Library Guides: Bioengineering: Patents

Primary Patent Search Tools

The Lens
Contains US patents from 1976+, European, World, and Australian patents. patent applications from U.S., World, and Australia. Searches full-text, downloadable into RIS format.
Google Patents
Google provides a relatively easy way to search U.S. patents. Use the advanced search and limit by date of application or date of issue. See the description, drawing, and claims. FYI...this only covers the most cited patents, so not considered comprehensive.
Patent and Trademark Office, United States
Search for United States patents 1790 to present through the Patent and Trademark Office (United States). Patents issued since 1976 in full text. Full-page images are available since 1790 by FREE image software which must be downloaded (follow directions on Patent and Trademark website) NOTE: US Patents from 1790 through 1975 are searchable only by Patent Number and Current US Classification.

Patent Law And Treaties

U.S. Patent Law
This is the full U.S. Code Title 35 - Patents
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) makes it possible to seek patent protection for an invention simultaneously in each of a large number of countries by filing an "international" patent application.

Patent Searching Tips

USPTO Guides
At this link you can find a web-based tutorial and information regarding the USPTO Seven Step Strategy.

Example for searching for a impeller for a centrifugal pump, using any of the Primary Search Tools:

At the next screen input "centrifugal pump" in term 1 box, then input "impeller" in term 2 box
Or if just working with one search bar type, "centrifugal pump" AND "impeller"

If you don't like your results, try using a USPTO Classification Code to look up the exact controlled search term. For example if you are working with a washing machine, you may need to try "agitator" instead of "impeller".

Patents Granted By Other Countries

Canadian Patents Database
Canadian Intellectual Patent Office (CIPO) contains all Canadian patents and images from 1933 to the present.
European Patent Office
Contains European patents, World patents, and patent applications. Ability to search patents by origin country (i.e. CN for China). Downloadable and printable in PDF.
Japan Patent Office (JPO)
Access to japanese patent abstracts.
PATENTSCOPE
Using PATENTSCOPE you can search 51 million patent documents including 2.8 million published international patent applications (PCT). These are for International Patent Applications, designated as (WO).

What if there's NOTHING similar patented?

Be EXTREMELY skeptical. Patent researchers know that every innovation comes from “prior art.”
Use Classes arranged in Alphabetical Order (or similar term in other country's patent site) to find the best category for your idea. Patent classification schedules are very detailed.
On the Patent Office home page, type the category number in the A1 Enter a US Patent Classification field (or similar field in other country's patent site, using that country's class arrangement)) The U.S. class field is at the top left.of the site.
Click “submit” and then look through that list to determine where your idea fits.
Be sure to go all the way down the list to the "Cross Reference Art Collections"(or similar term in other country's patent site) to check for other categories.