Company patents
Covidien LP
Covidien LP's patent strategy reveals a significant and sustained focus on Medical Diagnostics & Surgery, which accounts for 89.6% of its portfolio, despite a consistent decline in patenting activity in this area, with a -17.5% YoY decrease in 2025 and a -65.8% drop so far in 2026. While most categories show a general decline, the company surprisingly maintained a steady patenting rate in Electrotherapy / Radiation Therapy in 2025 (YoY +0.0%) after a rapid 66.7% growth in 2024, and saw a notable 33.3% YoY growth in Manipulators & Robotics in 2025, suggesting a shifting priority towards these specialized medical device and manufacturing technologies amidst a broader portfolio reduction.
Patent Trend by Technology Area
Yearly patent publications since 2023
Product themes
Product-level themes inferred from filings since 2023, with category chips showing where each theme appears. Select a theme to filter the patents below.
2,549 US filings (since 2023) · 11 categories · 35 themes
Focuses on the mechanical design, articulation, and actuation of hand-held or robotic surgical instruments, including improvements in stapling, cutting, grasping, and tissue manipulation.
Systems and methods that use imaging technologies, computer vision, and augmented reality to provide real-time guidance, localization, and visualization during surgical procedures or for detailed anatomical assessment.
Design and application of devices that are inserted into the body or implanted to treat diseases, modulate physiological functions, or repair anatomical structures.
Integrated systems and specialized instruments for performing delicate surgical procedures on the eye, often involving the delivery, manipulation, or monitoring of ophthalmic implants.
Minimally invasive medical devices, typically flexible tubes, inserted into body lumens to deliver substances, remove obstructions, or perform localized treatments like ablation, dialysis, or drainage.
Engineering and material considerations for devices used in minimally invasive procedures, focusing on mechanical properties, deployment mechanisms, and interaction with biological tissues.
Implantable devices that deliver electrical, optical, or other forms of energy to stimulate tissues or nerves, or sense physiological parameters for therapeutic purposes.
Systems and methods for non-invasive or minimally invasive collection and analysis of physiological data (e.g., blood pressure, electrolytes, genetic markers, B cell repertoire) to assess patient health status, screen for conditions, or aid in diagnosis.
Implantable devices designed to manage or redirect bodily fluids, including stents for ducts, and systems for draining or accumulating fluids within internal cavities.
Systems that provide therapeutic stimulation or field therapy through wearable devices, often incorporating physiological sensing and closed-loop feedback for personalized and adaptive treatment.
Devices and methods utilizing ultrasound energy for non-invasive or minimally invasive treatment, including focused ultrasound for tissue ablation, neuromodulation, or enhanced substance delivery.
Methods and systems for monitoring the operational status, detecting anomalies, ensuring safe interaction, and preventing damage or injury in robotic systems.
Focuses on the design of medical equipment for ease of use, mobility, and adaptability in various clinical or home environments, including carts, mounting systems, and compact form factors.
Systems and devices for delivering gases, aerosols, or pressure support to the respiratory system, often including interfaces like masks and sophisticated control mechanisms for therapeutic effect or airway management.
Therapeutic application of electrical signals to nerves or tissues to modulate their activity, often using implantable devices, electrodes, and sophisticated programming for various conditions.
Development of devices and methods for non-invasive or minimally invasive collection and analysis of physiological data, often from wearable sensors, to monitor health, activity, or specific conditions.
Implantable devices designed to repair, replace, or assist the function of blood vessels or heart structures, including stents, valves, and annuloplasty rings.
Design and control of advanced robotic grippers, tools, and mechanical linkages for specific manipulation tasks or operating in challenging environments.
Systems that integrate digital technology, sensors, or connectivity to monitor, track, or automate aspects of medication administration, often providing data feedback, personalized recommendations, or secure logging.
Implantable devices used for the fixation, fusion, or replacement of bone structures, particularly in the spine and extremities.
Utilizing machine learning, particularly deep learning, to analyze medical data such as images, sensor readings, or physiological signals for disease prediction, diagnosis, or treatment assessment.
Materials and structures designed for implantation or tissue regeneration, focusing on properties like biodegradability, mechanical strength, cellular integration, and long-term in-vivo stability.
Processes for creating or manipulating three-dimensional digital representations of objects or environments, including mesh generation, surface fitting, and depth estimation from multiple views.
Methods and systems for improving the quality of video streams, generating intermediate frames, or continuously locating and following objects within a sequence of images, even under occlusion.
Methods and apparatus for improving the visual fidelity, resolution, or compression efficiency of video signals, often through advanced processing, up-scaling, or neural network-based filters.
Methods and systems for displaying complex data in three-dimensional graphical formats, allowing users to manipulate, explore, and derive insights from the data through interactive controls.
Techniques for rendering, interacting with, and managing content within augmented or virtual reality environments, including spatial tracking, gaze interaction, and dynamic multi-application display management.
Methods and apparatus for disinfecting or sterilizing medical devices, waste, or environments, often employing radiation, chemical agents, or thermal processes, and including monitoring systems.
Devices and software systems designed to facilitate physical rehabilitation, track human movement, evaluate posture, or assess biomechanical parameters for injury recovery, surgical planning, or performance improvement.
Techniques and hardware for autonomous systems to gather and interpret data about their surroundings, including obstacle detection, object recognition, and depth estimation, to inform control decisions.
Delivery systems specifically engineered to administer advanced drug formulations (e.g., microparticles, biologics, extended-release systems) to achieve precise targeting, controlled release kinetics, or enhanced therapeutic efficacy within the body.
Mechanical or electromechanical systems designed for precise, often self-administered, delivery of medicaments, including features for dose setting, needle insertion/retraction, and safety mechanisms to prevent premature activation.
Use of alternating electric or magnetic fields at specific frequencies and intensities to achieve therapeutic effects, such as inhibiting cell proliferation (e.g., cancer) or modulating cytokine production.
Algorithms and systems for generating, optimizing, and executing trajectories for autonomous vehicles or robots to move through an environment, often involving obstacle avoidance, route validation, and goal reaching.
Digital platforms and systems that deliver tailored therapeutic interventions, guidance, or recommendations to patients based on their individual health data, biometric feedback, and computational models (e.g., AI/ML, physiological simulations).
Patents
Showing 1-10 of 915
Ophthalmic Surgical Systems