Abstract
BackgroundThis paper aims to identify the key fields and their key technical points of oncology by patent analysis.Methodology/Principal FindingsPatents of oncology applied from 2006 to 2012 were searched in the Thomson Innovation database. The key fields and their key technical points were determined by analyzing the Derwent Classification (DC) and the International Patent Classification (IPC), respectively. Patent applications in the top ten DC occupied 80% of all the patent applications of oncology, which were the ten fields of oncology to be analyzed. The number of patent applications in these ten fields of oncology was standardized based on patent applications of oncology from 2006 to 2012. For each field, standardization was conducted separately for each of the seven years (2006–2012) and the mean of the seven standardized values was calculated to reflect the relative amount of patent applications in that field; meanwhile, regression analysis using time (year) and the standardized values of patent applications in seven years (2006–2012) was conducted so as to evaluate the trend of patent applications in each field. Two-dimensional quadrant analysis, together with the professional knowledge of oncology, was taken into consideration in determining the key fields of oncology. The fields located in the quadrant with high relative amount or increasing trend of patent applications are identified as key ones. By using the same method, the key technical points in each key field were identified. Altogether 116,820 patents of oncology applied from 2006 to 2012 were retrieved, and four key fields with twenty-nine key technical points were identified, including “natural products and polymers” with nine key technical points, “fermentation industry” with twelve ones, “electrical medical equipment” with four ones, and “diagnosis, surgery” with four ones.Conclusions/SignificanceThe results of this study could provide guidance on the development direction of oncology, and also help researchers broaden innovative ideas and discover new technological opportunities.
Highlights
Cancer is reported as the second major cause of deaths following cardiovascular disease and has become one of the leading threat worldwide [1,2]
This paper aims to identify the key fields and their key technical points of oncology by patent analysis
Derwent Classification (DC) and International Patent Classification (IPC) were analyzed to identify the key fields and their key technical points respectively based on two-dimensional quadrant analysis
Summary
Cancer is reported as the second major cause of deaths following cardiovascular disease and has become one of the leading threat worldwide [1,2]. The field of oncology develops rapidly and studies involving oncology is closely related to other subjects, including epidemiology, etiology and pathogenesis, drug discovery, diagnosis and treatment, surgery and so on [3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. Studies related to oncology involves scientometrics, such as publication quality [10], collaboration patterns [11], comparison of citation and usage indicators [12], and co-authorship network [13]. There has been no identification and analysis of key fields and key technical points in oncology by patent analysis. This paper aims to identify the key fields and their key technical points of oncology by patent analysis
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call