Inventor encourages students to create

Just in case your latest idea could be the breakthrough gadget for the new millennium, you might want to learn the importance of getting a patent for your invention. That's where Dale Shulze comes in. An intellectual property expert and inventor, Shulze collaborated with Penn's Wharton Innovation and Talent Seekers organization at the Annenberg School last Tuesday to promote the importance of inventive innovation, primarily among college students. A patent engineer for Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Shulze spoke to 25 avid listeners about his rise as both an engineer and an inventor. "I feel very privileged to speak to this group and commend its existence," Shulze remarked, referring to WITS, a non-profit, student-run group whose purpose is to serve as a resource to Penn student inventors and stimulate innovation campus-wide. Shulze motivated the audience by explaining how he began formulating and organizing his creative ideas during his studies at Ohio State. There, he devised a new spinning method for windmills, a vending machine for fishing bait and a moving truck with inflatable walls to protect its contents. Although Shulze never patented those ideas, the creations sparked within him an urge to continue that type of work in his career at Ethicon. There, he was able to implement a methodology for relieving heartburn through endoscopic surgery. By inventing a way to tie a knot on the treated area without making a large incision, Shulze formulated a new, low-cost treatment for the disease. During his career, Shulze has patented 36 inventions in the span of 10 years, the most of any inventor at Ethicon. After discussing his credentials, Shulze discussed key points for others to implement when obtaining a patent. The engineer began by quoting Albert Einstein as saying, "Nothing's really worth patenting unless it's crazy when you first think of it." Those interested in patenting an idea, Shulze said, should document it thoroughly as soon as possible and sign it with a witness present to establish its credibility. To Shulze, collaboration is essential in this process, since "all of us are smarter than one of us." He also explained the importance of doing research on the idea and comparing it to similar inventions or methodologies that have already been created. And although patents and maintenance fees can cost up to $5,000 and be quite time consuming, Shulze added that individuals should not be deterred from the process because alternatives to patenting an idea -- such as selling ideas to corporations -- can be viable. Audience members said that Shulze met their expectations for the presentations and provided a wealth of useful information. Most came to the seminar to gain knowledge about obtaining patents and the degree protection they give an invention. After Shulze's talk, they were, by and large, quite satisfied with the information they received pertaining to these topics. "It was interesting to hear about how protected you are when patenting an idea," said George Nanos, an Engineering junior and a budding inventor in his own right. Shulze was the first of many planned inventors brought to campus by WITS for its Distinguished Speaker Series.