Not only was Abraham Lincoln the 16th President of the United States of America, but he was also a patent attorney and a patent holder. Lincoln holds US patent #6,469 "Buoying Vessels Over Shoals". This patent describes a method of increasing the buoyancy of vessels through the use of inflatable bladders to guide them over, or free them from shoals or shallow waters.

The patent begins: "Be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, of Springfield, in the county of Sangamon, in the state of Illinois, have invented a new and improved manner of combining adjustable buoyant air chambers with a steam boat or other vessel for the purpose of enabling their draught of water to be readily lessened to enable them to pass over bars, or through shallow water, without discharging their cargoes."

Lincoln said, "The Patent Office adds the flame of interest to the light of creativity." Spectro Scientific shares Lincoln's beliefs about patents and we like to acknowledge the people who have helped spur innovation through their creativity. Whether they are improving our measurement techniques, such as kinematic viscosity and particle count, or they are simplifying operation through innovation, like the spectrometer flip top sample cell, they are always striving to make improvements on our products.

Specifically, Spectro Scientific would like to thank Matt Fratkin, Yuegang Zhao, Eric Olson, Patrick Henning, and Tom Barraclough for their effort and success in patenting specific processes and instruments that have helped the company continue to create and improve upon our family of critical fluid analysis products. 

Dr. Patrick Henning, Chief Technology Officer, said, "Spectro Scientific is constantly striving to advance the state of the art as it relates to critical fluid analysis. These patents are representative of the innovative spirit we try to foster at the company."

Following is a list of U.S. Patents and the Spectro Scientific products in which they are used.