In May of this year, the USPTO announced a 'COVID-19 Prioritized Examination Pilot Program’ for new applications associated with treatment, diagnosis or otherwise related to COVID-19. The goal is to advance the examination of these patent applications to move them through the system quickly to prevent any delays in the funding and commercialization of products related to COVID-19.
We are now starting to see the first applications making their way through this program, and the results are truly shocking. Take US Patent 10,775,560, which was announced in the Sept. 15th Official Gazette for Patents. This invention, by Austin, TX company Scidatek, uses optical waveguide technology to isolate organic compounds, including the COVID-19 virus, and destroys the cells through a process of photocatalysis. They specifically claim use of this technology in an airflow filtration system to isolate and destroy active virus cells. The invention itself is quite interesting, and I hope they can quickly commercialize their technology. But I’m also interested in their use of the new COVID-19 Prioritized Examination program. Look at how quickly their application went through the USPTO.
The application was filed on July 2, 2020, and received a filing receipt on July 15, 2020. The application received a Notice of Allowance on August 6, 2020. The patent formally issued on September 15, 2020.
That’s right, 35 days from filing the application to receiving a Notice of Allowance. Don't worry, I double checked all the dates since I couldn't quite believe it. In some Art Units, 35 months is a fast turn-around. So 35 days is simply shocking.
If you have inventions related to COVID-19, use the new prioritized examination program. It could be a 10x improvement in your examination time and get you in front of investors and manufacturers with a granted patent in month or two.
You can find more information here: https://www.uspto.gov/initiatives/covid-19-prioritized-examination-pilot