The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)

Microfluidic biosensors are available that are suitable for continuously monitoring levels of toxin in water supplies.

The present technology consists of employing biosensor strains engineered by engineers in a well plate to test for levels of water toxin. Electronic testing equipment that is not based on bacteria can also offer disposable test strips and cartridges that can be used to perform a test on each toxin. These methods are not cost-effective to monitor continuously the level of water-borne toxins, without human intervention.

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What is a patent?

Granted by the government to protect an invention, a patent provides the inventor with the exclusive right to use, create, market and promote the invention?society is benefited when a brand new technology is introduced to the market. These benefits could be directly realized by people who are able to accomplish feats previously unattainable as well as indirectly through the economic opportunities which innovation can bring (business growth, employment).

Patent protection is demanded by many pharmaceutical companies and university researchers for their research and development. Patents may cover the physical or abstract nature of a process or product, or even the method or composition of materials that are new to the field. To be granted patent protection an invention has to be useful, new and not apparent to others in the same subject.

Patents are a way to give inventors a reward for commercially successful inventions. They serve as a motivator for inventors to invent. Patents permit entrepreneurs and inventors to know that there is an excellent chance that they will be paid back for their time, effort, and money invested in the development of technology. They can earn a living by their work.

Patents are a crucial part of firms and can be used to:

Protect your innovative products and services

Enhance the visibility and worth of your products ‘ presence on the market

Differentiate yourself and your products from the rest.

Access business and technical expertise and other information;

Beware of the possibility of accidentally using proprietary third-party content, or losing your important information, creative outputs, or any other innovative output.

Patents convert knowledge of the inventor into an asset that can be sold, which creates new opportunities for employment creation through licensing and joint ventures.

Small businesses that have patent protection are more attractive to investors in the commercialization and development of technology.

Patents can result in the development of new ideas and inventions. These information may be protected by patents.

Patents can be used to prevent untrustworthy third parties from profiting through the work of inventions.

Patent-protected technology revenue that is commercially profitable could be used to finance technological research and development (R&D) which will improve the chances of better technology in future.

Intellectual property ownership is a way to convince investors and lenders that there are real opportunities to market your product. Sometimes, one powerful patent could open the door to multiple financing opportunities. Patents and other IP assets are able to be utilized as collateral or security to finance debt. You may also present investors with your patent assets to increase the value of your business. Forbes and other publications have noted that each patent can increase company valuation by anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million.

Start-ups need a well-constructed business plan that is built on the IP to demonstrate that your product or service is unique, superior, or innovative. Investors will also be impressed if your IP rights are secured or in the process to becoming secure, and that they support your business strategy.

It is essential to protect an invention before submitting a patent application. The public disclosure of an invention prior to filing could often erode its originality and make it patent-infringing. Pre-filing disclosures, such as for investors, test-marketing or any other business partners must be done after signing a confidentiality contract.

There are several types of patents and knowing these is vital to safeguard your invention. Patents for utility are used to protect inventions and processes that are new. Design patents cover ornamental designs. Utility patents are the most effective and protect the owner against copycats and other competitors. Frequently the utility patents are issued for alterations or improvements to existing inventions. They can also be used to improve or alter existing inventions. For instance, a procedure patent will cover acts or methods of performing a specific act, whereas a chemical composition will include the combination of ingredients.

What is the typical length of a patent? Utility patents last 20 years after the earliest filing date, but their expirations can be extended because of delays at the patent office such as.

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A patent search is an essential step when you are preparing a patent application. This will enable you to look at other concepts and provide an insight into their inventions. This allows you to restrict the extent of your invention. You can also find out about the technological advancements in your field of invention. This will allow you to comprehend the scope of your invention and prepare you for filing your patent application.

How to Search for Patents

The first step to get the patent you want is to do the patent search. You can do a google patent search or do a USPTO search. Patent-pending refers to the product protected by the patent application. You can search for the public pair in order to locate the patent application. After the patent office approves your application, you will be able to do an examination of the patent number to locate the issued patent. Your product will now become patented. You can also utilize the USPTO search engine. Check out the following article for more information. You can get help from a patent attorney or patent attorney. Patents in the United States are granted by the US trademark and patent office as well as the United States patent office. This office also reviews trademark applications.

Are you interested in finding other similar patents? Here are the steps you should follow:

1. Create a list of terms to describe your invention based on the purpose, composition and usage.

Write down a brief and precise description of the invention. Avoid using generic terms like “device”, “process,” or “system”. Instead, think about synonyms for the terms you initially chose. Next, take note of important technical terms, as well as keywords.

Use the questions below to help you find the keywords or concepts.

  • What’s the purpose of this invention? Is it a utilitarian device or an ornamental design?
  • Is the invention a method of creating something or performing some function? Are you referring to an item?
  • What is the nature and purpose of the invention? What is the physical composition of the invention?
  • What is the purpose of the invention?
  • What are the terms and phrases in the field of technology used to describe the nature of an invention? A technical dictionary will help you locate the right terms.

2. These terms allow you to search for relevant Cooperative Patent Classifications on the Classification Search Tool. If you’re unable to find the right classification to describe your invention, scan through the class Schemas (class schedules). If you don’t get any results from the Classification Text Search, you may want to consider replacing the words for describing your invention with synonyms.

3. Go through the CPC Classification Definition for confirmation of the CPC classification you have found. The link to a CPC classification definition will be provided in the event that the title of the classification contains a blue box with “D” on its left. CPC classification definitions will assist you in determining the classification’s boundaries so that you can choose the one that is most appropriate. In addition the definitions may include research tips and other suggestions which could be helpful for further research.

4. Retrieve patent documents with the CPC classification from the Patents Full-Text and Image Database. You can search and find the most relevant patent publications by making a focus on abstract and drawings representative of.

5. Utilize this selection of most pertinent patent documents to examine each in detail for the similarities to your invention. Pay attention to the claims and specification. It is possible to find additional patents by consulting the patent examiner as well as the applicant.

6. You can retrieve published patent applications that meet the CPC classification you chose in Step 3. You can use the same method of search in Step 4 to narrow your search results to the relevant patent applications by examining the abstract and illustrations on every page. Then, you must carefully review the patent applications that have been published and pay particular attention to the claims and additional drawings.

7. Find additional US patent publications using keywords in the PatFT or AppFT databases, classification searching of non-U.S. patents per below, and searching for non-patent patent disclosures in the literature of inventions using web search engines. Here are some examples:

  • Add keywords to your search. Keyword searches may turn up documents that are not well-categorized or have missed classifications during Step 2. For example, US patent examiners often supplement their classification searches with keyword searches. Think about the use of technical engineering terminology rather than everyday words.
  • Search for foreign patents using the CPC classification. Then, re-run the search using international patent office search engines such as Espacenet, the European Patent Office’s worldwide patent publication database of over 130 million patent publications. Other national databases include:
  • Search non-patent literature. Inventions can be made public in many non-patent publications. It is recommended that you search journals, books, websites, technical catalogs, conference proceedings, and other print and electronic publications.

To review your search, you can hire a registered patent attorney to assist. A preliminary search will help one better prepare to talk about their invention and other related inventions with a professional patent attorney. In addition, the attorney will not spend too much time or money on patenting basics.