A year after the Unitary Patent launch: insights from PATSTAT

https://www.epo.org/en/searching-for-patents/helpful-resources/patent-knowledge-news/year-after-unitary-patent-launch

A year after the Unitary Patent launch: insights from PATSTAT

15.07.2024

Explore Unitary Patent data intricacies, leverage PATSTAT for analysis and insights

The Unitary Patent (UP) system was officially launched on 1 June 2023. Since then, UP-related data has begun to feed into EPO data systems, and is available and searchable in various databases, tools and services. For comprehensive statistical analysis, PATSTAT Register is the ideal dataset for examining UP-related data. However, not everybody has the time and resources to set up and maintain a relational database. PATSTAT Online, hosted by the EPO, is the perfect solution for "grab-and-go" data needs. It offers the perfect tool to extract and aggregate data, making use of the full range of available data items.

The Unitary Patent dashboard provides you with basic and general UP statistics. Sometimes, however, there is a need to dig deeper.

Here are three examples of more detailed UP statistical analysis.

We can see from the general statistics that about 16% of UP requests are from US proprietors. But what if you need a complete list of all the US proprietors that have patents for which unitary effect is registered? And who are their professional representatives at the EPO? A relatively simple SQL query gives you a detailed list in no time.

Proprietor	Representative	UPs registered
QUALCOMM	BZ-UP	213
BECTON, DICKINSON & COMPANY	dompatent von Kreisler Selting Werner - Partnerschaft von Patent- und Rechtsanwälten mbB	67
ALIGN TECHNOLOGY	Hancox, Jonathan Christopher	33
ECOLAB	Godemeyer Blum Lenze Patentanwälte Partnerschaft mbB - werkpatent	26
C. R. Bard, Inc.	Hoffmann Eitle	25
MOTOROLA MOBILITY	Openshaw & Co.	25
ROCKWELL AUTOMATION	Grünecker Patent- und Rechtsanwälte PartG mbB	19
CAREFUSION 303	Epping - Hermann - Fischer	16
LEIA	Carpmaels & Ransford LLP	16
QUALCOMM	Tiburzi, Andrea	14

We can also see from the published statistics that 13% of the applications are in in the field of "medical technology". Who are the top 10 applicants that have registered Unitary Patents in this field?

Applicant name	Country	Inventions
ETHICON	PR	135
BECTON, DICKINSON & COMPANY	US	72
BIOSENSE WEBSTER (ISRAEL)	IL	63
ALIGN TECHNOLOGY	US	46
SIEMENS HEALTHCARE	DE	34
PHILIPS ELECTRONICS	NL	31
C. R. Bard, Inc.	US	25
IMPLANTICA PATENT	SE	23
CREO MEDICAL	GB	22
CILAGINTERNATIONAL	CH	19
BECTON DICKINSON FRANCE	FR	17

Drilling down further: in which main area of medical technology (according to the most used CPC class) are the patents of those applicants found?

Applicant name	Inventions	CPC	Details
ETHICON	82	A61B 17/07207	Surgical instruments --> Applying a row of staples in a single action
BECTON, DICKINSON & COMPANY	20	A61M 25/0606	Catheters; hollow probes --> I.V. catheters
BIOSENSE WEBSTER (ISRAEL)	37	A61B 18/1492	Surgical instruments --> Flexible probes or electrodes
ALIGN TECHNOLOGY	34	A61C 7/002	Dentistry --> computer-assisted systems for automatic construction of a set of axes for a tooth
SIEMENS HEALTHCARE	9	A61B 6/032	Devices for radiation diagnosis --> Mechanical aspects of computer tomography
PHILIPS ELECTRONICS	7	A61C 17/221	Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing teeth --> Power-driven brushes
C. R. BARD	5	A61B 2010/0208	Diagnosis, surgery, identification --> Biopsy devices, e.g. with triggered spring mechanisms
IMPLANTICA PATENT	9	A61F 2250/0001	Implantables --> Special features of prostheses for data transfer
CREO MEDICAL	20	A61B 18/1815	Surgical instruments for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to / from the body --> antenna
CILAG INTERNATIONAL	11	A61B 17/07207	Surgical instruments --> Applying a row of staples in a single action
BECTON DICKINSON FRANCE	5	A61M 5/2033	Devices for bringing media into the body --> Syringes: spring-loaded one-shot injectors

Please note that all figures are snapshots at the time this article was written. Please click on the applicant's name to see the current number of applications in the respective CPC class in Espacenet

As you can see, PATSTAT offers endless possibilities for exploring the intricacies of Unitary Patent data. And in case you want to try it out yourself, you can register for a one-month free trial of PATSTAT Online.

Keywords: UP, Unitary Patent, PATSTAT, Unitary Patent dashboard, statistics