Yesterday, the PTO issued U.S. Patent No. 8,000,000. The Patent for “Visual Prosthesis” was issued to Second Sight Medical Products of Sylmar, California. The application was originally filed in October 2007 and relates to a visual prosthesis to provide neural stimulation for the creation of artificial vision.
LOOKING BACK
The current system of numbering patents began in 1836. Prior to that 9,957 patents had been issued. Here’s a look back at some milestone patents.
7,000,000
U.S. Patent No. 7,000,000 was issued Feb. 14, 2006 to E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., entitled “Polysaccharide Fibers.”
6,000,000
U.S. Patent No. 6,000,000 was issued Dec. 7, 1999 to 3Com Corp. of Santa Clara, California, entitled “Extendible Method and Apparatus for Synchronizing Multiple Files on Two Different Computer Systems.”
5,000,000
U.S. Patent No. 5,000,000 was issued Mar. 19, 1991 to the University of Florida, entitled “Ethanol Production by Escherichia Coli Strains Co-Expressing as Zymomanus PDC and ADH Genes.”
4,000,000
U.S. Patent No. 4,000,000 was issued Dec. 28, 1976 to Robert L. Mendenhall of Las Vegas, entitled “Process for Recycling Asphalt Aggregate Compositions.”
3,000,000
U.S. Patent No. 3,000,000 was issued Sept. 12, 1961 to General Electric Co., entitled “Automatic Reading System.”
2,000,000
U.S. Patent No. 2,000,000 was issued Apr. 30, 1935 to Edward G. Budd Mfg. Co. of Philadelphia, entitled “Vehicle Wheel Construction.”
1,000,000
U.S. Patent No. 1,000,000 was issued Aug. 8, 1911 to Francis H. Holton of Akron, Ohio entitled “Vehicle Tire.”
500,000
U.S. Patent No. 500,000 was issued June 20, 1893 to Edward S. Hyde of Dubuque, Iowa entitled “Combined Flush Tank and Manhole.”
100,000
U.S. Patent No. 100,000 was issued Feb. 22, 1870 to John Anderson of Brooklyn, New York entitled “Improved Sun-Bonnet for Horses.”
10,000
U.S. Patent No. 10,000 was issued Sept. 6, 1853 to Benjamin Irving of Green Point, New York entitled “Improved Paddle-Wheel.”
1,000
U.S. Patent No. 1,000 was issued Nov. 3, 1838 to Fowler M. May of Catskill, New York entitled “Spring for Railroad Cars.”
10
U.S. Patent No. 10 was issued Aug. 10, 1836 to Bariah Swift entitled “Dye-Wood and Dyestuff Cutting and Shaving Machine.”
1
U.S. Patent No. 1 was issued July 13, 1836 to John Ruggles of Thomaston, Maine entitled “Locomotive Steam-Engine for Rail and Other Roads.”
LOOKING AHEAD
When will the PTO issue Patent No. 9,000,000? 10,000,000?
| Patent No. | Days |
| 1 | |
| 1,000,000 | 27,418 |
| 2,000,000 | 8,666 |
| 3,000,000 | 9,632 |
| 4,000,000 | 5,586 |
| 5,000,000 | 5,194 |
| 6,000,000 | 3,185 |
| 7,000,000 | 2,261 |
| 8,000,000 | 2,009 |
As seen in the chart above, the PTO is issuing patents much more quickly now than it has in the past. No. 8,000,000 can only 5 1/2 years after 7,000,000. If the rate continues to increase, we could see U.S. Patent No. 9,000,000 before the end of 2016 and 10,000,000 in early 2021.
