Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates, 225 Baldwin Avenue, Charlotte, NC, 28204, USA.
Spinefirst, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, 28203, USA.
Spine Deform. 2024 Jan;12(1):25-33. doi: 10.1007/s43390-023-00767-x. Epub 2023 Oct 16.
Bibliometric analyses have gained popularity for studying scientific literature, but their application to evaluate technological literature (patents) remains unexplored. We conducted a bibliometric analysis on the top 100 most-cited patents in scoliosis surgery.
Multiple databases were queried using The Lens to identify the top 100 scoliosis surgery patents, which were selected based on forward patent citations. These patents were then categorized into 8 groups based on technological descriptors and assessed based on various factors including earliest priority date, year issued, and expiration status.
The top 100 most-cited patents included technology underlying anterolateral tethering and distraction systems (n = 11), posterior tethering and distraction systems (n = 23), posterior segmental bone anchor and rod engagement systems (n = 29), interbody devices (n = 10), biological and electrophysiological agents for scoliosis treatment and/or improved arthrodesis (n = 8), intraoperative arthroplasty devices (n = 5), orthotic devices (n = 12), and implantable devices for non-invasive, postoperative alterations of skeletal alignment (n = 2). Seventy-five patents were expired, 21 are still active, and 4 were listed as inactive. The late 1970s and early 2000s saw increased numbers of patent filings. Demonstrated trends showed no meaningful correlation between patent rank and earliest priority date (linear trendline y = 0.2648x - 477.27; R = 0.0114), while a very strong correlation was found between patent rank and citations per year (power trendline y = 118.82x; R = 0.8983).
Patent bibliometric analyses in the field of spinal deformity surgery provide a means to assess past advancements, better understand what it takes to make a difference in the field, and to potentially facilitate the development of innovative technologies in the future. The method described is a reliable and reproducible technique for evaluating technological literature in our field.
文献计量分析已广泛应用于研究科学文献，但将其应用于评估技术文献（专利）的研究仍有待探索。我们对脊柱侧凸手术中引用次数最多的前 100 个专利进行了文献计量分析。
利用 The Lens 在多个数据库中查询，确定脊柱侧凸手术前 100 个最具影响力的专利，这些专利是根据前向专利引文选择的。然后，根据技术描述符将这些专利分为 8 组，并根据最早优先权日期、发布年份和到期状态等各种因素进行评估。
前 100 个最具影响力的专利包括前外侧固定和牵开系统的技术（n=11）、后路固定和牵开系统（n=23）、后路节段性骨锚和棒结合系统（n=29）、椎间融合装置（n=10）、用于脊柱侧凸治疗和/或改善融合的生物和电生理制剂（n=8）、术中关节置换装置（n=5）、矫形装置（n=12）和用于非侵入性、术后骨骼对线调整的植入装置（n=2）。75 项专利已过期，21 项仍在使用中，4 项被列为无效。20 世纪 70 年代末和 21 世纪初专利申请数量增加。专利等级与最早优先权日期之间的趋势显示无明显相关性（线性趋势线 y=0.2648x-477.27；R=0.0114），而专利等级与每年的引用次数之间则存在很强的相关性（幂趋势线 y=118.82x；R=0.8983）。
脊柱侧凸外科领域的专利文献计量分析为评估过去的进展提供了一种手段，使我们更好地了解在该领域取得突破所需的条件，并有可能促进未来创新技术的发展。所描述的方法是评估我们领域技术文献的可靠且可重复的技术。
