Distinguished Professor C. Kumar Patel is a National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductee

Distinguished Professor C. Kumar Patel is one of the inductees in the 2012 National Inventors Hall of Fame for his intangible contribution in the development of the carbon dioxide laser in 1963
while at Bell Labs.  Today, his discovery is currently applied in the medical field such as laser scalpel in surgery and laser skin resurfacing, other applications are in industrial and military fields.

The National Inventors Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization established in 1973 with a mission to recognize and promote American inventors who hold a U.S. patent and whose invention has greatly contributed to the advancement of technology which encourage human, social and economic progress. The organization is based in Alexandria Virginia together with its co-founder, U. S. Patent and Trademark Office.   NIHF also manages efforts to promote future inventors with programs Invent Now Kids and Collegiate Inventors Competition.

Prof. Patel is decorated with a National Medal of Science, IEEE Medal of Honor, National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Sciences and a Fellow of IEEE.  Until now, Prof. Patel is actively
involved in the development of new laser systems.

On May 2, 2012, nine inventors will be honored at the National Inventors Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony to be held at Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery, in Washington, D.C..