Skip to main content Skip to footer
HomeHome
 
  • Homepage
  • Searching for patents

    Patent knowledge

    Access our patent databases and search tools.

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • Technical information
      • Overview
      • Espacenet - patent search
      • European Publication Server
      • EP full-text search
    • Legal information
      • Overview
      • European Patent Register
      • European Patent Bulletin
      • European Case Law Identifier sitemap
      • Third-party observations
    • Business information
      • Overview
      • PATSTAT
      • IPscore
      • Technology insight reports
    • Data
      • Overview
      • Technology Intelligence Platform
      • Linked open EP data
      • Bulk data sets
      • Web services
      • Coverage, codes and statistics
    • Technology platforms
      • Overview
      • Plastics in transition
      • Water innovation
      • Space innovation
      • Technologies combatting cancer
      • Firefighting technologies
      • Clean energy technologies
      • Fighting coronavirus
    • Helpful resources
      • Overview
      • First time here?
      • Asian patent information
      • Patent information centres
      • Patent Translate
      • Patent Knowledge News
      • Business and statistics
      • Unitary Patent information in patent knowledge
    Image
    Plastics in Transition

    Technology insight report on plastic waste management

  • Applying for a patent

    Applying for a patent

    Practical information on filing and grant procedures.

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • European route
      • Overview
      • European Patent Guide
      • Oppositions
      • Oral proceedings
      • Appeals
      • Unitary Patent & Unified Patent Court
      • National validation
      • Request for extension/validation
    • International route (PCT)
      • Overview
      • Euro-PCT Guide – PCT procedure at the EPO
      • EPO decisions and notices
      • PCT provisions and resources
      • Extension/validation request
      • Reinforced partnership programme
      • Accelerating your PCT application
      • Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
      • Training and events
    • National route
    • Find a professional representative
    • MyEPO services
      • Overview
      • Understand our services
      • Get access
      • File with us
      • Interact with us on your files
      • Online Filing & fee payment outages
    • Forms
      • Overview
      • Request for examination
    • Fees
      • Overview
      • European fees (EPC)
      • International fees (PCT)
      • Unitary Patent fees (UP)
      • Fee payment and refunds
      • Warning

    UP

    Find out how the Unitary Patent can enhance your IP strategy

  • Law & practice

    Law & practice

    European patent law, the Official Journal and other legal texts.

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • Legal texts
      • Overview
      • European Patent Convention
      • Official Journal
      • Guidelines
      • Extension / validation system
      • London Agreement
      • National law relating to the EPC
      • Unitary patent system
      • National measures relating to the Unitary Patent
    • Court practices
      • Overview
      • European Patent Judges' Symposium
    • User consultations
      • Overview
      • Ongoing consultations
      • Completed consultations
    • Substantive patent law harmonisation
      • Overview
      • The Tegernsee process
      • Group B+
    • Convergence of practice
    • Options for professional representatives
    Image
    Law and practice scales 720x237

    Keep up with key aspects of selected BoA decisions with our monthly "Abstracts of decisions”

  • News & events

    News & events

    Our latest news, podcasts and events, including the European Inventor Award.

    Go to overview 

     

    • Overview
    • News
    • Events
    • European Inventor Award
      • Overview
      • The meaning of tomorrow
      • About the award
      • Categories and prizes
      • Meet the finalists
      • Nominations
      • European Inventor Network
      • The 2024 event
    • Young Inventor Prize
      • Overview
      • About the prize
      • Nominations
      • The jury
      • The world, reimagined
    • Press centre
      • Overview
      • Patent Index and statistics
      • Search in press centre
      • Background information
      • Copyright
      • Press contacts
      • Call back form
      • Email alert service
    • Innovation and patenting in focus
      • Overview
      • Water-related technologies
      • CodeFest
      • Green tech in focus
      • Research institutes
      • Women inventors
      • Lifestyle
      • Space and satellites
      • The future of medicine
      • Materials science
      • Mobile communications
      • Biotechnology
      • Patent classification
      • Digital technologies
      • The future of manufacturing
      • Books by EPO experts
    • "Talk innovation" podcast

    Podcast

    From ideas to inventions: tune into our podcast for the latest in tech and IP

  • Learning

    Learning

    The European Patent Academy – the point of access to your learning

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • Learning activities and paths
      • Overview
      • Learning activities
      • Learning paths
    • EQE and EPAC
      • Overview
      • EQE - European qualifying examination
      • EPAC - European patent administration certification
      • CSP – Candidate Support Programme
    • Learning resources by area of interest
      • Overview
      • Patent granting
      • Technology transfer and dissemination
      • Patent enforcement and litigation
    • Learning resources by profile
      • Overview
      • Business and IP managers
      • EQE and EPAC Candidates
      • Judges, lawyers and prosecutors
      • National offices and IP authorities
      • Patent attorneys and paralegals
      • Universities, research centres and technology transfer centres (TTOs)
    Image
    Patent Academy catalogue

    Have a look at the extensive range of learning opportunities in the European Patent Academy training catalogue

