We enhance our freedom to operate and the potential to develop business by acquiring new intellectual properties according to our business strategy while respecting third party rights and striving to prevent infringement.
Based on its Long-term Vision, BEACON 2030, Nihon Kohden has narrowed down the areas of research and development in which it will invest priority resources and is working hard in those areas to create intellectual property that will give the Company a competitive advantage. We will perform monitoring and assessment of competitors' products and intellectual property to develop IP portfolios through cooperation between the Marketing & Business Development Department, the Technology Development Department, and the Intellectual Property Department. In response to intellectual property risks associated with expanding the business into the global market, we have been strengthening our cooperation with overseas group subsidiaries to mitigate such risks.
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Physiological Measuring Equipment This category includes electroencephalographs (EEG), evoked potential and electromyogram measuring systems, electrocardiographs (ECG), polygraphs for cath lab, diagnostic information systems, related consumables such as recording paper, electrodes and EP catheters, and maintenance services. |
16％ |
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Patient Monitors This category includes patient monitors such as central monitors, bedside monitors, wireless monitors, remote access software and other equipment, clinical information systems, related consumables such as electrodes and sensors, and maintenance services. |
66％ |
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Treatment Equipment This category includes defibrillators, AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators), ventilators, pacemakers, anesthesia machines, cochlear implants, related consumables such as AED pads, batteries, ablation catheters, and maintenance services. |
9％ |
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Other Medical Equipment This category includes hematology analyzers, clinical chemistry analyzers, ultrasound diagnostic equipment and others, consumables such as test reagents, and installation and maintenance services. |
9％ |
In addition to protecting our designs by obtaining design rights, Nihon Kohden has been spreading awareness of our designs through submission of designs to various design awards. We have received the Good Design Awards for eleven consecutive years from FY2013 to FY2023. For further details, please refer to each press release.
<Examples of design awards>
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Good Design Awards (Japan) |
Kids Design Awards (Japan) |
Red Dot Design Award (Germany) |
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Product |
AED-2100 Automated External Defibrillator |
ECG electrode for Children |
AE-120A EEG head set |
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Reion / country of registered design rights |
Japan/US/EU/China/Korea |
Japan |
Japan/China |
Since 2010, Nihon Kohden has held the Annual Patent Forum where inventors of the Company make presentations about their published patent applications and attendees of the Company vote on them. The inventors of the patent with the most votes receive an employee award, and the inventors are invited to give an in-house lecture. We also hold special lectures by patent attorneys for engineers. Through the activities above, we are working on sharing and creating ideas for future technological development as well as improving employees’ awareness of patents.
