Analysis of patents on preeclampsia detection and diagnosis: a perspective

Computerized patent databases have made it possible to access a wealth of technological information contained in patent documents. Analysis of patent information can greatly help in monitoring technology trends and evolution as well as identification of research gaps. Detection and diagnosis of preeclampsia (PE) was chosen as a case study to emphasize the informative potential of patent analysis. PE complicates about 2-8% pregnancies, affecting a total of about 8.5 million women worldwide. PE can lead to potentially life threatening problems of the liver, kidneys, brain and blood clotting system of the mother. Risks for the baby include poor growth and prematurity. No effective ways of predicting or preventing PE have been found, which highlights the need for further research in this field. Some researchers believe that the incidence of PE is on the rise due to an increased prevalence of predisposing disorders, such as chronic hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. PE thus represents a huge health care burden world over. Complications of PE might be prevented to a certain extent if diagnosed early. Patents on detection and diagnosis of PE were analyzed to gain a better understanding of the technical approaches followed by various research groups around the world.