  • About us

    About us

    Find out more about our work, values, history and vision

    Go to overview 

    • Overview
    • The EPO at a glance
    • 50 years of the EPC
      • Overview
      • Official celebrations
      • Member states’ video statements
      • 50 Leading Tech Voices
      • Athens Marathon
      • Kids’ collaborative art competition
    • Legal foundations and member states
      • Overview
      • Legal foundations
      • Member states of the European Patent Organisation
      • Extension states
      • Validation states
    • Administrative Council and subsidiary bodies
      • Overview
      • Communiqués
      • Calendar
      • Documents and publications
      • Administrative Council
    • Principles & strategy
      • Overview
      • Our mission, vision, values and corporate policy
      • Strategic Plan 2028
      • Towards a New Normal
    • Leadership & management
      • Overview
      • President António Campinos
      • Management Advisory Committee
    • Sustainability at the EPO
      • Overview
      • Environmental
      • Social
      • Governance and Financial sustainability
    • Services & activities
      • Overview
      • Our services & structure
      • Quality
      • Consulting our users
      • European and international co-operation
      • European Patent Academy
      • Chief Economist
      • Ombuds Office
      • Reporting wrongdoing
    • Observatory on Patents and Technology
      • Overview
      • About the Observatory
      • Our activities
      • Our topics
      • Our partners and networks
      • Financing innovation programme
      • Digital library
      • Data desk
    • Procurement
      • Overview
      • Procurement forecast
      • Doing business with the EPO
      • Procurement procedures
      • Sustainable Procurement Policy
      • About eTendering and electronic signatures
      • Procurement portal
      • Invoicing
      • General conditions
      • Archived tenders
    • Transparency portal
      • Overview
      • General
      • Human
      • Environmental
      • Organisational
      • Social and relational
      • Economic
      • Governance
    • Statistics and trends
      • Overview
      • Statistics & Trends Centre
      • Patent Index 2024
      • EPO Data Hub
      • Clarification on data sources
    • History
      • Overview
      • 1970s
      • 1980s
      • 1990s
      • 2000s
      • 2010s
      • 2020s
    • Art collection
      • Overview
      • The collection
      • Let's talk about art
      • Artists
      • Media library
      • What's on
      • Publications
      • Contact
      • Culture Space A&T 5-10
      • "Long Night"
    Image
    Patent Index 2024 keyvisual showing brightly lit up data chip, tinted in purple, bright blue

