Northeastern University

<p>Northeastern University’s Center for Research Innovation (CRI) is an impact driven initiative bridging the gap between laboratory research and need-based solutions. The CRI serves as the University-wide portal between industry and leading-edge innovations from Northeastern’s use-inspired research portfolio.</p>
<p>Over the past seven years, research activity at Northeastern has more than doubled. Northeastern’s cutting edge faculty focus their use-inspired research on solving the nation’s greatest challenges in health, security, and sustainability. The Center for Research Innovation connects private companies with the researchers and inventions that meet their business needs – now and in the rapidly evolving future. Our team of professionals all have business and entrepreneurial experience. We strive for a high level of responsiveness and service, moving with speed and flexibility.</p>
<p><strong>Industry Connections:</strong></p>
<p>The CRI is the University’s bridge to industry. We are continuously building relationships with companies to identify their key technology needs and to explore opportunities for collaboration. Our network spans across industry, from the Life Sciences to the Physical Sciences. The CRI aims not only to license individual technologies, but to form long standing partnerships with industry, leveraging the core competencies of our faculty and students.</p>
<p><strong>Collaboration Benefits:</strong></p>
<p>The CRI aims to move beyond the standard paradigm of one-off licenses, focusing instead on forming long-term relationships with industry. We look to assist companies with their ongoing technology needs, leveraging the expertise of our faculty. Collaborating partners can expect flexible terms and IP policy, “high touch” and responsive service, world leading research and development and access to Northeastern resources, including use of labs and equipment.</p>
<p><strong>Research Capabilities:</strong></p>
<p>Northeastern has cutting-edge research in areas such as the Life Sciences, Nanotechnology and Network Research. The CRI can arrange briefings from faculty whose research aligns with your key corporate priorities.</p>
<p>The CRI team is agile and responsive – focused on the translation of University innovations into tangible solutions through licenses, spinouts and collaborations. Our dedication to establishing ongoing dialogue with industry informs Northeastern’s progressive research, enabling a productive balance between exploration and implementation.</p>


<h1 id="background">Background</h1>
<p>Cosmetic pump bottles waste about 25% of the products because of issues with emptying all the contents. This is part of the business model of many industries, as consumers must purchase additional products more frequently. Bottles in the market come in various sizes and heights, and the most common household practices to resolve product wastage include diluting with water, repeated shaking, cutting open the bottle, and scraping the insides. Highly viscous products like hair conditioner and lotion require more than just shaking to extract the product. Current technologies in the market include a gliding device that is focused on squeeze bottles, an airless pump that is limited to large bottles, and upside-down bottles that risk leakage. An affordable, reusable, adaptable device is needed that can help remove all of the product from containers</p>
<h1 id="technology-overview">Technology Overview</h1>
<p>Northeastern researchers have designed a new pump that uses a magnetic scraper system to adjust the position of the dip tube to reach all nooks and crannies of the bottles. A flexible silicone-straw tube allows access and rotation inside the bottle, while also providing a range of adjustable lengths. The magnetic scraper, essentially a cupped surface, is embedded with a magnet that allows the user-enabled magnetic sleeve to manipulate its location to scoop up all remaining product. The sleeve also contains a see-through section, and the scraper has a headlight to clearly visualize sections with product residue inside the bottle. While this invention saves product and reduces wastage, it also increases the recycling efficiency of the container.</p>
<h1 id="benefits">Benefits</h1>
<ul>
<li>Reduced product wastage due to efficient scraping of all product</li>
<li>Adjustable height of internal dip-tube to allow function in different bottle types</li>
<li>Re-usable magnetic sleeve and scraper system</li>
<li>Ribbed lid cork allows usage in different sized openings of bottles</li>
</ul>
<h1 id="applications">Applications</h1>
<ul>
<li>Industrial usage across a wide range of bottle shapes and sizes</li>
<li>Can be used for highly viscous cosmetics</li>
</ul>
<h1 id="opportunity">Opportunity</h1>
<p>Seeking licensee and/or industry partner</p>
