Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2013 Jul;24(7):931-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jvir.2013.03.033.
To investigate the nature of inventiveness among members of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) and learn what influenced the inventors and assisted their creativity.
The membership directory of the SIR was cross-referenced with filings at the United States Patent and Trademark Organization (USPTO) and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). The inventors were queried with an online survey to illuminate their institutions of training and practice as well as enabling or inhibiting factors to their inventiveness. Responses were analyzed through the construction of social network maps and thematic and graphical analysis.
It was found that 457 members of the SIR held 2,492 patents or patent filings. After 1986, there was a marked and sustained increase in patent filings. The online survey was completed by 73 inventors holding 470 patents and patent filings. The social network maps show the key role of large academic interventional radiology departments and individual inventors in the formation of interconnectivity among inventors and the creation of the intellectual property (IP). Key inhibitors of the inventive process include lack of mentorship, of industry contacts, and of legal advice. Key enablers include mentorship, motivation, and industry contacts.
Creativity and inventiveness in SIR members stem from institutions that are hubs of innovation and networks of key innovators; inventors are facilitated by personal motivation, mentorship, and strong industry contacts.
调查介入放射学学会（SIR）成员的创造力本质，并了解是什么影响了发明家，以及是什么帮助他们发挥创造力。
SIR 的会员名录与美国专利商标局（USPTO）和专利合作条约（PCT）的备案进行了交叉参考。通过在线调查询问发明家，以阐明他们的培训和实践机构，以及对他们创造力的有利或不利因素。通过构建社交网络图以及进行主题和图形分析来对回复进行分析。
发现 SIR 的 457 名成员拥有 2492 项专利或专利申请。1986 年后，专利申请数量明显且持续增加。73 名拥有 470 项专利和专利申请的发明家完成了在线调查。社交网络图显示了大型学术介入放射学部门和个别发明家在发明家之间的相互联系形成和知识产权（IP）创造中的关键作用。发明过程的主要抑制因素包括缺乏指导、缺乏行业联系和缺乏法律建议。主要促进因素包括指导、激励和行业联系。
SIR 成员的创造力和发明能力源于创新中心的机构和关键创新者的网络；个人的动力、指导和强大的行业联系为发明家提供了便利。
