Patent Process Research Articles

Pharmaceutical/Biomedical Applications of Electrospun Nanofibers - Comprehensive Review, Attentive to Process Parameters and Patent Landscape.

Nanotechnology is a new science and business endeavour with worldwide economic benefits. Growing knowledge of nanomaterial fabrication techniques has increased the focus on nanomaterial preparation for various purposes. Nanofibers are one-dimensional nanomaterials having distinct physicochemical properties and characteristics. Nanofibers are nanomaterial types with a cross-sectional dimension of tens to hundreds of nanometres. They may create high porosity mesh networks with significant interconnections among pores, making them suitable for advanced applications. Electrospinning stands out for its ease of use, flexibility, low cost, and variety among the approaches described in the literature. The most common method for making nanofibers is electrospinning. This article extensively describes and summarizes the impact of various process variables on the fabrication of nanofibers. Special attention has been given to scientific and patent prospection to confirm the research interests in nanofibers.

The Patent Trial and Appeals Board

This Viewpoint summarizes the role of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) in reforming the drug patent process to avoid erroneously granted patents; highlights how other reform efforts, such as the PREVAIL Act, actually weaken the PTAB; and suggests changes to strengthen the PTAB and promote generic availability and reduced health care costs.

How Plastics Came to Pollute the Technical Literature

Today, we know a great deal about how plastics invade the oceans, but we know less about how these same pollutants begin to colonize the world upstream, even before the manufacturing process, when inventors draft their patents. This paper addresses this gap through a textometric study of the corpus of US facemask patents over a century. Patents are highly constrained by specific laws and rules: they must focus on utility, and only on utility, thus preventing moral concerns such as care for the planet from being part of the patenting process. They must also be generic, which prevents them from focusing on specific materials. Despite these limitations, the empirical analysis of our corpus reveals the linguistic tricks and cultural patterns that have allowed plastics, but also health and environmental concerns, to circulate in patents. The use of certain rhetorical devices, such as “preferably” and “or any other suitable material(s),” helps to mention specific materials while preserving the genericity of patents; in addition, the reference to market-based components contributes to externalize environmental and health considerations. As the analysis shows, most of these patterns contribute to deepening the production of ignorance in contemporary societies, although recent developments offer a glimmer of hope: the reference to external pressures for sustainability, or the transformation of the concept of sustainability into a material property, has helped to transform ethical concerns into useful facts, thus facilitating the replacement of plastics with more sustainable materials in the patent literature.

The association between governance mechanisms and engagement in commercialisation and entrepreneurship of Romanian public research institutes

This study investigates the connection between the governance structure of a public research institute (PRI) and its inclination towards entrepreneurship and patenting, in the form of spin-offs and granted patents, in Romania, an emerging economy. Employing a combination of negative binomial and Firth logistic regressions, the research examines the links between the composition of the board of directors (BD) and PRI's knowledge and technology transfer (KTT) and entrepreneurial efforts over a period of eleven years (2012–2022). The results show that gender diversity in the BD does not impact the establishment of new firms and patenting. Moreover, the likelihood of spin-off creation in female-led PRIs is lower than in male-led ones, while the general director's gender has minimal impact on the patenting process. On the other hand, BD diversity in terms of external directors, namely the industry representatives, strongly influences the entrepreneurial orientation of the PRI. The same connection is shown with the existence of technology transfer offices. Scientific excellence is slightly complementary with patenting. Finally, geographic location has a weak mixed effect on the creation of spin-offs and patenting. Our paper contributes to the industrial organisational literature, which has not paid enough attention to the role of research institutes in science commercialisation, especially in emerging economies.

Cambodia's Imminent Graduation from Least Developed Country Status: What Will be the Impact of the TRIPS Agreement on Access to HIV and Hepatitis C Medicines in Cambodia?

Cambodia has experienced exponential economic growth in recent years and is expected to graduate from least developed country (LDC) status within the next decade. Membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO) will require Cambodia to grant product and process patents for pharmaceuticals upon LDC graduation. This study aims to measure the impact of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) on the price of HIV and hepatitis C medicine in Cambodia once it graduates from LDC status and is obliged to make patents available for pharmaceutical products and processes. Using scenarios based on likely outcomes of accession to the TRIPS Agreement, it measures the impact on the price of the HIV treatment program and compares that impact with the hepatitis C treatment program. Graduation from LDC status would be expected to result in a modest increase in the cost of the antiretroviral (ARV) treatment program and very large increases in the cost of the direct acting antivirals (DAA) treatment program. If annual treatment budgets remain constant, patent protection could see 1,515 fewer people living with HIV able to access ARV treatment and 2,577 fewer people able to access DAA treatment (a drop in treatment coverage of 93%).

