US 10,099,030, filed under application 14/736,132 and issued on October 13, 2017, presents an advanced mechanical and fluid system and method developed by Dr. Wesley W.O. Krueger to prevent and control motion sickness, motion-induced vision sickness, and variants of spatial disorientation and vertigo. This innovation builds on his earlier patent (US 9,080,868), enhancing eye-tracking technology with refined fluid dynamics in head-worn or VR/AR devices to monitor ocular responses (e.g., vestibular ocular reflex [VOR], saccades) and stabilize visual input. Validated through NIH-supported research, this platform-agnostic solution offers improved efficacy in mitigating nausea and disorientation, leveraging Dr. Krueger’s neurotology expertise.
Potential Applications
Aviation and Defense: Reduces motion sickness and spatial disorientation for pilots, naval personnel, and special operations forces, minimizing $1B+ crash risks.
Medical Rehabilitation: Treats vertigo and motion intolerance disorders (e.g., vestibular migraines, post-TBI dizziness) with enhanced visual stabilization techniques.
Commercial Transportation: Alleviates motion sickness for truck drivers, bus passengers, and train commuters, addressing the $74 billion annual accident cost (NHTSA, 2024).
Gaming and Virtual Reality: Improves user comfort in VR/AR gaming and training simulations, addressing a key adoption hurdle.
Pharmaceutical Development: Evaluates drug efficacy for motion sickness or vertigo treatments by objectively measuring ocular and physiologic responses in trials.
Potential Users
Military Personnel: Air Force and Navy pilots, special ops teams, and ground crews experiencing motion-related disorientation (1.3M active-duty U.S. forces).
Healthcare Providers: Neurologists, otolaryngologists, and rehab therapists managing vertigo or motion sickness patients.
Transportation Workers: 3.5 million U.S. truck drivers and millions of global bus/train passengers.
Gamers and VR Enthusiasts: 5.7 million Meta Quest owners (2024) and the expanding VR user base seeking nausea-free experiences.
Pharmaceutical Researchers: Clinical trial managers assessing CNS-affecting therapies.
Potential Buyers or Licensees
Defense Contractors: Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics ($20M–$40M licensing) could integrate into flight helmets and training systems, tapping the DoD’s $11.7B R&D budget (2025).
Medical Device Companies: Boston Scientific and Zimmer Biomet ($15M–$25M licensing) may adopt for rehab devices, aligning with their $40M+ medical tech investments.
Big Tech: Meta (R&D $10B+) and Apple (R&D $26B) could license for Quest and Vision Pro platforms ($20M–$50M), targeting the $635.82B wearable market (2034).
Automotive Manufacturers: Ford and BMW ($15M–$30M licensing) could enhance passenger comfort in autonomous vehicles.
Gaming Industry: Microsoft (HoloLens) and HTC Vive ($10M–$20M licensing) could improve VR accessibility, driven by a $50B+ gaming market.
Market Appeal and Valuation
This patent addresses a $10B–$15B global market for motion sickness and vertigo solutions, with a per-patent value of $25M–$80M (average $52.5M), reflecting its enhanced capabilities over US 9,080,868. Licensing fees could range from $15M–$50M per deal, with royalties (1–5%) adding $5M–$20M annually. Within Dr. Krueger’s 20-patent portfolio, valued at US$750M–$1.68B, this patent contributes significantly, with an upside to US$2.5B–$3B, enhanced by its synergy with other motion-related patents (e.g., US 8,690,750).
Investment Rationale
US 10,099,030 offers a compelling appeal by advancing traditional motion sickness treatments (e.g., medication, manual therapy) with a rapid, objective, and portable solution. Its integration into wearables, AR/VR, and transportation systems generates substantial downstream revenue, aligning with big tech’s health tech push, DoD safety priorities, and commercial efficiency needs. Potential buyers or licensees can leverage its validated efficacy and improved design to lead in safety, health, and performance innovation.