    Track the latest tech trends with our Patent Index

 
en de fr
  • Language selection
  • English
  • Deutsch
  • Français
Main navigation
  • Homepage
  • New to patents
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • What's your big idea?
    • Are you ready?
    • What to expect
    • How to apply for a patent
    • Your business and patents
    • Is it patentable?
    • Are you first?
    • Why do we have patents?
    • Patent quiz
    • Unitary patent video
  • Searching for patents
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Technical information
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Espacenet - patent search
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • National patent office databases
        • Global Patent Index (GPI)
        • Release notes
      • European Publication Server
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Release notes
        • Cross-reference index for Euro-PCT applications
        • EP authority file
        • Help
      • EP full-text search
    • Legal information
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European Patent Register
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Release notes archive
        • Register documentation
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Deep link data coverage
          • Federated Register
          • Register events
      • European Patent Bulletin
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Download Bulletin
        • EP Bulletin search
        • Help
      • European Case Law Identifier sitemap
      • Third-party observations
    • Business information
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • PATSTAT
      • IPscore
        • Go back
        • Release notes
      • Technology insight reports
    • Data
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Technology Intelligence Platform
      • Linked open EP data
      • Bulk data sets
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Manuals
        • Sequence listings
        • National full-text data
        • European Patent Register data
        • EPO worldwide bibliographic data (DOCDB)
        • EP full-text data
        • EPO worldwide legal event data (INPADOC)
        • EP bibliographic data (EBD)
        • Boards of Appeal decisions
      • Web services
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Open Patent Services (OPS)
        • European Publication Server web service
      • Coverage, codes and statistics
        • Go back
        • Weekly updates
        • Updated regularly
    • Technology platforms
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Plastics in transition
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Plastics waste recovery
        • Plastics waste recycling
        • Alternative plastics
      • Innovation in water technologies
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Clean water
        • Protection from water
      • Space innovation
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Cosmonautics
        • Space observation
      • Technologies combatting cancer
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Prevention and early detection
        • Diagnostics
        • Therapies
        • Wellbeing and aftercare
      • Firefighting technologies
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Detection and prevention of fires
        • Fire extinguishing
        • Protective equipment
        • Post-fire restoration
      • Clean energy technologies
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Renewable energy
        • Carbon-intensive industries
        • Energy storage and other enabling technologies
      • Fighting coronavirus
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Vaccines and therapeutics
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Vaccines
          • Overview of candidate therapies for COVID-19
          • Candidate antiviral and symptomatic therapeutics
          • Nucleic acids and antibodies to fight coronavirus
        • Diagnostics and analytics
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Protein and nucleic acid assays
          • Analytical protocols
        • Informatics
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Bioinformatics
          • Healthcare informatics
        • Technologies for the new normal
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Devices, materials and equipment
          • Procedures, actions and activities
          • Digital technologies
        • Inventors against coronavirus
    • Helpful resources
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • First time here?
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Basic definitions
        • Patent classification
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)
        • Patent families
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • DOCDB simple patent family
          • INPADOC extended patent family
        • Legal event data
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • INPADOC classification scheme
      • Asian patent information
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • China (CN)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
          • Useful terms
          • Searching in databases
        • Chinese Taipei (TW)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
          • Useful terms
          • Searching in databases
        • India (IN)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
        • Japan (JP)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
          • Useful terms
          • Searching in databases
        • Korea (KR)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Grant procedure
          • Numbering system
          • Useful terms
          • Searching in databases
        • Russian Federation (RU)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Facts and figures
          • Numbering system
          • Searching in databases
        • Useful links
      • Patent information centres (PATLIB)
      • Patent Translate
      • Patent Knowledge News
      • Business and statistics
      • Unitary Patent information in patent knowledge
  • Applying for a patent
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • European route
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European Patent Guide
      • Oppositions
      • Oral proceedings
        • Go back
        • Oral proceedings calendar
          • Go back
          • Calendar
          • Public access to appeal proceedings
          • Public access to opposition proceedings
          • Technical guidelines
      • Appeals
      • Unitary Patent & Unified Patent Court
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Unitary Patent
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Legal framework
          • Main features
          • Applying for a Unitary Patent
          • Cost of a Unitary Patent
          • Translation and compensation
          • Start date
          • Introductory brochures
        • Unified Patent Court
      • National validation
      • Extension/validation request
    • International route
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Euro-PCT Guide
      • Entry into the European phase
      • Decisions and notices
      • PCT provisions and resources
      • Extension/validation request
      • Reinforced partnership programme
      • Accelerating your PCT application
      • Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
        • Go back
        • Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) programme outline
      • Training and events
    • National route
    • MyEPO services
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Understand our services
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Exchange data with us using an API
          • Go back
          • Release notes
      • Get access
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Release notes
      • File with us
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • What if our online filing services are down?
        • Release notes
      • Interact with us on your files
        • Go back
        • Release notes
      • Online Filing & fee payment outages
    • Fees
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European fees (EPC)
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Decisions and notices
      • International fees (PCT)
        • Go back
        • Reduction in fees
        • Fees for international applications
        • Decisions and notices
        • Overview
      • Unitary Patent fees (UP)
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Decisions and notices
      • Fee payment and refunds
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Payment methods
        • Getting started
        • FAQs and other documentation
        • Technical information for batch payments
        • Decisions and notices
        • Release notes
      • Warning
    • Forms
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Request for examination
    • Find a professional representative
  • Law & practice
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Legal texts
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European Patent Convention
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Archive
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Documentation on the EPC revision 2000
            • Go back
            • Overview
            • Diplomatic Conference for the revision of the EPC
            • Travaux préparatoires
            • New text
            • Transitional provisions
            • Implementing regulations to the EPC 2000
            • Rules relating to Fees
            • Ratifications and accessions
          • Travaux Préparatoires EPC 1973
      • Official Journal
      • Guidelines
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • EPC Guidelines
        • PCT-EPO Guidelines
        • Unitary Patent Guidelines
        • Guidelines revision cycle
        • Consultation results
        • Summary of user responses
        • Archive
      • Extension / validation system
      • London Agreement
      • National law relating to the EPC
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Archive
      • Unitary Patent system
        • Go back
        • Travaux préparatoires to UP and UPC
      • National measures relating to the Unitary Patent 
    • Court practices
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • European Patent Judges' Symposium
    • User consultations
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Ongoing consultations
      • Completed consultations
    • Substantive patent law harmonisation
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • The Tegernsee process
      • Group B+
    • Convergence of practice
    • Options for professional representatives
  • News & events
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • News
    • Events
    • European Inventor Award
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • The meaning of tomorrow
      • About the award
      • Categories and prizes
      • Meet the inventors
      • Nominations
      • European Inventor Network
        • Go back
        • 2024 activities
        • 2025 activities
        • Rules and criteria
        • FAQ
      • The 2024 event
    • Young Inventors Prize
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • About the prize
      • Nominations
      • The jury
      • The world, reimagined
      • The 2025 event
    • Press centre
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Patent Index and statistics
      • Search in press centre
      • Background information
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • European Patent Office
        • Q&A on patents related to coronavirus
        • Q&A on plant patents
      • Copyright
      • Press contacts
      • Call back form
      • Email alert service
    • In focus
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Water-related technologies
      • CodeFest
        • Go back
        • CodeFest Spring 2025 on classifying patent data for sustainable development
        • Overview
        • CodeFest 2024 on generative AI
        • CodeFest 2023 on Green Plastics
      • Green tech in focus
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • About green tech
        • Renewable energies
        • Energy transition technologies
        • Building a greener future
      • Research institutes
      • Women inventors
      • Lifestyle
      • Space and satellites
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Patents and space technologies
      • Healthcare
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Medical technologies and cancer
        • Personalised medicine
      • Materials science
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Nanotechnology
      • Mobile communications
      • Biotechnology
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Red, white or green
        • The role of the EPO
        • What is patentable?
        • Biotech inventors
      • Classification
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Nanotechnology
        • Climate change mitigation technologies
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • External partners
          • Updates on Y02 and Y04S
      • Digital technologies
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • About ICT
        • Hardware and software
        • Patents and standards
        • Artificial intelligence
        • Fourth Industrial Revolution
      • Additive manufacturing
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • About AM
        • AM innovation
      • Books by EPO experts
    • Podcast
  • Learning
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Learning activities and paths
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Learning activities: types and formats
      • Learning paths
    • EQE and EPAC
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • EQE - European Qualifying Examination
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Compendium
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Paper F
          • Paper A
          • Paper B
          • Paper C
          • Paper D
          • Pre-examination
        • Candidates successful in the European qualifying examination
        • Archive
      • EPAC - European patent administration certification
      • CSP – Candidate Support Programme
    • Learning resources by area of interest
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Patent granting
      • Technology transfer and dissemination
      • Patent enforcement and litigation
    • Learning resources by profile
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Business and IP managers
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Innovation case studies
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • SME case studies
