After 4-year wait Cohera receives TissuGlu patent
The team at Cohera Medical is celebrating a big number this week: 8,182,647.
It’s the company’s patent number from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office . A number it has waited for since May 2008.
The patent, titled “Hyrdophilic Biodegradable Adhesives,” covers the company’s platform technology that right now is being sold in Europe under the name TissuGlu.
The surgical adhesive, discovered by a pair of University of Pittsburgh scientists, is used in large flap surgeries such as tummy tucks. The adhesive absorbs into the body and can reduce complications following surgery.
The patent covers the current use as well as variations for different products, the company said in a statement.
TissuGlu went on sale in Germany in 2011 and has so far been used in more than 350 procedures. The product is in U.S. clinical trials.
It’s no secret that it takes a long time to get a patent. Earlier this month the head of the patent and trademark office told a Congressional committee that it takes about 34 months.
There is a backlog of 641,000 applications, but that is down from January 2009 when it was 750,000. The backlog in the patent and trademark office has gained attention from lawmakers and last year the president signed the America Invents Act that would overhaul the system.
Date: Wednesday, May 30, 2012, 11:00am EDT
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2012/05/30/after-4-year-wait-cohera-receives.html
