Suture threads: a mapping of intellectual property

Abstract

Objetive: determine the current status of patents on products and technological processes related to suture threads deposited at the National Institute of Industrial Property in Brazil. Methodology: A survey of deposits was carried out in the Institute's database during the month of August 2020. Results: 72 patents were verified, with Brazil as the largest depositor. The patents filed were categorized into 13 International Patent Classifications, the most frequent being A61B, whose objective is to cover instruments, implements and processes for the purposes of diagnosis and surgery. The technological sector of medical-surgical equipment and devices related to suture threads wide applications in different organic tissues. The selected inventions bring benefits to storage, to the resistance of materials, to the reduction of the procedure time, to the tension control, to the vehicle of medicinal drugs, to antimicrobials, to stem cells. Conclusions: The products and processes patented and deposited in Brazil enable greater efficiency in the procedure and recovery, providing a better and safer recovery of the postoperative period.