Nurse Inventors

1BlessedRN · May 16, 2009

Hi, I think there are plenty nurses out there with "brilliant ideas" we just don't know how to get our ideas off the ground...I would like to patent some type of OTC med created by a nurse similar to the "AIRBORNE" fiasco but without all the lawsuits hype...

allnurses Guide · May 16, 2009

I have a couple of patents from when I worked at a medical device company and designed some components. I was more the overall ideas woman, and then the engineers made it happen. Still goes under my name though!

1BlessedRN · May 16, 2009

I have a couple of patents from when I worked at a medical device company and designed some components. I was more the overall ideas woman, and then the engineers made it happen. Still goes under my name though!

that is great!!!

Question how would one get started...your response is appreciated...

Platypus · May 17, 2009

Good question! I have some great ideas and don't know where to start either. I surely don't want someone to take my idea without compensating me. Given away enough ideas with no credit. It used to not matter, but now that I am older and need something extraordinary to put on my resume, there is no proof that those ideas came from me.

lanideleon · May 27, 2009

I have 2 ideas but i dont know where to go or what to do to have those ideas come true. One time , I submitted an idea to an invention company, at the end , they were asking me 8k to get it done. Now, because they know my idea, they did it as if they were the one that invented it. So now i dont even share my ideas to anyone thinking that they will do the same.

Platypus · May 31, 2009

Lani - that is what I am afraid of might happen! Its a shame because they know you don't have $8000 laying around, probably think you don't have enough to sue them for taking your idea...especially when you didn't bother to patent it. I wonder how many brilliant ideas have been held back because of people being afraid of being taken advantage of. I wonder, if you are a nurse if a hospital liked your idea if they would sponser it getting developed if their name was connected to it? Might have to work at a teaching or research hospital for that to happen though. I know there must be some hospitals that try to motivate nursing innovation.

lanideleon · May 31, 2009

Lani - that is what I am afraid of might happen! Its a shame because they know you don't have $8000 laying around, probably think you don't have enough to sue them for taking your idea...especially when you didn't bother to patent it. I wonder how many brilliant ideas have been held back because of people being afraid of being taken advantage of. I wonder, if you are a nurse if a hospital liked your idea if they would sponser it getting developed if their name was connected to it? Might have to work at a teaching or research hospital for that to happen though. I know there must be some hospitals that try to motivate nursing innovation.

Hi, thanks for replying. Thats a very good suggestion, but I dont work in a teaching hospital anymore.

allnurses Guide · Jun 19, 2009

My stuff was developed while working at the device company, so they "own" the technology. However their patent attorney also submitted the patent applications in the names of the people who obtained them.

If you work independently and have ideas, the first move would be to get something on paper describing it (doesn't have to be fancy) then go to a patent lawyer.

Here's some info: http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/howtopat.htm

RN Randy · Jul 3, 2009

Get on the net or anywhere really, and find yourself a "non-disclosure agreement" form, and DO NOT EVER EVER EVER...even hint at your ideas to anyone that hasn't signed on the line. Then pray they steal your idea... LOL...

Seriously, the guy with the submitted paperwork is the guy that gets credit, period.

Also, I hear invention companies are mostly scams... they end up with the majority of the money and credit for "making it happen", as posted above.

lindarn · Jul 4, 2009

I am not a "nurse inventor", but I share your concerns about having my idea stolen and someone else taking the credit (and $$$), from MY idea or invention.

This is called a "back door" copyright".

Type up you idea (or story, writing), in as much detail as you can.

Then put it in an envelope and mail it back to yourself, and when you get it back in the mail, (this is the most important!), leave the letter UNOPENED!. It now has a legal date stamp courtesy of the Post Office. Put it in a safe place.

You then have legal proof that it WAS your idea, (or Intellectual Property), and can prove it.

You might want to contact an attorney who specializes in copyrights, and get some legal advice. In the meantime, the letter should prove your ownership in the short term. Hope that helps.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

Platypus · Jul 8, 2009

i found this kind of cool site and thought i would mention it to my fellow nurse idea-generators! if you have a business idea, you can post it to this site. you can get comments and votes and each month they invest $10,000 in the winning idea to help develop it. if you are afraid of someone seeing and taking this idea, may not be the site you want to post on, however at least you can get some feedback.

www.ideablob.com

i am still looking for stuff about how to get product ideas to pay. i wonder if you can present your idea to a company that manufactures a similar product while having them sign a non-disclosure agreement.

lisa