A patent analysis of laser innovations in dermatologic applications

Summary: Abstract Body: Laser technology has become pivotal in dermatology, with widespread applications in both medical and cosmetic treatments. However, the distribution of innovations and advancements across these areas remains insufficiently explored. This retrospective aims to offering insight into the technological trends shaping the field. Utilizing the Lens platform, granted medical-use patents that included terms “laser” and “derm*” in their titles, abstracts, or claims were identified. The top 100 most cited patents were identified and ranked by citation number then categorized into: “Cosmetic Applications,” “Laser Components and Materials,” “Laser System Architecture,” and “Treatment of Dermatological Conditions.” The top 100 cited laser dermatology patents ranged from 1983 to 2012 with 17% average growth in granted patents over five-year intervals. “Laser System Design” emerged as the largest category (n=33) followed by “Cosmetic Applications” (n=26), “Laser Components and Material” (n=24), and “Treatment of Dermatological Conditions” (n=17). When stratified by quintiles based on citation rank, “Laser Components and Materials” were the most prevalent among the top quintile (n=7). Although the smallest category overall, “Treatment of Dermatological Conditions" ranked second in the top quintile (n=6). Among the bottom quintile, “Cosmetic Applications” were the most prevalent (n=9). “Laser System Architecture” patents are the most prevalent, serving as a foundation for innovation in areas like “Treatment of Dermatological Conditions” and “Cosmetic Applications.” While patents for “Treatment of Dermatological Conditions” are the most frequently cited, highlighting their significant clinical impact, “Cosmetic Applications,” despite their larger volume, exhibit fewer citations, suggesting a comparatively lower influence in the field. Omar Alani¹, Dev Patel¹, Dany Alkurdi¹, Shiven Sharma¹, Diya Patel³, S. Minhaj Rahman², Hassan Hamade¹ 1. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States. 2. University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States. 3. Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States. Translational Studies: Preclinical