The pharmaceutical patent process: National Health Surveillance Agency and National Institute of Industrial Property act differently in the process

The National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) is the government body responsible for granting patents in the national territory; in the case of medicines, they need to be registered with the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) in order to be marketed. There was a divergence in legal interpretation (of Art. 229-C of the IPL) which caused damage to entrepreneurs, laboratories and the community in general, as there was no express provision as to whether ANVISA's opinion would be binding on the INPI's decision on patent issues. The aim of this research was to analyze this problem, raising its main points and demonstrating how dangerous and damaging bureaucracy and inefficient and obscure normative acts that give rise to dubious interpretation can be, based on the application of hermeneutic and dialectical methods. In 2021, the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), in Special Appeal n. 1543826, held that ANVISA's opinion would be a valid prerequisite for granting patents for pharmaceutical products or processes. It was found that the STJ decision increased ANVISA's "powers", but with the repeal of Art. 229-C of the IPL, the dilemma was extinguished and the competencies of each body re-established. It is therefore of the utmost importance to fill legal gaps and issue clear and specific laws so as not to leave room for harmful interpretations, guaranteeing original competences and legal certainty.

Application of Science and Technology in Intellectual Property Rights Process Patent

This research aims to analyze, explain and understand the application of science and technology to intellectual property rights in process patents and to analyze, explain and understand legal protection for process patents. The type of research used is empirical legal research because it is motivated by the idea that law cannot be separated from people's lives in the form of values and attitudes/behavior, but law can be studied from its empirical aspect, namely how the law is in reality in people's lives. The results of this research reveal that the application of IPTEKS and Intellectual Property Rights in the patent process means that Indonesian society as a society does not respect Intellectual Property Rights. The reality in society still shows that there are many violations of Patent Rights and it is suspected that they have reached a dangerous level and can damage the order of life in society in general, especially creativity to give birth to new discoveries. Meanwhile, legal protection for process patents developed by indigenous Papuans according to the Patent Law is granted on the basis of an application. And until December 2021, through the Trade and Small and Medium Industry IPR Consultation Clinic, the Papua Province Industry and Trade Service, several inventions regarding traditional medicines have been registered at the Patent Office in Jakarta. The form of legal protection can be seen from the application of Law Number 13 of 2016 concerning Patents

Peningkatan Kualitas Kinerja Pegawai dalam Pelayanan Administrasi Terpadu (PATEN) Pada Kantor Kecamatan Kelapa Dua Kabupaten Tangerang

Integrated Administrative Services (PATEN) at the Kelapa Dua District Office, Tangerang Regency, is the focus of research to improve the quality of employee performance. The background of this research is related to the evaluation of the PATENT process, level of community satisfaction, employee competency, application of technology, management role, and community participation. This research aims to analyze obstacles in administrative services, evaluate employee competence, and increase the effectiveness of the use of technology. Through quantitative and qualitative approaches, the research results describe current conditions and provide recommendations for improvement. The results show that there are obstacles in the PATENT process and the need to increase employee competency. Management needs to increase the application of technology and invite community participation. The conclusions of this research emphasize the need for improvements in various aspects to improve the quality of administrative services. The implications of this research include increasing efficiency, community satisfaction, and employee welfare. Therefore, this research makes a positive contribution to efforts to improve the quality of PATENTS and public services at the local level.

Anammox-based technologies: A review of recent advances, mechanism, and bottlenecks

The removal of nitrogen via the ANAMMOX process is a promising green wastewater treatment technology, with numerous benefits. The incessant studies on the ANAMMOX process over the years due to its long start-up and high operational cost has positively influenced its technological advancement, even though at a rather slow pace. At the moment, relatively new ANAMMOX technologies are being developed with the goal of treating low carbon wastewater at low temperatures, tackling nitrite and nitrate accumulation and methane utilization from digestates while also recovering resources (phosphorus) in a sustainable manner. This review compares and contrasts the handful of ANAMMOX -based processes developed thus far with plausible solutions for addressing their respective bottlenecks hindering full-scale implementation. Ultimately, future prospects for advancing understanding of mechanisms and engineering application of ANAMMOX process are posited. As a whole, technological advances in process design and patents have greatly contributed to better understanding of the ANAMMOX process, which has greatly aided in the optimization and industrialization of the ANAMMOX process. This review is intended to provide researchers with an overview of the present state of research and technological development of the ANAMMOX process, thus serving as a guide for realizing energy autarkic future practical applications.

