Under the patronage of Prof. Abdullah Jawad Sultan, Vice President for Research, the Office of External Research Collaboration and Consultations in the Research Sector organized a ceremony to honor researchers and inventors who have recently obtained patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The ceremony was held on Monday 30/6/2025, and attended by Dr. Mabkhout Al-Dousari, Assistant Vice President for Research External Collaboration & Consultation, and Dr. Abdullatif Al-Rashdan, Assistant Vice President for Research Finance & Implementation.

The ceremony began with a welcoming speech by Prof. Abdullah Sultan, appreciating the hard work and dedication of researchers in patenting their inventions, carrying forward the ongoing efforts of Kuwait University's distinguished academic faculty. He added that the Research Sector endeavors to elevate KU's academic and scientific status and enhance its global ranking.

Prof. Abdullah Sultan signaled that the Patent and Intellectual Property Office at KU's Research Sector recently registered nine patents during the academic year 2024/2025, which were announced by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The inventors are as follows:

• Dr. Mohammed Al-Fares, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Petroleum, and his research team, including Eng. Sheikha Al-Khalfan, Eng. Safa'a Karam, Eng. Rabab Abdullah, and Eng. Zainab Ali, for their invention of an innovative device that serves as a temporary solution for quickly and safely repairing potholes.
(Abstract: The team designed an innovative device that offers a rapid and safe temporary solution for pothole repair. The device enables authorities to fill and fix potholes within minutes, saving both time and effort, as a single worker can complete the task efficiently. The device is a multifunctional machine that combines four key processes: cleaning, filling, leveling, and compacting—ensuring high-quality pothole repair. Thanks to this advanced technology, the device is expected to reduce the costs of traditional road repair methods and enhance safety for both citizens and residents).

• Dr. Fatema Safar, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Science, Dr. Sheikha Ibrahim, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Petroleum, and Dr. Nasser Al-Sayegh, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, for their invention of a portable device for extracting soil samples and testing them in the field.
(Abstract: The invention consists of a glass tube with metal gates, along with other components attached to the device, such as a metal grip, a drilling head for extracting soil samples on-site, an advanced pump to prepare and inject nanofluids or other liquids into the soil sample, a reservoir for collecting the fluids after they spread through the soil, a lever to open the metal gates, and magnetic blades that cut through different soil layers without damaging the rest of the sample. This device represents an innovative system that combines soil extraction, treatment with fluids, and separation of specific soil layers within a single tool. It uses a lifting mechanism to gently separate the walls of the sample tube, preserving the natural vertical structure of the soil sample. Fluids are applied directly to the soil, allowing for controlled penetration and efficient mixing without disturbing the soil layers. Fine blades isolate and extract clean soil layers without destroying their natural structure. This technique surpasses traditional methods in preserving the natural arrangement of soil layers and achieving highly accurate and efficient results in environmental and geotechnical fields. It is expected that this innovation will open new horizons in several sectors, including the oil, environmental, agricultural, and construction industries, by enabling on-site analysis and treatment of soil).

• Dr. Sheikha Ibrahim, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Petroleum, and Dr. Nasser Al-Sayegh, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, for their invention of an integrated dynamic system for determining the stability of suspended particles in liquids, using a thermal imaging camera and advanced mixing techniques to ensure the stability and dispersion of solid particles in the carrier fluid, and for their invention of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development, for their invention of an innovative system for producing liquids containing solid suspensions using an advanced automated method.
(Abstract: The invention features an integrated dynamic system that determines the stability of suspended particles using a thermal imaging camera and advanced mixing techniques to maintain the uniform distribution of solid particles within the fluid. Among the key advantages of this new system is its high accuracy in determining suspension stability through thermal imaging technology. It also reduces the need for complex laboratory equipment and simplifies short- and long-term testing processes. Furthermore, the system is suitable for application in industrial and medical environments, such as drug formulation, treatment of industrial fluids, and advanced heat transfer fluids. Additionally, it offers the ability to automatically control particle stability through specialized mixers that prevent particle aggregation within the fluid. This innovation is expected to open new horizons across various sectors, including the pharmaceutical industry by improving the stability of liquid medications and suspension-based pharmaceutical products, the energy sector through the development of advanced heat transfer fluids for use in solar energy systems and nuclear reactors, as well as other engineering industries).

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mabkhout Al-Dousari emphasized that Kuwait University's vision is to become a leading national university distinguished in higher education and scientific research, a goal reflected in the accomplishments of the inventors honored today. He also expressed pride in their remarkable achievements, encouraging them to pursue patent registration using the Fast Track service offered by the Research Sector to reduce the time required for USPTO's patent examiners to review patents from three years in the past to only six months to one year.