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U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Issues its 8 Millionth Patent

Submitted on August 16, 2011 - 12:45pm
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The USPTO issued patent number 8,000,000 to Second Sight Medical Products, Inc., for a visual prosthesis apparatus that enhances visual perception for people who have gone blind due to outer retinal degeneration. The invention uses electrical stimulation of the retina to produce the visual perception of patterns of light.

Today the USPTO issued its 8 millionth patent to Second Sight Medical Products, Inc., a California-based company founded in 1998, for a visual prosthesis apparatus that enhances visual perception for people who have gone blind due to outer retinal degeneration. The invention uses electrical stimulation of the retina to produce the visual perception of patterns of light. The now patented Argus® II is currently in U.S. clinical trials and has received marketing approval in Europe.  

It took 75 years to get to patent 1 million in August 1911, yet just six years to get from patent 7 million to today’s 8 millionth patent.

“This kind of innovation is a driver of our nation’s economic growth and job creation,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO David Kappos. “The USPTO plays a major role in serving America’s innovators by granting the intellectual property rights they need to secure investment capital, build companies and bring their products and services to the global marketplace.”

The signing and presentation of the 8 millionth patent by Director Kappos will take place at the Smithsonian American Art Museum on Sept. 8, 2011.

Read the full press release for more information on the 8 millionth patent.

Interested in the previous patent milestones? Here's more information on patent milestones at the USPTO.

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Not "8 Millionth Patent"...

Submitted on August 16, 2011 - 3:29pm.

Not "8 Millionth Patent"...patents were issued before U.S. started numbering them. Although Patent No. 1 was issued to John Ruggles on July 13, 1836, the very FIRST U.S. patent was issued to Samuel Hopkins on July 31, 1790.

Fair Enough

Submitted on August 16, 2011 - 7:24pm.

8 millionth since we stared keeping track.

Still a cool patent, don't you think?

number

Submitted on August 22, 2011 - 2:16pm.

its patent number 8 million. not the 8 millionth patent.

id expect this kind of story from a junior examiner, not from the DOC website....