The Ukrainian inventor fled the U.S.S.R. in 1992 with only his family, research papers, and dog in tow. All other worldly possessions, such as clothes and jewelry, had to be left behind in the family's quest to reach the United States as quickly as possible.
Once there, Maisotsenko took up where he left off in Odessa, Ukraine: researching thermodynamics. He had taught, tested, and researched thermodynamics in his home country for 25 years. After working for several companies in the United States, Maisotsenko told colleague Tim Heaton about his dream of implementing a new cooling method. Heaton saw the potential in a crude prototype cooler in Maisotsenko's garage and consulted with engineering friends Alan, Lee, and Rick Gillan.