March 1, 2018

As rehabilitation robotics and prosthetics are increasingly able to sense and “think,” they are, in turn, increasingly able to interact directly with humans — sensing environmental and neural signals and instigating natural movements in response. Such robotic devices involve a confluence of various cutting-edge technologies and are often the fruit of collaborative development efforts. As such, researchers and institutions working in this space may find themselves touching upon many aspects of intellectual property law as they seek to protect and commercialize their efforts.

This article explores trends in rehabilitation robotics and prosthetics by providing examples of research and development efforts. The article reviews different ways in which innovations may be protected as research and development efforts progress and highlights intellectual property considerations relevant to collaborative work.