Patents in space medicine: An immediate call for innovations in the field

Abstract

• Space presents ample opportunities for a wide range of highly innovative applications. • Patents are an excellent barometer of innovation. • Major innovations in healthcare are a result of space medical research. • The rapid advancements in human space exploration endeavors boost the demand for research and innovation in space medicine. Space presents ample opportunities for a wide range of highly innovative applications, as well as products and services that directly benefit humanity. Patents are an excellent barometer of innovation. Over the last four decades, researchers have made novel discoveries about the human body in space, and global patent filing in the space sector has consistently grown. Space medicine, as a distinct field, was still in its infancy five decades ago. Scientists studying the effects of space travel on the human body have begun to appreciate the relevance and possibility of future discoveries in the field. Major innovations in healthcare, including insulin pumps and cochlear implants, are a result of space medical research. While patents are becoming more prevalent in space medicine, they are not as ubiquitous as other manufacturing and technology sectors. In this article, we discuss several aspects pertaining to patents in the field of space medicine. The rapid advancements in human space exploration endeavors boost the demand for research and innovation in space medicine.