A. Introduction

An ECG (electrocardiogram) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart, including its rate and rhythm. An ECG records the electrical signals in the heart and it is a common and painless test used to quickly detect heart problems and monitor the heart’s health.

In a human body, the nerve and muscle cells communicate with each other using electrical and chemical signals. Regular electrical signals also control our heartbeat. These signals are sent by a group of cells in the right atrium of the heart known as the Sinoatrial Node (SA node), and they spread through the heart muscle tissue as tiny electrical impulses. This causes first the atria and then the ventricles of the heart to contract. The way that these signals spread through the heart can also be measured on the surface of our skin. An ECG measures these changes in electrical signals (or, in fact, voltage) on different areas of skin and plots them as a graph.

A health care provider often use an ECG to determine or detect:

Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias);
If blocked or narrowed arteries in the heart (coronary artery disease) are causing chest pain or a heart attack;
Previous heart attack (s); or
Efficiency of some certain heart disease treatments, such as a pacemaker.

The three major types of ECG commonly used are:

Resting ECG: The resting ECG involves lying still on the back with a bare chest. It is necessary that the patient lies calmly and comfortably during the test because tensing the muscles, moving, coughing or shaking can affect the results. The measurement needs about one minute, or five minutes.

Exercise ECG: The electrical activity of the heart is measured while the person is physically active. This usually involves riding an exercise bike. The degree of exertion is gradually raised to a high level as the pedals become harder to rotate. If there are irregularities in the ECG, the test is stopped early. In addition to the ECG graph, this test measures the power output in Watts. Your blood pressure is also checked regularly.

Holter monitor: The electrical function of the heart is normally measured over 24 hours. Three or four electrodes are attached to the chest, and a small recording device is worn on a belt. The ECG data is then transferred to a computer later on at the doctor’s office for analysis. A Holter monitor may be utilized if, the person only has an irregular heartbeat some of the time and it doesn’t show up in a “normal” ECG

B. Objective of Patent Landscape

We, at Origiin, prepared this Patent Landscape Report for ECG to understand various trends with regard to patent activity in this space. We analyzed the patents filed, published and granted between the year 2022 and 2024. The search strategy used to generate the data to prepare this report is based on a combination of predetermined International Patent Classification (IPC) codes, as well as specific keywords.

We observed that the companies based in the United States, India and China Taipei are major contributors of patent filings in the area of EGG. The leading patent filing companies include the Zoll Medical Corporation company, Biosense Webster Israel Ltd. and Bardy Diagnostics inc.

C. Parameters used for Patent Landscape Analysis

In this report, we studied the following parameters and trends:

Patenting Trends for the year 2022 to 2024
Distribution of Patents based on the Assignees
Jurisdiction based Global Patent Filing Trends
Technology classification based on IPC classification
Activities of Competitors based on area of Research (IPC)
Estimated top 10 industries and technology areas between 2022 and 2024
Estimated top 10 owners between 2022 and 2024
Estimated top 10 Assignee Countries between 2022 and 2024
Estimated top 10 priority countries between 2022 and 2024
Estimated top 10 publication countries between 2022 and 2024

D. Patent filing trend between years 2022 to 2024

Figure 1: Patent filing trend between the years 2022 to 2024

The Figure 1 depicts the distribution of patents for ECG between the years 2022 to 2024, including both applications filed and granted patents. The graph shows that the highest number of applications were filed in 2022 with 1225 patents followed by 2023 with 777 patents. However, the lowest number of patents were granted in the year 2022 with 27 patents compared to 2023 with 159 patents and 2024 with 126 patents. Overall, filings for ECG patent families is gradually decreased in the time period between 2022 and 2024.

