The United States Patent and Trademark Office officially issued a groundbreaking new patent, U.S. Patent No. 12,644,836, titled “System and method for assessing product.” This advanced optical sensing innovation was developed by a dedicated team of forward-thinking inventors and assigned to SafetySpect Inc., a pioneering digital health and sensing technologies firm based in Grand Forks, North Dakota. This revolutionary breakthrough completely transforms how biological residues, hidden contaminants, and critical product attributes are detected and verified in real time, aiming to significantly reduce health and safety risks across various commercial sectors. Recognized for its outstanding technical merit and profound market potential, this invention has officially been named the North Dakota State Patent of the Month for July 2026.
By combining multiple optical modalities into a single automated diagnostic framework, this novel system overcomes several long-standing limitations associated with conventional visual inspection and consumable-based swab testing. Traditional sanitation auditing relies heavily on random spot checks with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) swabs, a process that is resource-intensive, time-consuming, and unable to provide comprehensive coverage of an entire facility. SafetySpect’s patented method solves this critical operational challenge by utilizing a first fluorescence imaging mode, a second fluorescence imaging mode, and a reflectance imaging mode to scan large surface areas dynamically. The integrated edge-computing hardware processes the resulting multi-spectral datasets instantly, enabling real-time detection, documentation, and verification of unseen organic contaminants without requiring chemical reagents or external cloud latency.
Why the Invention is Highly Innovative
The core innovation of this patented system lies in its sophisticated execution of multi-mode optical inspection coupled with machine learning at the edge. By utilizing a first fluorescence imaging mode, a second fluorescence imaging mode, and a reflectance imaging mode simultaneously, the device captures unique spectral and spatial signatures that remain completely invisible to the naked eye. This multi-layered approach allows the system to discriminate between different types of organic and biological materials, distinguishing benign substances from hazardous pathogens, fecal matter, or crop residues. Furthermore, the incorporation of edge computing ensures that the data processor can generate final predictions locally on a handheld device. This eliminates the need for data to be uploaded and downloaded from a cloud network, allowing for instantaneous feedback, continuous operation under bright ambient light, and seamless integration into fast-paced workflows.
Winner of the North Dakota State Patent of the Month for July 2026
SafetySpect Inc. earned the prestigious title of North Dakota State Patent of the Month for July 2026 due to the profound commercial and ecological implications this technology brings to the state’s expanding agricultural and biotechnology infrastructure. North Dakota has rapidly established itself as a premier regional hub for AgTech innovation, driven by collaboration between local research universities and advanced technology ventures. The selection committee chose this patent because it delivers a scalable, non-contact, zero-waste solution to a major environmental and industrial health challenge. By providing an objective, digital method to certify surface cleanliness and monitor food supply chain purity, this Grand Forks-based enterprise represents the absolute cutting edge of North Dakota’s economic and technology sectors, setting a new benchmark for automated regulatory compliance.
U.S. R&D Tax Credit Eligibility and Practical Applications
The practical engineering work and rigorous technical development associated with creating this multi-mode assessment system provide an excellent baseline for companies seeking to claim the United States Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit under Internal Revenue Code Section 41. To satisfy the statutory four-part test, a taxpayer must demonstrate that their activities are technological in nature, target a new or improved product function, aim at eliminating technical uncertainty, and are carried out through a systematic process of experimentation. SafetySpect engaged in qualified research when overcoming the complex technical hurdles of optical interference, multi-spectral calibration, and algorithm accuracy. Specifically, the engineering required to configure a hardware array that accurately isolates multiple overlapping fluorescence responses under volatile ambient lighting conditions constitutes a clear elimination of technical uncertainty. Additionally, the iterative prototyping of machine learning models to reliably segment and classify diverse biological compounds, combined with the structural design of a ruggedized handheld enclosure, represents a qualified process of experimentation, making these development costs highly eligible for valuable federal and state tax incentives.
