Dr. Rory Cooper — One Innovator’s Mission to Make IP Accessible for All

When Dr. Rory Cooper enlisted in the Army at 17, he couldn’t have imagined that decades later, he’d be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Nor could he have predicted that a devastating accident would set him on a path to becoming one of the most influential inventors in assistive technology.

But that’s exactly what happened.

In a recent podcast hosted by Ashley Cheung of Virtual Patent Gateway and co-led by Shirley Fung of Akona IP and ADAPT, Dr. Cooper shared his extraordinary journey. From his early days recovering from a spinal cord injury to being a paralympian and founding the Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL) at the University of Pittsburgh, his story is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless curiosity. See the full podcast on YouTube here.

“Good Ideas Can Come from Anyone”

Dr. Cooper’s lab, HERL, is built on a simple but powerful philosophy: innovation thrives when diverse minds come together. “We work in teams of teams . . . physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, statisticians, and engineers of different types working together,” said Dr. Cooper. “We try to keep a fairly flat organization so that everybody has a chance to say something and contribute and feel like they’re heard.”

This collaborative spirit is what led to groundbreaking inventions like the ergonomic push rim and the variable compliance joystick—technologies that have transformed mobility for countless wheelchair users around the world. But what makes Dr. Cooper’s work even more remarkable is how he’s used patents not to gatekeep innovation, but to unlock it.

Patents with Purpose

Dr. Cooper believes that intellectual property gives inventors the power to guide how their innovations are used. “Patents give you control,” he explained. “They let you make sure your invention is used for good.”

That philosophy guided his decision to license a joystick technology royalty-free, ensuring it could be adopted by all wheelchair manufacturers—not just one. “Now that technology is pretty much used on all power wheelchairs in the entire world,” he noted.

While many view patents primarily as a way to exclude others, Dr. Cooper demonstrates a different approach: using IP as a means to protect access and promote equity, not to restrict it.

Advice for the Next Generation of Inventors

Dr. Cooper offered age-tailored advice to aspiring inventors, with a focus on empathy, community, and purpose.

• For the youngest kids (K–3rd grade): “Try to solve a problem for your pet,” he said. It’s a simple way to spark empathy and creativity.

• For upper elementary students (4th–6th grade): “Try to solve a problem for your home, or for your grandparents, parents, brother, or sister.” What could make life easier for your family?

• For middle schoolers: “Work on something for your school, your church, or your community.” What could you improve?

• And for high schoolers: Now you’re ready to tackle bigger problems.

He spoke of students who had built algae-powered mufflers to reduce emissions, or prosthetic arms with revolutionary drive trains—all before graduating high school. Some of these students are “probably already doing graduate-level work in the 11th grade,” he said, clearly inspired.

Making the Patent System More Inclusive

Dr. Cooper also spoke candidly about the barriers that keep many people—especially those from underrepresented communities—out of the patent system. “One of them is sort of a mental block about filing a patent,” he said, “how complex it is in the language you use.” And then there are the cost barriers, “both the attorney costs and the patent filing costs.” But he’s hopeful that tools like AI and more widespread pro bono legal support can help level the playing field.

“AI is going to level that playing field quite a bit. Writing claims and an invention disclosure, and probably even a provisional patent, seems like a perfect target for generative AI.”

A Mission Worth Supporting

Want to be part of the innovation journey? You can support HERL by donating through the University of Pittsburgh’s Institutional Advancement office. Learn more here or follow HERL's facebook page.

We’re deeply grateful to Ashley Cheung and Virtual Patent Gateway for hosting this inspiring conversation, and to Shirley Fung of Akona IP for representing ADAPT and helping spotlight Dr. Cooper’s mission. Dr. Cooper’s story is a powerful reminder that innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about people, purpose, and the courage to imagine a more inclusive future.