well many suits, coats, dresses, etc in the later years after opening his shop. His many inventions demand further grew, as word spread from North America to England.

Legacy: At the age of 83, Garret Morgan died August 27, 1963. Living a full, long life that many would be pleased about; though he is dead now, his legacy in still alvie.

                         

Resources: http://www.african-americaninventors.org/inventors.php?id=33

http://inventors.about.com/od/mstartinventors/a/Garrett_Morgan.htm

http://www.biography.com/people/garrett-morgan-9414691

Image Garret Morgan property of: http://inventors.about.com/od/mstartinventors/a/Garrett_Morgan.htm

gasmask clip art: Joe Budden clip art http://www.clker.com/profile-51688.html

traffic light clip art: clipart graphics <free clipart now> http://www.freeclipartnow.com/transportation/traffic-lights/traffic-light-yellow.jpg.html



The Beginning (Alpha)

Hello everyone, so this is the beginning of my new blog. I recently had an urge to actually put this into development so that I can maximize the time i have to work on it this summer, and hopefully some time after. What i plan to do with this page, is create a blog every weekday this summer for a new African American inventor, which helped shape America in some fashion . It'll be a journey, considering all the daily activities this summer, but I plan on trying my hardest in accomplishing this goal.

  So I hope for those interested, to check in often and enjoy!




P.s. For those interested to learn more about myself, and the creation of this blog, please feel free to check my blogger profile.