Patenting trends in biodegradable implant: An analysis

Biodegradable metal implants are a significant innovation in medical science, offering temporary mechanical support and gradually dissolving within the body, thus avoiding the need for a second surgery. This study presents a comprehensive patent landscape analysis of metallic biodegradable implants: examining key trends, technological advancements, and major patent holders. Analysing 2114 global patent filings, the study identifies leading advancements in composition, manufacturing techniques, surface modifications, and clinical applications. There is clear information about the legal status of approximately 65 % of the total patent records, including granted patents that are still in force and those that have lapsed or discontinued due to non-renewal or other reasons. Specifically for India, a total of 177 individual patent application records involving filings in Indian jurisdiction resulted from a targeted screening procedure, with 99.4 % remaining active and 0.6 % marked as expired. However, biodegradable implant patent filings in India remain below expectations. This is attributed to the stringent application of Sections 3(i), 3(d), 3(f), and 3(e) of The Patent Act, 1970, that aim to minimize social costs in medical technology. These findings offer valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders navigating India's evolving patent landscape and future commercialization of metallic biodegradable implants.