System and method for identifying and evaluating nanomaterial-related risk

• US 7,657,447 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company (The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hartford Fire Insurance Company (The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Patton, William Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell; James P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swartz; Jamie H
• Application Number:
  US12/347,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20090132299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• Field of Search: 705/4, 705/1, 977/700
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/70 Nanostructure

Abstract

A system, method, and processor-readable medium are provided for quantitatively evaluating risk associated with nanotechnology. An insurance company computing system obtains nanomaterial-related data from a variety of sources, including nanomaterial sensors such as differential mobility analyzers located on-site at an insured facility. The insurance computing system uses the obtained data and a computerized model to compute a risk score that is used in evaluating the insurability of the facility or the operating entity. An insurance policy or modifications to an existing insurance premium are subsequently produced based on the computed risk score.

Claims

1. A system for determining a level of risk posed by a nanomaterial to an entity, the system comprising:

a memory;

a computerized model stored on the memory; and

a processor configured to;

retrieve from memory data related to the nanomaterial, the retrieved data including physical and chemical characteristics of the nanomaterial;

calculate, using the computerized model, a risk score that is indicative of the level of risk posed by the nanomaterial to the entity based on the retrieved data, wherein the risk score is calculated based at least in part on a quantitative representation of the risks posed by the nanomaterial based on the physical and chemical characteristics of the nanomaterial;

evaluate the insurability of the entity responsive at least in part to the calculated risk score; and

output the results of the evaluation process as an offer or denial for insurance.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the physical and chemical characteristics of the nanomaterial included in the retrieved data include the size, shape, volume, concentration, stability, toxicity, and tendency for aggregation of the nanomaterial.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to derive values for a group of variables corresponding to risk-related characteristics of the nanomaterial, and wherein the processor is configured to calculate the risk score at least in part based on the values derived for the group of variables.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to derive the quantitative representation at least in part based on the toxicity of the nanomaterial handled by the entity.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the values for the group of variables comprise a quantitative value assigned to a phase variable indicating the phase the nanomaterial is in when handled by the entity, wherein one value is assigned to the phase variable if the nanomaterial is handled by the entity in an unprocessed form, a second value is assigned to the phase variable if the nanomaterial is handled by the entity as an intermediate product, and a third value is assigned to the phase variable if the nanomaterial is handled by the entity as an end product.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the values for the group of variables comprise a quantitative representation of the risk posed by an end-of-life condition of the nanomaterial.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the values for the group of variables comprise a quantitative indication of a level of public concern associated with the nanomaterial or the entity.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the values for the group of variables comprise a quantitative representation of a regulatory regime governing the activities of the entity.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to calculate the risk score using the computerized model by taking a weighted sum of the values of the group of variables.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the retrieved data was obtained from a monitoring device located at an entity'"'"'s facility during a term of the insurance, and wherein the processor is configured to alter a provision of the insurance in response to the obtained data.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the retrieved data was obtained from a questionnaire completed by the entity, an outside data source, and a monitoring device located at an entity'"'"'s facility.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the risk score is used in the evaluation process to modify an insurance premium calculated based on traditional risk factors.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the insurance is denied if the risk score is high, the insurance premium is unchanged if the risk score is moderate, and the insurance premium is reduced if the risk score is low.

14. A method for determining a level of risk posed by a nanomaterial to an entity, the method comprising:

receiving data related to the nanomaterial, the received data including physical and chemical characteristics of the nanomaterial; and

storing the received data in a database in communication with a processor;

accessing, by the processor, the stored data to calculate using a computerized model, a risk score that is indicative of the level of risk posed by the nanomaterial to the entity based on the received data, wherein the risk score is calculated based at least in part on a quantitative representation of the risks posed by the nanomaterial based on the physical and chemical characteristics of the nanomaterial;

determining, by the processor, the insurability of the entity responsive at least in part to the calculated risk score; and

electronically outputting, by the processor, an offer or denial for insurance based on the determined insurability of the entity.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the data comprises obtaining, by the processor, the physical and chemical characteristics of the nanomaterial.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein calculating the risk score comprises deriving a quantitative value to a phase variable indicating the phase the nanomaterial is in when handled by the entity, wherein one value is assigned to the phase variable if the nanomaterial is handled by the entity in an unprocessed form, a second value is assigned to the phase variable if the nanomaterial is handled by the entity as an intermediate product, and a third value is assigned to the phase variable if the nanomaterial is handled by the entity as an end product.

17. The method of claim 14, comprising altering, by the processor, a provision of the insurance in response to the data obtained from a monitoring device monitoring a location of the entity, wherein the data was obtained from the monitoring device during a term of the insurance.

18. The method of claim 14, comprising calculating, by the processor, a total premium for the insurance, wherein calculating the total premium includes modifying an insurance premium calculated based on traditional risk factors.

19. A system for determining a level of risk posed by a nanomaterial to an entity, the system comprising:

a memory;

a computerized model stored on the memory; and

a processor configured to;

retrieve from memory data related to the nanomaterial, the retrieved data including physical and chemical characteristics of the nanomaterial;

calculate, using the computerized model, a risk score that is indicative of the level of risk posed by the nanomaterial to the entity based on the retrieved data, wherein the risk score is calculated based at least in part on a quantitative representation of the risks posed by the nanomaterial based on the physical and chemical characteristics of the nanomaterial;

evaluate the insurability of the entity responsive at least in part to the calculated risk score, wherein the risk score is used in the evaluation process to modify an insurance premium calculated based on traditional risk factors; and

output the results of the evaluation process as an offer or denial for insurance.