          • Technology transfer case studies
          • High-growth technology case studies
        • Inventor's handbook
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Introduction
          • Disclosure and confidentiality
          • Novelty and prior art
          • Competition and market potential
          • Assessing the risk ahead
          • Proving the invention
          • Protecting your idea
          • Building a team and seeking funding
          • Business planning
          • Finding and approaching companies
          • Dealing with companies
        • Best of search matters
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Tools and databases
          • EPO procedures and initiatives
          • Search strategies
          • Challenges and specific topics
        • Support for high-growth technology businesses
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Business decision-makers
          • IP professionals
          • Stakeholders of the Innovation Ecosystem
      • EQE and EPAC Candidates
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Paper F brain-teasers
        • Daily D questions
        • European qualifying examination - Guide for preparation
        • EPAC
      • Judges, lawyers and prosecutors
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Compulsory licensing in Europe
        • The jurisdiction of European courts in patent disputes
      • National offices and IP authorities
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Learning material for examiners of national officers
        • Learning material for formalities officers and paralegals
      • Patent attorneys and paralegals
      • Universities, research centres and TTOs
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Modular IP Education Framework (MIPEF)
        • Pan-European Seal Young Professionals Programme
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • For students
          • For universities
            • Go back
            • Overview
            • IP education resources
            • University memberships
          • Our young professionals
          • Professional development plan
        • Academic Research Programme
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Completed research projects
          • Current research projects
        • IP Teaching Kit
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Download modules
        • Intellectual property course design manual
        • PATLIB Knowledge Transfer to Africa
          • Go back
          • The PATLIB Knowledge Transfer to Africa initiative (KT2A)
          • KT2A core activities
          • Success story: Malawi University of Science and Technology and PATLIB Birmingham
  • About us
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • The EPO at a glance
    • 50 years of the EPC
      • Go back
      • Official celebrations
      • Overview
      • Member states’ video statements
        • Go back
        • Albania
        • Austria
        • Belgium
        • Bulgaria
        • Croatia
        • Cyprus
        • Czech Republic
        • Denmark
        • Estonia
        • Finland
        • France
        • Germany
        • Greece
        • Hungary
        • Iceland
        • Ireland
        • Italy
        • Latvia
        • Liechtenstein
        • Lithuania
        • Luxembourg
        • Malta
        • Monaco
        • Montenegro
        • Netherlands
        • North Macedonia
        • Norway
        • Poland
        • Portugal
        • Romania
        • San Marino
        • Serbia
        • Slovakia
        • Slovenia
        • Spain
        • Sweden
        • Switzerland
        • Türkiye
        • United Kingdom
      • 50 Leading Tech Voices
      • Athens Marathon
      • Kids’ collaborative art competition
    • Legal foundations and member states
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Legal foundations
      • Member states
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Member states by date of accession
      • Extension states
      • Validation states
    • Administrative Council and subsidiary bodies
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Communiqués
        • Go back
        • 2024
        • Overview
        • 2023
        • 2022
        • 2021
        • 2020
        • 2019
        • 2018
        • 2017
        • 2016
        • 2015
        • 2014
        • 2013
      • Calendar
      • Documents and publications
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Select Committee documents
      • Administrative Council
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Composition
        • Representatives
        • Rules of Procedure
        • Board of Auditors
        • Secretariat
        • Council bodies
    • Principles & strategy
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Mission, vision, values & corporate policy
      • Strategic Plan 2028
        • Go back
        • Driver 1: People
        • Driver 2: Technologies
        • Driver 3: High-quality, timely products and services
        • Driver 4: Partnerships
        • Driver 5: Financial sustainability
      • Towards a New Normal
      • Data protection & privacy notice
    • Leadership & management
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • About the President
      • Management Advisory Committee
    • Sustainability at the EPO
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Environmental
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Inspiring environmental inventions
      • Social
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Inspiring social inventions
      • Governance and Financial sustainability
    • Procurement
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Procurement forecast
      • Doing business with the EPO
      • Procurement procedures
      • Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) publications
      • Sustainable Procurement Policy
      • About eTendering
      • Invoicing
      • Procurement portal
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • e-Signing contracts
      • General conditions
      • Archived tenders
    • Services & activities
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Our services & structure
      • Quality
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Foundations
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • European Patent Convention
          • Guidelines for examination
          • Our staff
        • Enabling quality
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Prior art
          • Classification
          • Tools
          • Processes
        • Products & services
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Search
          • Examination
          • Opposition
          • Continuous improvement
        • Quality through networking
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • User engagement
          • Co-operation
          • User satisfaction survey
          • Stakeholder Quality Assurance Panels
        • Patent Quality Charter
        • Quality Action Plan
        • Quality dashboard
        • Statistics
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Search
          • Examination
          • Opposition
        • Integrated management at the EPO
      • Consulting our users
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Standing Advisory Committee before the EPO (SACEPO)
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Objectives
          • SACEPO and its working parties
          • Meetings
          • Single Access Portal – SACEPO Area
        • Surveys
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Detailed methodology
          • Search services
          • Examination services, final actions and publication
          • Opposition services
          • Formalities services
          • Customer services
          • Filing services
          • Key Account Management (KAM)
          • Website
          • Archive
      • Our user service charter
      • European and international co-operation
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Co-operation with member states
          • Go back
          • Overview
        • Bilateral co-operation with non-member states
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Validation system
          • Reinforced Partnership programme
        • Multilateral international co-operation with IP offices and organisations
        • Co-operation with international organisations outside the IP system
      • European Patent Academy
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Partners
      • Chief Economist
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Economic studies
      • Ombuds Office
      • Reporting wrongdoing
    • Observatory on Patents and Technology
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • About the Observatory
      • Our activities
      • Our topics
      • Our partners and networks
      • Financing innovation programme
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Our studies on the financing of innovation
        • EPO initiatives for patent applicants
        • Financial support for innovators in Europe
      • Digital library
      • Data desk
        • Go back
        • Overview
    • Transparency portal
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • General
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Annual Review 2023
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Foreword
          • Executive summary
          • 50 years of the EPC
          • Strategic key performance indicators
          • Goal 1: Engaged and empowered
          • Goal 2: Digital transformation
          • Goal 3: Master quality
          • Goal 4: Partner for positive impact
          • Goal 5: Secure sustainability
        • Annual Review 2022
          • Go back
          • Overview
          • Foreword
          • Executive summary
          • Goal 1: Engaged and empowered
          • Goal 2: Digital transformation
          • Goal 3: Master quality
          • Goal 4: Partner for positive impact
          • Goal 5: Secure sustainability
      • Human
      • Environmental
      • Organisational
      • Social and relational
      • Economic
      • Governance
    • Statistics and trends
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Statistics & Trends Centre
      • Patent Index 2024
        • Go back
        • Insight into computer technology and AI
        • Insight into clean energy technologies
        • Statistics and indicators
          • Go back
          • European patent applications
            • Go back
            • Key trend
            • Origin
            • Top 10 technical fields
              • Go back
              • Computer technology
              • Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
              • Digital communication
              • Medical technology
              • Transport
              • Measurement
              • Biotechnology
              • Pharmaceuticals
              • Other special machines
              • Organic fine chemistry
            • All technical fields
          • Applicants
            • Go back
            • Top 50
            • Categories
            • Women inventors
          • Granted patents
            • Go back
            • Key trend
            • Origin
            • Designations
      • Data to download
      • EPO Data Hub
      • Clarification on data sources
    • History
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • 1970s
      • 1980s
      • 1990s
      • 2000s
      • 2010s
      • 2020s
    • Art collection
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • The collection
      • Let's talk about art
      • Artists
      • Media library
      • What's on
      • Publications
      • Contact
      • Culture Space A&T 5-10
        • Go back
        • Catalyst lab & Deep vision
          • Go back
          • Irene Sauter (DE)
          • AVPD (DK)
          • Jan Robert Leegte (NL)
          • Jānis Dzirnieks (LV) #1
          • Jānis Dzirnieks (LV) #2
          • Péter Szalay (HU)
          • Thomas Feuerstein (AT)
          • Tom Burr (US)
          • Wolfgang Tillmans (DE)
          • TerraPort
          • Unfinished Sculpture - Captives #1
          • Deep vision – immersive exhibition
          • Previous exhibitions
        • The European Patent Journey
        • Sustaining life. Art in the climate emergency
        • Next generation statements
        • Open storage
        • Cosmic bar
      • "Long Night"
  • Boards of Appeal
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Decisions of the Boards of Appeal
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Recent decisions
      • Selected decisions
    • Information from the Boards of Appeal
    • Procedure
    • Oral proceedings
    • About the Boards of Appeal
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • President of the Boards of Appeal
      • Enlarged Board of Appeal
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Pending referrals (Art. 112 EPC)
        • Decisions sorted by number (Art. 112 EPC)
        • Pending petitions for review (Art. 112a EPC)
        • Decisions on petitions for review (Art. 112a EPC)
      • Technical Boards of Appeal
      • Legal Board of Appeal
      • Disciplinary Board of Appeal
      • Presidium
        • Go back
        • Overview
    • Code of Conduct
    • Business distribution scheme
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Technical boards of appeal by IPC in 2025
      • Archive
    • Annual list of cases
    • Communications
    • Annual reports
      • Go back
      • Overview
    • Publications
      • Go back
      • Abstracts of decisions
    • Case Law of the Boards of Appeal
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Archive
  • Service & support
    • Go back
    • Overview
    • Website updates
    • Availability of online services
      • Go back
      • Overview
    • FAQ
      • Go back
      • Overview
    • Publications
    • Ordering
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Patent Knowledge Products and Services
      • Terms and conditions
        • Go back
        • Overview
        • Patent information products
        • Bulk data sets
        • Open Patent Services (OPS)
        • Fair use charter
    • Procedural communications
    • Useful links
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Patent offices of member states
      • Other patent offices
      • Directories of patent attorneys
      • Patent databases, registers and gazettes
      • Disclaimer
    • Contact us
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Filing options
      • Locations
    • Subscription centre
      • Go back
      • Overview
      • Subscribe
      • Change preferences
      • Unsubscribe
    • Official holidays
    • Glossary
    • RSS feeds
Board of Appeals
Decisions

