Patenticulars

Patent knowledge and the role of innovation in care and support

29 October marked the UN International Day of Care and Support, an opportunity to pause and reflect on the evolution of care work and the role of innovation in caregiving. According to UN estimates, some 249 million women and 132 million men are involved in care work, with a higher proportion of women in unpaid care activities (76.2%, according to a recent International Labour Organization (ILO) paper). 

On the one hand, demographic and social changes, including ageing populations, have resulted in growing demand for care. On the other hand, the specific nature of care work makes it vulnerable to structural shortcomings and power imbalances. Care work also encompasses both direct activities, such as giving medication to elderly parents or children with disabilities, and indirect activities, such as cooking meals for them. Some of these tasks are carried out by paid care workers, who earn 56.4% of the average monthly wage of employed workers (ILO, 2021), and some by unpaid carers. On this last point, goal 8 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals is clear: without decently paid work for all, there can be no sustainable economic growth.  

We, as employees at the European Patent Office, can celebrate this day by highlighting inventions that have made, and are making, the lives of care workers easier and safer. These inventions are prime examples of how brilliant minds from all over the world are contributing to a more sustainable world for those who need care and for those who provide it. 

Let's consider everyday inventions, such as adjustable shower chairs, adjustable beds or easy-to-use patient transfer slings. These simple but effective innovations are designed to make care safer and more comfortable, while reducing the physical strain placed on caregivers. For instance, adjustable beds with mechanical patient positioning and lifting systems make it easier for caregivers to meet the needs of people with mobility issues and also reduce the risk of injury to both parties. A good example is the following patent application filed as an international (PCT) application based on a US priority. 

Fig. 1: Bibliographic data of WO2023235161A1 (Espacenet) 

You can see that the invention is mostly classified under CPC main group A61G7 ("Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons"). You can use this CPC symbol to search in Espacenet for documents in a similar technical field. Then select Filters for a basic analysis of filing trends and the most important markets in which protection has been sought for these technologies: 

Fig. 2: Filing trends in CPC main group A61G7: evolution of overall filings worldwide (by earliest priority date) and main markets (by filing office). 

The first chart shows that patent filings for technologies in CPC main group A61G7 increased rapidly after 2015, with a temporary decline in 2019. From 2022 onwards, the numbers decline again, but this is at least partly down to the fact that recently filed applications were not yet published (and are therefore not included). According to filing statistics, China and the US seem to be the most important markets for technologies in this field.  

Although not yet widely available due to their advanced technology, the "care robot" is another growing field of innovation. These robots are designed to assist with simple but essential everyday tasks, such as transferring people between sitting and standing positions, providing medication reminders, preparing meals and even acting as companions for the elderly or for those with disabilities.  

For example, EP2954882 is an application for a robot designed to help people with mobility issues to hold their body in position and to perform movements. This type of care robot aims to reduce the physical demands on caregivers and promote user independence, for example by making it easier to stand up. This makes robots like these a practical addition to any care environment. 

Fig. 3: Drawing of EP2954882 

As we celebrate the International Day of Care and Support, we should recognise the role of innovation in making caregiving safer, easier and more dignified. From simple tools to advanced robotics, these inventions are transforming care work, allowing carers to focus more on their personal connections with those they support and less on the physical challenges of the job. 

Keywords: Care work, care workers, nurses