Method of patent analysis to determine the speed of progress in blood pressure monitors

Blood pressure measuring/monitoring devices (BPMs) are one of the most popular home health diagnostic tools. A contemporary line of these products available to consumers today has considerable range of variety and functionality. The BPMs evolved into their present form from the 18th century sphygmomanometer, and their design went through a number of innovations and improvements a process still continuing today. The first sphygmomanometer patent was issued in 1855, a practical method established only in 1896, and since then over 1,300 patents of relevance have been granted by USPTO. Analysis reveals that number of patents over time follows a cubic curve that can be broken into three temporal segments (pre-1960, 1960-1990, 1990-present), related to specific technological breakthroughs. The approach presented in this paper blends statistical analysis (e.g., patent frequency over time) with a user satisfaction index. Such index captures how closely a metric based on key functional characteristics of patented devices follows an ideal solution, satisfying all user expectations, and provides an insight into the size of the gap between consumer needs and current technology. Combining it with technological progress curve can provide a clear picture of where and how soon new developments in BPMs can be expected.