E. Distribution of Patents based on the Assignees

Figure 2: Distribution of Patents based on the Assignees

As indicated in Figure 2, Zoll Medical Corporation company is the key player with 84 patents. Zoll Medical Corporation company is mainly focused on improving outcomes with novel resuscitation and acute critical caretechnology. The next key player is the Biosense Webster Israel Ltd. with 33 patents. Bardy Diagnostics inc. has 32 patents while Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd has 31 patents. The next in line is Medtronic Inc and West Affum Holding Designated Activity Company with 28 patents. The Apple Inc. and GE Precision Healthcare LLC come next with 26 patents each. Bard Access System Inc. has 25 patents while West Affum Holding DAC follows with 24 patents.

F. Jurisdiction based Global Patent Filing Trends

Figure 3: Distribution of Patent based on the jurisdiction

The Figure 3 shows the distribution of patents based on the jurisdiction. The maximum number of patents, i.e., 909, were filed in the US (United States) and rest of the patents were issued in the other jurisdictions, such as, India (IN) with 360 patents, Chinese Taipei (TW) with 87 patents being the prominent followed by Korea (KR) with 67 patents, Israel (IL) with 64 patents, China (CN) with 59 patents, Canada (CA) with 58 patents, Japan (JP) with 53, Germany (DE) with 44 patents and Russia (RU) with 42 patents.

G. Technology classification based on IPC classification

Figure 4: ECG Patent Distribution based on main IPC Code Classification

The Figure 4 indicates the patent distribution based on main IPC code. The top spot is occupied by the diagnosis, surgery indications with 1552 patents families. Other major players include healthcare informatics with 584 patent families, electrotherapy: magnetotherapy with 265 patent families and computer system based on computational models with 172 patent families. Electric digital data processing follows with 155 patents. Devices for introducing media into, or onto, the body has 106 patents while the next in line i.e., Preparations for medical, dental or toilet purposes holds 78 patents. Data processing systems and Image data processing or generation in general hold 73 patents each followed by Transmission of digital information with the least number of patents ie 64 patents.

H. Activities of Competitors based on Area of Research (IPC)

Figure 5: Electrocardiogram (ECG) Distribution of Patent based on Competitors and Area of Research (IPC)

The Figure 5 depicts the distribution of patents based on competitors and Area of Research (IPC). The top spot is occupied by IPC A61B5/00 i.e., measuring for diagnostic purposes with 882 patents. Other major class includes A61B5/0205 ie simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition with 260 patent families and measuring pulse rate or heart rate with 211 patent families. IPC G16H50/20 for computer aided diagnosis e.g. based on medical expert systems with 181 patent families. Heart-related electrical modalities with 176 patent families while the next in line is heart defibrillators with 157 patents. IPC G16H40/67 Remote operation purposes hold 151 patents. IPC G16H50/30 i.e., for calculating health indices ie. for individual health risk assessment purposes hold 147 patents. Measuring movement of the entire body or parts ie. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb in general hold 142 patents followed by A61B5 is holders for multiple electrodes with the least number of patents ie 133 patents.

I. Estimated top 10 industries and technology areas between 2022 and 2024

Figure 6: Electrocardiogram (ECG) Distribution of Patent based on Industries & technology.

The Figure 6 indicates major industries and technology areas between 2022 and 2024. Medical and Dental instruments and Supplies is the major industry in the field. Computers and Peripheral Equipment follows next with 322 patents. The next in line is Irradiation, Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Equipment industry with 261 patents. The Communication Equipment industry holds 157 patents while the Measuring, Testing and Navigation Instruments especially Watches and Clocks has 105 patents. The Basic Pharmaceutical Products and Pharmaceutical Preparatory industry has 97 patents followed by other general-purpose machinery with 63 patents. Computer programming, consultancy and related activities hold 52 patents while other manufacturing industries hold 48 patents. The least in number is the manufacturing N.E.C industry with 21 patents.

