Patent system: United States

Allison, J. and Lemley, M. 2002. The growing complexity of the United States patenting system. Boston University Law Review 82(1), 77-144. 

United States Patent 4,767,628 assigned to Imperial Chemical Industries describes a similar lactide/glycolide delivery system for LHRH polypeptide (122,123). A multiphase release pattern is again postulated. The first phase occurs by diffusion of drug through aqueous polypeptide domains linked to the exterior surface of the matrix. 

Tso, M.O. and Lam, T.T., Method of retarding and ameliorating central nervous system and eye damage, United States Patent 5527533, 1996. 

Corso, T.N., Schultz, G.A., Prosser, S.J. (2003). Separation media, multiple electrospray nozzle system and method. United States Patent 6,596,988. 2003 July 22. 

J. Reo and W.M. Johnson, Tastemasked Pharmaceutical System, United States Patent 5,891,476, April 6, 1999 (see Example 4). 

J.M. McKendry, R. Selway, and J.A.W.M. Corver, Method for magnetic field tracking in a NMR check weighing system. United States Patent 7061239 (2006). 

Lihme, A. O. F., Oehlenschlaeger, R., Olsen, B. A., Zafirakos, E. (2003). Expanded bed adsorption system. United States Patent 6620326 (http //www.patentstorm.us/patents/6620326-description.html). 

Al] Flom and Safir, Iris recognition system, United States Patent 4.641.349, February 3, 1987... 

A2] Daugman, John, Biometric identification system based on iris analysis, United States Patent 5.291.560, March 1, 1994... 

A3] Wildes, Richard P., et al., Automated, non-invasive iris recognition system and method, United States Patent 5.572.596, November 5, 1996... 

A4] Kim, Daniel Daehoon, et al., Ms identification system and method of identifying a person through Ms recognition, United States Patent 6.247.813, June 19, 2001... 

A9] Mann, et al., System and method for aircraft passenger check-in and boarding using Ms recognition, United States Patent 6.119.096, September 12, 2000... 

McLaughlin, R.L.J. and I.D. Brindle. 2005. Multimode Sample Introduction System. United States Patent... 

H. D. Collins, D. L. McMakin, T. E. Hall, and R. P. Gribble, Real-time holographic surveillance system. United States Patent No. 5,455,590, 1995. 

Steward GA, Chiba Z, Balazs GB, Nelson N, Lewis PR. Mediated electrochemical oxidation of organic wastes using trivalent cobalt mediator in a nitric acid based system. United States Patent 5,911,868, 1999. 

Noureddini, H. 2001. System and Process for Producing Biodiesel Fuel with Reduced Viscosity and a Cloud Point Below Thirty-Two (32) Degrees Fahrenheit. United States Patent 6174501 (Jan. 16). 

Lichtenberger, P. L., McGrevy, A., and Gulliver, E. 2007. Esterification and transesterification systems, methods and apparatus. United States Patent Application US 2007/0219340 Al. 

Brecher J. S. 2006. Method, system, and software for deriving chemical structural information. United States Patent 7054754, issued May 30. 

H. -J. Kwak, United States Patent 6,866,830 System for continuously preparing gasoline, kerosene and diesel oil from waste plastics (2005). 

Over 2,900,000 United States patents have been issued since 1836, over 200,000 of which contain information of chemical interest. Clearly, an efficient classification of patents is essential for the proper functioning of the patent system and for making the information available. 

After the index of earlier searches and special indexes have been checked, the files of patents and the cross-reference file of abstracts are systematically searched in selected subclasses of the United States classification system (3) and the Netherlands system (5). If too many patents appear to be pertinent, a conference with the patent attorney may be needed to narrow the field to be searched. Upon completion of the search, the patents are arranged in numerical order by countries and sent to the patent attorney together with a report in which the sources searched and the pertinent patents found are listed. If a large number of... 

Classification, as exemplified by the system employed by the United States Patent Office, groups together in fixed compartments items having certain common features. In the Patent Office classification, the subject matter of the patent is analyzed by the classifier in terms of the features on which the classification system is built. Terminology ranging from the highly generic, e.g., carbon compounds, toys, medicines, poisons, and... 

The patent offices worldwide have opened their databases to the public there is no better place to start the search for patentability than with these free databases the same databases that provide additional services and literature search are packaged by other vendors. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (1) has created one of the world s largest electronic databases that includes every patent issued recently, published applications are also available in the database. Scientists are strongly urged to develop expert skills in interacting with the database of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The search at United States Patent and Trademark Office can be most beneficial if the scientist learns how to use the patent classification system. (Tutorials are available at the United States Patent and Trademark Office website alternately, please consult Filing Patents Online A Professional Guide by Sarfaraz K. Niazi, CRC Press 2002). 

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Washington DC United States Patent and Trademark Office. URL http // www.uspto.gov/. Provides information on the patenting process, U.S. and International patent law and regulations, resources for independent inventors, search aids, and fee-based online delivery of patents. Includes U.S. patent applications and issued patents back to 1790. The full-text of patents is available since 1976. Includes help on viewing the images and searching by U.S. classifications. Classifications and related information, including a U.S. to International Patent Classifications concordance and an overview of the classification system, are available from the USPTO s Office of Patent Classification. Available online. 

It is important for companies to keep the patent system in mind, whether or not they choose to seek patents for their own products. When technical personnel create useful products or processes that seem to them to be significant advances on the prior art, the assistance of patent counsel very often becomes useful. First, companies need to determine whether use or sale of these new processes or products might infringe someone else s patent. This may involve a search of the relevant records of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (and of the patent offices of any foreign countries where the products may be used or marketed). Second, if the product seems to technical personnel to be novel and significant of the art, companies may want to consider whether to apply for a patent. In such a situation, a search should be made at the Patent and Trademark Office to determine whether the invention seems likely to be patentable. How extensive a search should be before a patent application is filed, as well as the decision whether to seek a patent at all, may depend upon how valuable the invention seems. For a very important item, patent lawyers may also conduct searches of the relevant trade literature to see whether the invention has been anticipated but not patented. Some companies monitor the... 

United States Patent 6,217,829, Mustacich, R. V., et al., Reduced Power Consumption Gas Chromatograph System, April 17, 2001. 

Sinkjsr, T. and Popovid, D.B., Functional Elertrical Therapy Systems (FETS). United States Patent Application US2004147975, www.uspto.gov/patfv/index.html, 2004. 

Freitag H. 1990. Method and reagent for determination of an analyte via enzymatic means using a fer-ricyanide/ferric compound system. United States Patent 4,929,545. 

Phillips R, McCarraugh G, Jurik F, and Underwood R. 1990. Minimum procedure system for the determination of analytes. United States Patent 4,935,346. 

Holmberg, C., Siekmann, B., 2010. Self-emulsif3dng drug debvery system. United States patent US 7815933. 

Khan, M.A., Nazzal, S., 2003. Eutectic-based self-nanoemulsified drug delivery system. United States patent US 2010/0166873. 

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