Recent decisions

Overview
  • 2025 decisions
  • 2024 decisions
  • 2023 decisions
  1. Home
  2. T 0530/93 08-02-1996
Facebook X Linkedin Email

T 0530/93 08-02-1996

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:1996:T053093.19960208
Date of decision
08 February 1996
Case number
T 0530/93
Petition for review of
-
Application number
87116440.6
IPC class
G01N 24/08
Language of proceedings
EN
Distribution
DISTRIBUTED TO BOARD CHAIRMEN (C)

Download and more information:

Decision in EN 709.76 KB
Documentation of the appeal procedure can be found in the European Patent Register
Bibliographic information is available in:
EN
Versions
Unpublished
Application title

Method for fast scan cine NMR imaging

Applicant name
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Opponent name
-
Board
3.4.02
Headnote
-
Relevant legal provisions
European Patent Convention Art 52(1) 1973
European Patent Convention Art 52(4) 1973
European Patent Convention Art 54 1973
European Patent Convention Art 54(3) 1973
European Patent Convention Art 56 1973
European Patent Convention Art 84 1973
European Patent Convention Art 111(1) 1973
European Patent Convention Art 123(2) 1973
Keywords

Inventive step - (yes) after amendment

Diagnostic methods - interim results

Catchword
-
Cited decisions
T 0385/86
T 0400/87
Citing decisions
G 0001/04
T 0964/99
G 0001/04
G 0001/04
T 0964/99
T 0964/99
G 0001/04
T 0964/99

I. The Appellant (Applicant) lodged an appeal against the decision of the Examining Division on the refusal of the application No. 87 116 440.6 (publication No. 0 273 153).

The Examining Division had held that the application did not meet the requirements of Articles 56 and 52(1) EPC. It had cited the documents

(D1) EP-A-0 200 049 and

(D2) EP-A-0 228 129.