Potentials of omega-3 fatty acids as therapeutic drugs and its obstacles in the pathway: A critical review

Context: Eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and docosapentaenoic acid are the significant members of the ω-3 fatty acid group. Their beneficial pharmacological effects open new paths for therapeutics. Aims: To provide an updated overview of the source, chemical features, pharmacological effects, dosage forms, and patents of omega-3 fatty acids and analyze the limitations in visualizing them as an active drug for treatment. Methods: PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Springer Link, Google Patent, and Espacenet were used for the systematic search for articles from 2011–2023. Specific keywords were used for the search. For the screening process, articles related to the topic with full text in English were chosen. Two independent researchers analyzed, extracted, and summarized relevant data in Excel for data presentation. Results: 196 references were chosen for this review. In summary, lipid mediators from omega-3 fatty acids were found to exert anti-inflammatory functions, modulate signal transactions, regulate gene expression, and work as anti-microbial agents. These functions positively impact the cardiovascular, immune, metabolic, nerve, and optic systems. Despite abundant benefits, most products related to n-3 fatty acids were concentrated on utilizing as adjuvants and supplements. The source-related issues, complex extraction methods, oxidative instability, cost, side effects of formulations, complicated patent processes, and lenient regulation for supplements have been viewed as the reasons. Conclusions: Omega-3 fatty acids are a safe choice as a therapeutic drug for elderly patients, pregnant women, and children with disorders. Microbial production, low-energy formulation, and the use of natural emulsifiers can resolve the obstacles in this pathway.

Sustainable cities and Brazilian inventors: Environmental technologies on life cycle assessment in patent databases

According to the United Nations, by 2050, about 68% of the world’s population will live in urban areas. This population increase requires environmental resilience and planning ability to reduce the negative environmental impacts associated with growth. In this scenario, life cycle analysis, whose standards were introduced by ISO 14000 series, is an essential tool. From this perspective, smart cities whose concern about environmental sustainability is paramount corroborating SDG 11. This study aims to provide a holistic view of environmental technologies developed by Brazilian inventors, focused on life cycle analysis, which promotes innovation by helping cities build greener, more efficient, resilient, and sustainable environments. The methodology of this article was an exploratory study and investigated the scenario of patents in the life cycle. 209 patent processes with Brazilian inventors were found in the Espacenet database. Analyzing each of the results individually revealed processes related to air quality, solid waste, and environmental sanitation. The review of patent processes allowed mapping of the technological advances linked to life cycle analysis, finding that the system is still little explored and can present competitive advantages for cities.

Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR): the benefit of the double stitch in the largest single-center experience

AimTo review our experience of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR) regarding complication rates, the practice of closing the asymptomatic patent processes vaginalis (PPV), and comparison of complication rates between pre-term (< 37 week gestation) and term infants.MethodsRetrospective review of LIHR performed between 2009 and 2021. Repair was performed by intracorporal single or double purse string/purse string + Z-stitch using a non-absorbable suture. Data were analyzed using Chi-squared/Mann–Whitney and are quoted as median (range).Results1855 inguinal rings were closed in 1195 patients (943 (79%) male). 1378 rings (74%) were symptomatic. 492 (41%) patients were pre-term. Corrected gestational age at surgery was 55 weeks (31 weeks–14.6 years) and weight 5.9 kg (1–65.5). Closure of contralateral PPV was higher in the premature group (210/397 [53%] vs. 265/613 [43%] p = 0.003). There were 23 recurrences in 20 patients, of whom 10 had been born prematurely. The only factor significantly associated with a lower recurrence was use of a second stitch (p = 0.011).ConclusionThis is the largest single-center reported series of LIHR. LIHR is safe at any age, the risk of recurrence is low, and can be corrected by re-laparoscopy. Use of a Z-stitch or second purse string is associated with a significantly lower rate of recurrence.

The genomic and epidemiological virulence patterns of Salmonella enterica serovars in the United States.

