Patents are important assets that are necessary to protect technological innovations and to prevent others from making or selling patent-protected products. The strategies for obtaining and maintaining patent protection vary considerably among different companies depending on their size, their geographic location, and their technology. Patent protection can be especially important for companies that are already involved in, or contemplated entering, the robotic surgery market. The proliferation of neural networks and artificial intelligence systems coupled with advancements in electronics, image processing, and micro mechanical systems provide fertile ground for new and innovative surgical robots and associated devices and services. These will be accompanied by patent filings and will inevitably lead to patent disputes. This chapter provides an overview of patent protection strategies and nuances while highlighting robotic surgery patents – past, present, and future.

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