II. Oral proceedings were held, at the end of which the Appellant requested that the decision under appeal be set aside and a patent granted on the basis of Claims 1 to 7 submitted at the oral proceedings, with the description and, if necessary, the drawings to be adapted.

III. The wording of the independent Claims 1 and 7 according to the single request on file at the time of the present decision reads as follows:

"1. A method for producing images with an NMR imaging system of a human heart at selected cardiac phases of its functional cardiac cycle, comprising the steps of:

(a) repeatedly executing an NMR fast scan pulse sequence at regular time intervals throughout a functional cycle to acquire a subset of NMR data, said execution being asynchronous with respect to said functional cycle to produce NMR data at each of a plurality of times within the functional cycle, and said NMR pulse sequence including a position encoding gradient pulse;

(b) detecting the start of each cardiac cycle and deriving therefrom phase angles of the cardiac cycle which vary linearly as a function of time between starts of successive cycles;

(c) correlating the NMR data acquired during the execution of each NMR fast scan pulse sequence with the phase angle of the functional cycle at the time the NMR data is acquired;

(d) repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) for a plurality of functional cycles with a different position encoding gradient pulse employed during each functional cycle to produce other subsets of NMR data;

(e) reconstructing an image at a selected phase angle of the functional cycle by interpolating between the corresponding correlated NMR data within each subset of acquired NMR data to produce a set of NMR data interpolated to said selected phase angle which is employed to produce the image; and

repeating step (e) at a plurality of successive phases [read: phase] angles of the functional cycle to produce a plurality of images which depict the heart at successive phase angles of its functional cycle."

"7. An apparatus when suitably programmed for carrying out the method of any one of the preceding claims comprising:

(a) means for repeatedly executing an NMR fast scan pulse sequence continuously at regular intervals throughout a functional cardiac cycle to acquire a subset of NMR data, said execution being asynchronous with respect to said functional cycle to produce NMR data at each of a plurality of times within the functional cycle, and said NMR pulse sequence including a position encoding gradient pulse;

(b) means for detecting the start of each cardiac cycle and deriving therefrom phase angles of the cardiac cycle which vary linearly as a function of time between starts of successive cycles;

(c) means for correlating the NMR data acquired during the execution of each NMR fast scan pulse sequence with the phase angle of the functional cycle at the time the NMR data is acquired;

(d) means for repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) for a plurality of functional cycles with a different position encoding gradient pulse employed during each functional cycle to produce other subsets of NMR data; and

(e) means for reconstructing an image at a selected phase angle of the functional cycle by interpolating between the corresponding correlated NMR data within each subset of acquired NMR data to produce a set of NMR data interpolated to said selected phase angle which is employed to produce the image, and for repeating step (e) at a plurality of successive phase angles of the functional cycle to produce a plurality of images which depict the heart at successive phase angles of its functional cycle."

Claims 2 to 6 are dependent on Claim 1.

IV. The Appellant argued in substance as follows:

Present Claims 1 and 7 clearly define the points of time which, in the different functional cycles, correspond to the same phase angle since it is expressed that within each functional cycle the phase angle varies linearly as a function of time, which means that in each functional cycle the time interval corresponding to a given progression of the phase angle is proportional to the duration of the functional cycle, ie to the time between one start signal and the next. This way of correlating a selected phase angle within each functional cycle with the corresponding pulse sequences is entirely different from the method according to D1, where not a phase angle common to all functional cycles, but a certain amplitude value of the respiratory curves of all the functional cycles is selected as NMR data correlating reference. Moreover, Claims 1 and 7 relate to imaging the human heart while D1 deals with imaging the lung, and Claims 1 and 7 use interpolation for determining the corresponding pulse sequence data while interpolation is not mentioned in D1. There is no hint either in D1 or somewhere else in the prior art which could suggest this approach to NMR imaging.

1. The appeal is admissible.

2. Clarity

In Claim 1, "fast scan pulse sequence" is a term which is well known and has a definite meaning in the art (see also the comments from page 6, line 31 to page 7, line 7; on page 17, lines 12 to 15; and on page 16, lines 6, 7, and 13 to 15, of the original description).

The term "at regular time intervals" now clearly defines the regular repetition of the pulse sequences in the absolute time scale. How the phase angles within each cardiac cycle (which naturally range from 0° to 360°) are defined as a function of absolute time, is clearly indicated by the definition "... which vary linearly as a function of time between starts of successive cycles". In this way, it is clear how the correlation between the NMR data and the phase angles in the various functional cycles can be performed.

The same comments apply to Claim 7.

In Claim 4, it is now clear that the position encoding gradient is changed after each NMR pulse, and that the number N does not relate to the real, but to the expected number of pulse sequences in a functional cycle.

In Claims 5 and 6, the obscure reference to the polarity of data is corrected.

Thus, the claims are clear in the sense of Article 84 EPC.

3. Amendments

The present version of Claim 1 is primarily based on a combination of the original Claims 1, 4 and 6. That the NMR pulse sequences are fast scan pulse sequences, is disclosed at various places of the original description, eg on page 5, lines 18, 19; page 6, line 31 to page 7, line 4; and page 12, lines 10 to 15.

The regular time intervals of the NMR pulse sequences are disclosed on the original page 14, lines 5 to 10. Detection of the start of each cardiac cycle is mentioned on page 5, lines 21, 22 and page 11, line 25, and deriving linearly varying phase angles between these starts follows from Figures 3 and 5 in combination with page 14, lines 3 to 7 and 10 to 12.

The amendments to Claim 7 correspond to those of Claim 1. In Claim 4, the amendments "after each NMR pulse" and "expected to be run" correspond to the text on page 18, line 28 to page 19, line 1.