J. Estimated top 10 owners between 2022 and 2024

Figure 7: Electrocardiogram (ECG)Distribution of Patent based on Current Owner

As indicated in Figure 7, Asahi Kasei Corp is the major player with 84 patents. Asahi Kasei Corp contributes to the advancement of medical treatment worldwide via continuous innovation in various fields, including medical device systems that respond to unmet needs such as chronic and acute renel disease, neurologic and other intractable conditions.The next key player is the Johnson & Johnson Co Ltd with 47 patents, which is a producer of medical devices and pharmaceutical products. The next in line is Baxter International Inc.with 44 patents. Medtronic Inc. industry holds 35 patents while the Samsung Group has 33 patents. Becton Dickinson & Co. industry has 29 patents followed by West Affum holding designated activated company with 28 patents. Apple Inc. and GE Healthcare Technology Inc. both hold 26 patents each followed by West Affum Holding Dac with the least number of patents i.e., 24 patents.

K. Estimated top 10 Assignee Countries between 2022 and 2024

Figure 8: Distribution of Patent based on Assignee Countries

The Figure 8 indicates US (United States) is the key assignee country with 899 patents and rest of the assignee countries are India (IN) with 345 patents, Chinese Taipei (TW) with 84 patents being the prominent followed by Korea (KR) with 72 patents, Israel (IL) with 66 patents, Japan (JP) with 60 patents, Denmark (DN) with 52 patents and China (CN) with 50 patents. The lower half includes Ireland (IE) with 45 patents, Russia (RU) with 41 patents, Canada(CA) and France (FR) with 36 patents each, India with 28 patents, Great Britain (GB) and Netherlands (NL) with 21 patents each.

L. Estimated top 10 priority countries between 2022 and 2024

Figure 9: Distribution of Patent based on Priority Countries

As indicated in Figure 9, US (United States) is the priority country for the ECG with 1108 patent family data set. India (IN) is another priority country with 383 patents. Rest priority countries are Japan (JP) with 141 patents, Korea (KR) with 74 patents, China (CN) and Chinese Taipei (TW) with 54 patents each. The lower half priority country include Germany (DE) with 46 patents, Europe (EP) with 40 patents, Great Britain (GB) with 30 patents and France (FR) with 20 patents.

M. Estimated top 10 publication countries between 2022 and 2024

Figure 10: Electrocardiogram (ECG) Distribution of Patent based on Industries& technology

The Figure 10 indicates that the maximum patents belong to the inventors of US (United States) with 1080 patents and rest patents are issued to the inventors of other countries, such as, India (IN) with 384 patents, European Patent Office (EP) with 156 patents, Japan (JP) with 123 patents, Chinese Taipei (TW) with 90 patents being the prominent followed by Australia (AU) with 67 patents, Canada (CA) with 49 patents, Russian Federation (RU) with 42 patents, Germany (DE) with 31 patents and the least ie United Kingdom (GB) with 26 patents .

N. Analysis of ECG Suppliers

Analysis was performed in order to obtain the companies involved in electrocardiogram (ECG). According to the findings of the survey, the majority of firms manufacture intermediates, and quite a few companies involved in electrocardiograms.

The list of companies involved in ECG comprises the companies from different parts of the world involved in electrocardiograms (ECG) production and the irrespective patents and publications. The companies have been mentioned in the analysis of the graphical representation of patent applications under each parameter used for patent landscape analysis.

Apart from the companies list, there are few major companies involved in electrocardiograms (ECG) production:

O. Conclusion

Electrocardiogram (ECG), one of the most popular industrial instruments widely used in the field of medicine and dentistry and for measurement purposes, has opened up new dimensions and vistas for diagnosis on an industrial scale. The study indicates that the substantial number of patents is filed by inventors of the US (United States) and Asahi Kasei Corp (JP) being the major player. The study also shows that there are very less patents filed when it comes to manufacturing industries when compared to medical and dental instruments and supplies industries. This sector is of growing interest as the amount of patenting activity has increased. The data shows that there are maximum published patent families related to the ECG worldwide, of which 909 are from US applicants. The analysis found that the top five applicants represent only 12% of the total patenting activity for this sector. In terms of innovation, the ECG industry may be quite competitive despite the presence of a handful of very large companies.

Author: Roshan Elizabeth Daniel

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Patent Landscape: Electrocardiogram (ECG)