Company patents
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA RESEARCH FOUNDATION
University of Iowa Research Foundation's patent strategy shows a surprising shift from its core focus on "Pharmaceutical Preparations" (39.0% of portfolio) and "Therapeutic Activity (Pharma)" (24.8%), both of which saw significant declines in 2025 (YoY -32.1% and -44.4% respectively), towards emerging areas like "Drug Delivery Devices," which experienced a 33.3% YoY growth in 2026 so far, indicating a strategic pivot towards medical device innovation despite overall declines in other categories.
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.
218 US filings (since 2023) · 12 categories · 31 themes
Development of therapeutic approaches involving the genetic modification of cells (e.g., T cells, stem cells, macrophages) or the use of viral/non-viral vectors to deliver genetic material for disease treatment.
Methods and compositions for identifying, quantifying, or characterizing specific biological molecules (e.g., nucleic acids, proteins, metabolites, antibodies) or microbial species, often for diagnostic, prognostic, or quality control applications.
Therapeutic strategies employing nucleic acids (DNA, RNA, oligonucleotides) to modulate gene expression, deliver genetic material, or interfere with disease-causing pathways. Includes gene therapy using viral vectors.
Design and synthesis of acyclic or carbocyclic organic compounds that selectively modulate specific biological targets or pathways for the treatment of diseases.
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.
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.
Identification and measurement of specific nucleic acid sequences (DNA, RNA), their expression levels, or epigenetic modifications (e.g., methylation) as indicators for disease presence, progression, risk, or treatment response.
Assays leveraging CRISPR-Cas systems (e.g., Cas12, Cas13) for highly specific and sensitive detection of target nucleic acids, often involving collateral cleavage activity or reporter molecules.
Development and use of engineered biological systems, such as organ-on-a-chip devices, dynamic hydrogels, or genetically modified cells, to mimic physiological conditions, study disease mechanisms, screen compounds, or develop cell-based therapies.
Design and engineering of proteins or peptides to directly modulate immune responses, including enhancing antigen presentation, suppressing inflammation, or activating specific immune cell types.
Methods and reagents designed to improve the specificity, efficiency, or yield of nucleic acid capture, ligation, amplification, or library preparation steps, particularly for sequencing applications or quantitative analysis.
Focuses on the mechanical design, articulation, and actuation of hand-held or robotic surgical instruments, including improvements in stapling, cutting, grasping, and tissue manipulation.
Additives or compositions specifically formulated for surface application or modification to impart protective, decorative, or specialized functional properties to polymer products.
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.
Development and application of therapeutic proteins or peptides produced through recombinant DNA technology, including fusion proteins and modified growth factors.
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.
Materials and structures designed for implantation or tissue regeneration, focusing on properties like biodegradability, mechanical strength, cellular integration, and long-term in-vivo stability.
Therapeutic approaches involving the use of living cells, often genetically modified or ex vivo activated, to treat diseases, particularly cancer, by modulating immune responses or replacing damaged cells.
Therapeutic application of electrical signals to nerves or tissues to modulate their activity, often using implantable devices, electrodes, and sophisticated programming for various conditions.
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.
Therapeutic interventions that target immune checkpoint pathways to either enhance or suppress immune responses, often used in cancer immunotherapy or autoimmune diseases.
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.
Design and modification of antibodies or antibody-derived fragments for targeted therapeutic intervention, including bispecific formats, Fc region modifications, and activatable constructs.
Methods and apparatus for disinfecting or sterilizing medical devices, waste, or environments, often employing radiation, chemical agents, or thermal processes, and including monitoring systems.
Therapeutic application of light, typically in the red or near-infrared spectrum, to stimulate cellular function, reduce inflammation, and promote healing, often involving specific wavelengths and irradiance levels.
Techniques utilizing deep learning models like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) or diffusion models to create new images, modify existing ones, or generate synthetic data based on various inputs or conditions.
Processes for creating or manipulating three-dimensional digital representations of objects or environments, including mesh generation, surface fitting, and depth estimation from multiple views.
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.
Hollow-fiber and flat-sheet membranes for blood purification, hemodialysis, hemofiltration, and related extracorporeal therapies.
Patents
Showing 1-9 of 9
Catheter-based Intervention Devices