Therefore, the claims fulfil the requirements of Article 123(2) EPC.

4. Diagnostic method

According to the established case law of the Boards of Appeal of the EPO (see eg T 385/86, OJ EPO 1988, 308, and T 400/87 (unpublished)), methods which only comprise the data gathering phase of a diagnosis and only provide interim results which would require a further step in order to attribute the data to a particular clinical picture, are not diagnostic methods in the meaning of Article 52(4) EPC. The method according to present Claim 1 corresponds to this definition and is thus not excluded from patentability under Article 52(4) EPC.

5. Novelty

5.1. In correspondence with the subject-matter of Claim 1, D1 (see in particular the abstract; column 4, lines 4 to 8; column 8, lines 23 to 26; and Figure 5) describes a method for producing images with an NMR imaging system of a human organ (the lungs) moving in a cyclic pattern, at selected phases of its functional cycle. The known method also comprises the following steps: Repeatedly an NMR pulse sequence is executed at regular time intervals throughout a functional cycle of the organ to acquire a subset of NMR data, the NMR pulse sequence including a position encoding gradient pulse (see abstract; column 6, lines 36 to 43; and Figure 5). The start of each functional cycle is detected (column 10, lines 17 to 26; column 6, lines 2 to 4 and 12 to 16). The NMR data acquired during the execution of each NMR pulse sequence are correlated with the phase angle of the functional cycle of the organ at the time the NMR data are acquired (abstract, lines 11 to 13; column 3, lines 1, 2, 53 to 56; column 8, lines 18 to 23; since all the NMR data are correlated with functional amplitudes, and the amplitudes (and slopes) of the functional movement of the organ within the cycle are representative of the phase angles of this cyclic motion, correlation with the phase angles is achieved). These steps are repeated for a plurality of functional cycles with a different position encoding gradient pulse employed during each functional cycle to produce other subsets of NMR data (Figure 5; abstract, lines 3 to 6; column 6, lines 14 to 16). An image is reconstructed at a selected phase angle of the functional cycle of the organ by choosing the corresponding correlated NMR data within each subset of acquired NMR data to produce a set of NMR data chosen for said selected phase angle which is employed to produce the image (abstract, lines 16 to 20; column 3, lines 6 to 24; as already mentioned above, fixing a reference value for the amplitude (and possibly the slope) of the motion in the functional cycles is one way of defining a certain phase angle). The latter step is repeated at a plurality of successive phase angles of the functional cycle of the organ to produce a plurality of images which depict the moving organ at successive phase angles of its functional cycle (column 4, lines 4 to 8; column 8, lines 23 to 26).

The method according to Claim 1 is distinguished therefrom by the following features:

The moving organ is the human heart.

The NMR pulse sequences are fast scan pulse sequences.

For correlating the NMR data with the phase angles, instead of defining the phases by means of certain values of the amplitude of the movement of the organ, the phase angles are defined to be distributed linearly in time between the starts of successive cycles, which starts (instead of all the amplitude values of the cycle) are specifically detected. This makes a difference if the cycles - as in the present case - deviate from true periodicity.

The reconstruction of the image at a selected phase angle of each functional cycle is not done by choosing the data of the one NMR pulse sequence whose corresponding phase (amplitude value) is closest to the selected one, but by interpolating between the NMR data of each subset so that the interpolated data directly correspond to the selected phase angle.

5.2. D2 is not prepublished. However, it is a European patent application filed before the priority date of the present application and also designates the Contracting States DE, FR, GB and NL. It thus constitutes prior art in the sense of Article 54(3) EPC.

It relates to a method for producing images with an NMR imaging system of an object moving under the influence of the breathing cycle.

The cardiac cycle is not mentioned in the context of the described method. (The short mention of (among others) cardiac movement in column 3, lines 3, 4, only refers to general comments made in another prior art article and is not necessarily connected to the method described in D2.) As to further differences, it will do to state that no fast scan pulse sequence is used, that no interpolation is used between NMR data, and that no plurality of images at successive phases of the functional cycle are mentioned.

5.3. (D3) "Physics in Medicine & Biology " volume 31, No. 7, July 1986, pages 779 to 787, describes a method of producing images with an NMR imaging system of a human heart at a plurality (cf page 782, last paragraph) of selected cardiac phases of its functional cardiac cycle.

In this method, the NMR pulse sequences are executed at fixed distances in time from a gating pulse derived from the ECG, and the correlation of the NMR data with the phase in the functional cycle is done by equating equal distances in time from the gating pulse with equal phases in each functional cycle. Thus, in the known method, the NMR pulse sequences are not executed asynchronously with respect to the functional cycle, and the phase within the cardiac cycle is not linearly adjusted to varying lengths of this cardiac cycle.

5.4. Neither one of the other documents cited in the European search report comes closer to the claimed subject-matter than those mentioned above.

5.5. The subject-matter of Claim 1 is therefore novel in the sense of Article 54 EPC.

5.6. Apparatus Claim 7 contains essentially the same features as Claim 1.

Although choosing the human heart as the object of the images cannot directly form a feature of the claimed apparatus, the condition that the apparatus must be suitable for producing images of the heart indirectly defines the design of the apparatus, in particular as regards the adaptation to relatively short functional cycles and the way of deriving the start signal of the cycles.

It may be mentioned that - in the context of a clearly technical apparatus - the means for executing certain steps of the process performed by the apparatus (ie mainly computer programs), also form distinctive apparatus features.

For the same reasons as given above for Claim 1, the subject-matter of Claim 7 is therefore novel in the sense of Article 54 EPC.

