From Financialexpress · Anjana PV · · 2m
Rangaswamy Srinivasan: The chemist who traded a $15M LASIK patent for $10,000 and glory
Rangaswamy Srinivasan sold his IBM laser patent for $10,000 but earned global recognition for LASIK surgery.
In brief
Rangaswamy Srinivasan sold his IBM laser patent for $10,000 but earned global recognition for LASIK surgery. Rangaswamy Srinivasan traded a $15 million LASIK patent for $10,000 but became known for improving vision through laser surgery. Originally reported by Financialexpress.
Rangaswamy Srinivasan
Rangaswamy Srinivasan was born in Madras, now Chennai, on February 28, 1929.
IBM patent deal
Srinivasan received $10,000 when he handed his laser breakthrough to IBM, later sold for $15 million.
Recognition joke
Srinivasan joked that becoming famous required living long enough to receive recognition.
National Medal
Srinivasan accepted the National Medal of Technology and Innovation at age 83 in 2012.
Father of LASIK
Srinivasan is known as the father of LASIK surgery, a procedure that helps millions reduce glasses dependence.
Early research
Srinivasan studied photochemistry and proteins at the University of Southern California.
IBM career
Srinivasan worked at IBM’s Thomas J. Watson Research Center from 1961 to his retirement.
Laser discovery
Srinivasan discovered ablative photodecomposition using a turkey bone in 1981.
First surgery
Srinivasan and colleagues performed the first LASIK surgery on a German patient in 1988.
FDA approval
The US FDA approved the first commercial excimer laser system for refractive surgery in 1995.
Global impact
Over 40 million people benefited from Srinivasan’s LASIK work worldwide.
Patent dispute
Srinivasan and IBM colleagues filed a patent in 1982, while Trokel filed later in 1983.
Recognition
Srinivasan received the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2002 and the National Medal in 2012.
Legacy
Srinivasan’s work improved vision and created new medical opportunities without financial gain.
The turkey experiment
Srinivasan used a turkey bone to test laser effects on tissue in 1981.
The cold flame
Srinivasan observed a cold flame when ultraviolet laser hit polymers in 1981.
At a glance
Rangaswamy Srinivasan traded a $15 million LASIK patent for $10,000 but became known for improving vision through laser surgery.
