US Patent 7254151 - Nanowire laser

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7254151.html

Forming lasers from semiconductor materials in the form of quantum (i.e. nano) wires has been accomplished several times in the prior art. This patent from Harvard alleges that lasing from nanowires based on "an electric signal from the substrate" is new. Claim 1 reads:

1. An apparatus, comprising: at least one nanoscale wire constructed and arranged to generate amplified stimulated emission of radiation, the at least one nanoscale wire including a first type semiconductor material; and a substrate, wherein the apparatus is constructed and arranged such that at least first carrier types are injected along at least a portion of a length of the at least one nanoscale wire, in response to an electric signal from the substrate, to facilitate generation of the amplified stimulated emission of the radiation.

Unfortunately quantum wire lasing prior art, which does work by electrical stimulation, such as

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5363394.html

seems to have been overlooked (see column 5, lines 24-45).