6. Inventive step

6.1. The only prior art document describing NMR imaging of the human heart is D3. NMR imaging requires a set of (eg 128) data to be taken of the object, for all of which the object should have the same position and shape. Such a number of data can only be collected from different cycles of the heart's movement. Since according to D3 the NMR data are collected at fixed time intervals after each gating pulse while the periodicity of the human heart is imperfect, the reconstructed image, in particular for the later stages in the cycle between the gating pulses, is degraded. The present invention aims at improving the image in this respect (cf page 3, line 30 to page 4, line 4; page 4, lines 20 to 25; and page 6, lines 1 to 3, of the original description).

6.2. The main idea on which the subject-matter of present Claim 1 is based for achieving this goal, is to collect the required data from points of time not fixed at equal intervals after each start (gating) signal of the cardiac cycles, but corresponding, within each cardiac cycle, to the lapse of equal proportions of the whole duration of the respective cycle after each start signal. This is expressed in Claim 1 by defining phase angles which, within each cardiac cycle, vary linearly as a function of time. If this principle of selecting corresponding points of time is used, the times within the cycles at which the data used for producing the image are to be collected, can no longer be determined beforehand because the duration of the individual cycles is only known afterwards. Consequently, according to Claim 1, first the measurements within the cardiac cycles are made at a plurality of regular time intervals (without synchronising them with the cycles) and the starts of the cardiac cycles detected, and then the steps of correlating the measured NMR data with the corresponding phase angles and of determining those data used for reconstructing the image at a selected phase angle are performed.

6.3. The only prior art document containing a comparable idea is D1. D1 relates to the respiratory cycle. NMR pulse sequences are repeatedly executed at regular time intervals during each respiratory cycle, and the corresponding NMR data as well as the data describing the course of the respiratory cycle (measured by a variable resistance belt put around the patient's abdomen) are stored. The selection of those NMR data from the different functional cycles which - as much as possible - correspond to the same status of the lung, is made afterwards.

However, this selection of the corresponding NMR data is made according to principles different from those of the present subject-matter since those points of time are selected for which the amplitude of the respiratory movement has a predetermined value. Transferring this idea to a method of imaging the heart as known from D3 (even if this were possible), thus would not lead to the method according to Claim 1. Moreover, it is apparent that the method according to D1 could not be transferred to imaging the heart since the ECG signal does not follow the varying shape of the heart as a resistance belt signal does for the lung.

Thus, although the present method has some steps in common with the method according to D1, a person skilled in the art could not learn from D1 how to improve NMR images of the heart.

6.4. The remaining documents cited in the European search report are still more remote from the ideas of the present subject-matter and could not provide any suggestions.

6.5. The Board also does not see general knowledge leading a skilled person to the solution specified in Claim 1. Looking at it ex post facto, the idea of creating a common phase scale for all cardiac cycles by linearly expanding or compressing the time scales within the different cardiac cycles in accordance with the lengths of these cycles, might appear simple. However, it must be borne in mind that certainly no great fund of experience existed in dealing with irregularly cyclic processes, and that - much more than with regularly cyclic processes - each of the irregular ones requires individual consideration. So, the present solution depends on the realization of the fact that, although the periods of the cardiac cycles are different in length, the relative course of the movement within the cycles is mostly much the same. This would not necessarily apply to the same extent to other irregular cycles as for example the respiratory cycle or stomach movements.

Thus, the Board does not consider the above-mentioned idea underlying Claim 1 as evident.

6.6. The use of fast scan pulse sequences is also not described in the cited prior art documents. This may be due to the less urgent need for high repetition rates in the prior art methods. The significance of this feature in the present case is linked to the main idea of collecting correlated data for an image at time intervals proportional to the duration of the cycles. This idea makes it necessary to fill each cardiac cycle as densely as possible with a plurality of NMR pulse sequences, which in turn - due to the particularly short period of the cardiac cycle to which the present method is directed - necessitates high repetition rates.

6.7. The further feature of Claim 1 that the NMR data employed for producing the image corresponding to a certain phase angle are determined by interpolation between the measured NMR data close to that phase angle, is also not mentioned in any of the cited documents. In particular, according to D1, instead of interpolating, the closest neighbouring NMR data are chosen.

Although the use of interpolation is not, per se, a step involving inventive skill, this feature adds to the differences from the prior art.

6.8. For the above reasons, the Board concludes that the subject-matter of Claim 1 involves an inventive step in the sense of Article 56 EPC.

6.9. The same is true for Claim 7 which, as already mentioned above, contains essentially the same features as Claim 1.

7. Consequently, Claims 1 and 7 are allowable in accordance with Article 52(1) EPC.

Claims 2 to 6 relate to suitable embodiments of the method according to Claim 1. Due to their dependence on Claim 1, they are allowable as well.

8. The description of the present application needs adaptation to the new set of claims and proper acknowledgment of the relevant prior art. In order to have these amendments performed, the Board makes use of its power under Article 111(1) EPC and remits the case to the Examining Division.

Order

ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

1. The decision under appeal is set aside.

2. The case is remitted to the Examining Division with the order to grant a patent on the basis of Claims 1 to 7, submitted at the oral proceedings, with the description and, if necessary, the drawings to be adapted.

Footer - Service & support
  • Service & support
    • Website updates
    • Availability of online services
    • FAQ
    • Publications
    • Procedural communications
    • Contact us
    • Subscription centre
    • Official holidays
    • Glossary
Footer - More links
  • Jobs & careers
  • Press centre
  • Single Access Portal
  • Procurement
  • Boards of Appeal
Facebook
European Patent Office
EPO Jobs
Instagram
EuropeanPatentOffice
Linkedin
European Patent Office
EPO Jobs
EPO Procurement
X (formerly Twitter)
EPOorg
EPOjobs
Youtube
TheEPO
Footer
  • Legal notice
  • Terms of use
  • Data protection and privacy
  • Accessibility