[HSF] Patenting operations

[Tea Acuff]

An interesting topic. Certainly many of the devices we use patent a process, so one could probably get a patent for a surgical process but to what end to sell to whom? If a patent is to be useful (ie profitable) it either has to be highly produced or very lucrative neither of which in time or scale matches the way operations become known or popular. Why spend tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars for processing and defending patents for one practice?
A more relevant issue is the patenting of genes or enzymes which is more difficult to judge. It seems akin to the process of putting flags on new land "discoveries" 3-400 years ago. On the other hand many useful products such as epogen would not be around if there was not major upside available for the search (again like flags 300 years ago.) People are not looking for new uses for ASA or metoprolol despite the fact that they are perhaps the most universally useful drugs that we use. It is hugely expensive to change minds. Lots of good devices/ drugs die because of that.
tea


----- Original Message ----
From: "ICHFNO at aol.com" <ICHFNO at aol.com>
To: OpenHeart-L at lists.hsforum.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 5:09:43 PM
Subject: Re: [HSF] Patenting operations


Interesting concept, patenting operations! John Kirklin detested eponyms  but 
there were even a few that he would allow if someone was educated enough to  
know the history of the operation, i.e., Fontan, Senning were acceptable among 
others. However, I would agree with Hal (strike me dead) that patenting  
operations would stifle innovation, not encourage it. Enforcing it would not be  
difficult, there would simply be another level of bureaucracy added. Have we  
reached the stage where we must be financially rewarded for every little thing 
we do?

Bill

William M  Novick MD
Paul Nemir Jr., MD Professor
International Child Health and  Surgery
University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center
Founder and Medical  Director
International Children's Heart  Foundation



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