An analysis of patents for anesthetic laryngoscopes

Abstract

The anesthetic laryngoscope is one of the most popular medical tools for obtaining a clear view of the larynx and facilitates tracheal intubation. The number of anesthetic laryngoscope patents, coming mainly from the anesthesiologists, has rapidly increased. Each product has a specialized use for particular patients. However, it is unclear to what extent anesthetic laryngoscopy gained acceptance in operating theaters. By retrieving patent data for more than 90 countries from the Online Retrieval of Bibliographic Information Time-share (ORBIT) system, we reviewed the anesthetic laryngoscope patent literature published before July 6, 2015, and manually analyzed patent status, general development trends, areas of competition, technology patentees, and technology classifications. The study showed that the number of anesthetic laryngoscope patent applications has stayed at a high level in the last decade. Most patent activity was carried out in the USA, with China and a number of European countries trailing behind. In addition, the patent analysis provided an opportunity to understand the trends in the development of anesthetic laryngoscope technology, to identify shortcomings in clinical use of anesthetic laryngoscopes, to assist medical manufacturing specialists in improving the design and products, and to suggest to anesthesiologists modifications of the clinical signs of difficult tracheal intubation based on the new commercial anesthetic laryngoscopes applied in the front-line.

中文概要

本文评估专利文献在麻醉喉镜技术研发中的引领 作用,探讨麻醉喉镜专利研发的技术重点。结果 显示,**10 年来麻醉喉镜专利数量较以往增长 显著(图3),呈现以美国领跑,**和一些欧 洲国家紧随其后的态势(图4)。商品化的麻醉 喉镜其专利技术经受了临床实践与市场的考验, 其专利持有者掌控的关键技术更加丰富(图5)。 可视化喉镜因解决了困难气管插管问题而成为 未来发展的一个重要方向,其相应的操作规程也 期待进一步完善。