How To Get A US Patent

Surgical masks haven't changed too much since 1918.

A New Patent for an Old Medical Invention

A new medical patent aims to change that.

I recently came across a press release about a patent from Cantel Medical Corporation for a new type of surgical mask. And it shows how medical research can lead to new patents.

Studies and medical research are great starting points for possible medical patents for two reasons:

The study mentioned above found that "tighter-fitting masks may offer as much as 100-fold greater infection control benefit than standard, loose-fitting masks."

Including a reference to the study in the patent application is sometimes a good idea and can be very persuasive to a Patent Examiner of this need.

A U.S. patent is necessary to protect your rights if you have invented a unique product or come up with a new idea. A patent grants property rights to an inventor, and is issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. If you're wondering how to patent an idea, it's the same process as for an actual invention. A utility patent is usually the patent of choice because in most cases it offers the best protection.