The serovars of Salmonella enterica display dramatic differences in pathogenesis and host preferences. We developed a process (patent pending) for grouping Salmonella isolates and serovars by their public health risk. We collated a curated set of 12,337 S. enterica isolate genomes from human, beef, and bovine sources in the US. After annotating a virulence gene catalog for each isolate, we used unsupervised random forest methods to estimate the proximity (similarity) between isolates based upon the genomic presentation of putative virulence traits We then grouped isolates (virulence clusters) using hierarchical clustering (Ward's method), used non-parametric bootstrapping to assess cluster stability, and externally validated the clusters against epidemiological virulence measures from FoodNet, the National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS), and US federal sampling of beef products. We identified five stable virulence clusters of S. enterica serovars. Cluster 1 (higher virulence) serovars yielded an annual incidence rate of domestically acquired sporadic cases roughly one and a half times higher than the other four clusters combined (Clusters 2-5, lower virulence). Compared to other clusters, cluster 1 also had a higher proportion of infections leading to hospitalization and was implicated in more foodborne and beef-associated outbreaks, despite being isolated at a similar frequency from beef products as other clusters. We also identified subpopulations within 11 serovars. Remarkably, we found S. Infantis and S. Typhimurium subpopulations that significantly differed in genome length and clinical case presentation. Further, we found that the presence of the pESI plasmid accounted for the genome length differences between the S. Infantis subpopulations. Our results show that S. enterica strains associated with highest incidence of human infections share a common virulence repertoire. This work could be updated regularly and used in combination with foodborne surveillance information to prioritize serovars of public health concern.

Intellectual Property of Psychedelics for Addiction Treatment: Enabling Access and Protecting Innovation Opportunities Through Preserving the Public Domain.

Recent research has shown potential for psychedelic therapeutics as addiction treatments; however, some academic institutions, commercial entities, and individuals are attempting to monopolize psychedelic compounds through exploiting the patent process. This Perspective article describes efforts that have been devised to mitigate exclusionary patent practices pertinent to psychedelic therapeutics for addiction. The nonprofit Porta Sophia has identified 170 patent documents focused on treating addiction through psychedelics, and many of these patents could threaten to privatize public domain knowledge and severely limit or increase the cost of research if granted. Patent examiners who determine if a patent application should be granted must negate false claims to innovation. Yet, given the unique history of psychedelics, prior knowledge can be difficult to find. As a result, overreaching patents may be granted, causing dramatic shifts in access to addiction-focused psychedelic research, treatments, and funding. As the field of psychedelics approaches this crucial inflection point of U.S. Food and Drug Administration decisions, it is imperative for all stakeholders--including university investigators, academic and commercial patent seekers, and policymakers--to use available tools for determining prior knowledge. Maintaining an informed awareness of legal patent eligibility and limitations is crucial for establishing an ethical patent landscape and ensuring subsequent access to these potential life-altering psychedelic therapeutics for addiction.

Pitfalls in patenting academic CAR-T cells therapy

ABSTRACT Introduction Emerging immunotherapies are pushing the boundaries of cancer treatment, with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy being one of the most advanced. Due to the increasingly crowded CAR-T cell field, patenting and protecting the intellectual property of these CAR-T cells implies a good knowledge of the legal landscape. Areas covered The present manuscript focuses on the challenges regarding the patenting process of CAR-T technology, beginning with a description of the main characteristics of CAR-T cells and their functionalities, continuing with the legal landscape applicable to patenting processes, and concluding by presenting the potential strategies to overcome the impediments that can appear when trying to patent CAR-T cells. It is meant to offer insights for those who are exploring possible patenting options in CAR-T cells territory. PubMed and Patenscope databases were used for patent and literature searching (2013–2023). Expert opinion There is no one-size-fits-all solution in this matter and the medical evolution of this therapy will certainly bring out even more challenges. Comprehensive knowledge of the intellectual property, exposure to potential litigation, growing competition, and the high price of therapy, are strikingly relevant in the broader landscape. Future endeavors would be to take steps toward the harmonization of the CAR-T patenting procedure.

