"42% Growth Over 10 Years" Patent Applications Surge for Medical Devices Incorporating AI and Advanced Technologies

Patent applications for medical devices incorporating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are becoming increasingly active.

According to the Korean Intellectual Property Office on August 6, the number of patent applications in the medical device sector surged by approximately 42%, from 9,336 cases in 2015 to 13,282 cases in 2024. This growth rate is 3.5 times higher than the 12% increase in patent applications across all technology sectors during the same period.

Provided by the Korean Intellectual Property Office

Experts analyze that as the development of products that enhance performance and convenience by integrating advanced technologies such as AI and wearables into medical devices becomes more active, competition to secure patent rights has also intensified. The Korea Health Industry Development Institute forecasts that medical device exports this year will reach $6.25 billion (8.65 trillion won), an increase of 7.4% compared to the previous year.

Between 2015 and 2024, the most active patent applications in the medical device sector were for wearable electronic devices (biometric measurement devices) equipped with biosensors capable of measuring various vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure. During this period, there were a total of 17,514 patent applications related to biometric measurement devices, accounting for 14.6% of all medical device patent applications.

This was followed by surgical treatment devices (14.0%), medical information devices (13.7%), and medical supplies (11.9%). Patent applications for the top four types, including biometric measurement devices, accounted for 54.2% of all patent applications in the medical device sector.

The most notable increase in application growth rate was seen in the field of medical information devices. Over the past ten years, patent applications for medical information devices have increased by an average of 21.9% per year. In particular, patent applications related to telemedicine, such as AI-based non-face-to-face medical systems, accounted for 92.6% of all medical information device patent applications.

By applicant type, small and medium-sized enterprises accounted for 37,925 cases (31.7%), individuals for 23,554 cases (19.7%), foreign corporations for 23,375 cases (19.6%), and universities and research institutes for 22,806 cases (19.1%). The fact that small and medium-sized enterprises and individuals accounted for 51.4% of all applications is noteworthy, as it indicates their leading role in driving innovation in the medical device sector.

In terms of the number of patent applications filed, Samsung Electronics, Yonsei University, Korea University, and Osstem Implant ranked among the top applicants in the medical device sector.

By major technology type, Samsung Electronics was the top applicant in the biometric measurement device and rehabilitation aid sectors; Yonsei University in in vitro diagnostic devices and medical information devices; Samsung Medison in imaging diagnostic devices; Osstem Implant in dental devices; and Bodyfriend in therapeutic aid devices.

Lim Younghee, Director General of the Chemical and Biological Examination Bureau at the Korean Intellectual Property Office, said, "Recently, research and development that incorporates advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and wearables into medical devices has been actively underway, leading to an increase in patent applications. The Korean Intellectual Property Office will actively share the results of patent analysis with the industry to help enhance the competitiveness of the domestic medical device sector."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.