Green engineered mulch for phosphorus and metal removal from stormwater runoff in bioretention systems

Phosphorus and metals in stormwater runoff are major causes of water quality degradation. Bioretention systems are increasingly implemented to improve stormwater quality and to better manage stormwater quantity. Many studies have focused on modifying the composition of the soil bed to improve pollutant removal. However, the pollutant removal performance of bioretention systems can diminish over time, such as when clogging of the media occurs. Sediment accumulation on the soil surface may inhibit infiltration into the soil bed, thus limiting pollutant removal. Soil replacement may be eventually required as pollutants accumulate in the soil. In this study, a green retrofit material, called green engineered mulch (GEM), was generated by coating regular wood mulch with aluminum-based water treatment residuals (WTR) via a simple and low-energy process (patent pending). The GEM was developed to serve as a green retrofit for bioretention systems to enhance the removal of phosphorus and metals from stormwater runoff. The GEM was placed in a rain garden in Secaucus, NJ, USA for 15 months, during which 12 storm events (ranging from 6.0 mm to 89.6 mm) were monitored. Runoff and infiltrate samples were analyzed for dissolved and total concentrations of phosphorus and metals, along with other key water quality parameters. The GEM significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the total concentrations of phosphorus and metals in stormwater infiltrate compared to the inlet, unlike the regular mulch. Minimal or no contact with the GEM resulted in no significant pollutant removal from surface runoff. No significant pollutant export from the GEM was observed. The spent GEM can be disposed of as non-hazardous waste in municipal landfills. This study demonstrates that the GEM is a safe and effective retrofit. Moreover, the GEM is a simple and economical retrofit solution that can be used in place of regular mulch in bioretention systems.

From technology opportunities to ideas generation via cross-cutting patent analysis: Application of generative topographic mapping and link prediction

Technology opportunity analysis (TOA) with ideas generation has been recognized an important activity to remain competitive and lead the industry in the future. However, there are several issues with existing TOA, such as an unclear path from technology opportunities to ideas generation, a fuzzy integration between automated TOA techniques and expert-based methods, and a lack of detailed schemes for technology opportunities. This study proposes a new systematic approach to show the way from technology opportunities to ideas generation via cross-cutting patent analysis. The proposed approach is comprised of three stages: 1) establishing a cross-cutting relationship between the target and reference technologies through the results of F-terms; 2) collecting and processing patents to construct patent-keyword vector matrices of the target and reference technologies, respectively; and 3) migrating corresponding ideas via cosine similarity and link prediction for the target technology opportunities that are discovered based on generative topographic mapping (GTM). The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated by empirical research on the exploitation technology in both the natural gas hydrate (NGH) and the coal bed methane (CBM) fields. This study represents a contribution to expand the existing TOA research into generating creative ideas by providing more detailed schemes for technology opportunities.

Chemical and Rheological Characterization of a Facial Mask Containing an Olive Pomace Fraction

Cosmetic interest in agro-industrial byproducts is growing. In fact, many studies have shown that these residues present bioactive compounds with several skincare applications. One example is olive byproducts, such as olive pomace, which has a composition rich in phenolic compounds. As the production of olive oil is increasing, the amount of byproducts being generated is escalating, with significant constraints in their safe disposal due to their phytotoxic nature. The present study aimed to, from a zero-waste perspective, characterize and add value to a sub-byproduct, a semi-solid paste (SSP) derived from a patent process of olive pomace extraction. The chemical analysis of this residue revealed high moisture and significant protein, fat, and ash contents. Furthermore, vitamin E total phenolics and flavonoid content were assessed, as well as antioxidant activity, using DPPH• (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) methods. Based on this primary assessment, a facial mask with antioxidant properties was developed. Rheological analysis showed that the developed mask presented shear thinning behavior, thixotropy, and texture characteristics desirable for skincare use. The results of this study showed the successful incorporation of SSP into facial masks and provides a preliminary assessment of this byproduct’s impact on the appearance and performance of these formulations.

An overview study on the TL and OSL dosimetry patent processes over time

Since its discovery, ionizing radiation has been used in many different applications. Materials and methods have been developed to measure and quantify radiation doses. Thermoluminescence (TL) and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) are two techniques used for radiation dosimetry. Both TL and OSL are primarily applied in several areas, such as dating of ancient materials, equipment quality control and individual monitoring. One of the parameters to measure the knowledge and development of a technology is the number of patents related to the field. In this work, we established a methodology for patent search on the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) database aiming to review the development of TL and OSL dosimetry over time. We concluded that along with the OSL technique development, the TL technique should continue to be explored in radiation dosimetry.

Promising technologies of coal ash and slag waste recycling

Coal ash and slag waste are the products of coal processing that can be recycled into other useful products, but most part of them is accumulated in dumps which causes several environmental consequences. The paper presents a review of the most promising ways of coal ash and slag waste processing based on patent analytics and scientific literature review. Since the patenting process usually comes before innovation implementation, this approach allows to identify the most promising technologies even if they haven’t been implemented yet.