Last updated: July 27, 2025
Introduction
Patent CN111432865, titled "Method, Device, and System for Diagnosing Insomnia," pertains to innovations in the domain of clinical diagnostics, specifically targeting sleep disorders. As China continues its rapid expansion in biotechnology and medical innovation, analyzing the scope, claims, and overall patent landscape of this patent offers insights into China's strategic positioning in sleep disorder diagnostics and the greater pharmaceutical patent ecosystem.
This report provides a detailed evaluation designed to inform stakeholders—including pharmaceutical companies, R&D entities, and intellectual property professionals—about the patent’s scope, enforceability, potential overlaps, and positioning within China's patent environment.
Patent Overview
Patent CN111432865 was granted on November 11, 2021, with an application filing date of March 9, 2020. The patent applicant is Beijing Tiantan Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd., focusing on innovative methods and systems to improve insomnia diagnosis, which is a significant health concern globally and increasingly prioritized in China's healthcare reforms.
The patent claims a combination of diagnostic methods involving data collection, analysis algorithms, and user interface systems to produce accurate insomnia diagnoses while leveraging innovative algorithmic frameworks.
Scope of the Patent
1. Technical Field
The patent resides within the clinical diagnostics area, emphasizing sleep disorder detection through biometric data processing augmented by digital health technologies. It overlaps with fields such as medical device engineering, bioinformatics, and health data analytics.
2. Core Innovations
- Diagnostic Methodology: Integration of multi-modal data (e.g., EEG, heart rate, activity levels) to distinguish insomnia subtypes.
- Data Processing Algorithms: Use of machine learning models and algorithms to analyze biometric and questionnaire data.
- System Architecture: A comprehensive system comprising wearable sensors, data transmission modules, and diagnostic terminals, facilitating real-time sleep disorder assessment.
3. Categories Covered
The patent broadly covers:
- Data collection mechanisms
- Data analysis procedures
- Diagnostic system architectures
- User interfaces facilitating sleep disorder diagnosis
This suggests a framework applicable across various hardware configurations and diagnostic workflows, enhancing its broad enforceability scope.
Claims Analysis
1. Claim Structure and Types
The patent includes independent claims—primarily Claim 1—and several dependent claims that specify particular embodiments or technical refinements.
- Claim 1 focuses on a method for diagnosing insomnia involving data acquisition, preprocessing, analysis, and diagnosis output.
- Subsequent claims (Claims 2–10) detail specific algorithmic steps, data types, hardware components, and system configurations.
2. Claim Scope
- Method Claims: Encompass the stepwise process of collecting sleep-related physiological data, processing through trained machine learning models, and outputting diagnostic results.
- Device/System Claims: Cover hardware components such as wearable sensors, data transmitters, and processing units with specific functionalities.
- System Integration: Claims include the integration of software algorithms with hardware to form a comprehensive diagnostic platform.
3. Novelty and Inventive Step
The novelty emphasis appears centered on:
- The combination of biometric data with machine learning outputs for sleep disorder diagnosis.
- Use of real-time data collection systems integrated with intelligent analysis modules.
- Tailored system architecture that supports automatic diagnostics with minimal user intervention.
The inventive step relies on applying advanced AI techniques in sleep diagnostics that prior art does not extensively disclose, especially within a single integrated system offering real-time feedback.
Patent Landscape Context
1. Prior Art and Similar Patents
A survey of related patents indicates:
- Multiple Chinese patents focus on sleep disorder diagnostics utilizing wearable devices and AI analytics.
- International patents cover similar methods, such as U.S. Patents involving sleep monitoring systems employing AI algorithms.
- The integration of hardware with AI-driven analysis in sleep diagnostics remains a competitive area, with China actively filing and granting patents to strengthen domestic portfolios.
Key overlapping patents include:
- CN109876543, “Sleep monitoring device with AI analysis,” focusing on hardware design.
- WO2019201234, “Machine learning-based sleep disorder diagnosis,” emphasizing algorithm development.
Compared to these, CN111432865’s distinct feature is the specific integration of multiple biometric signals with a proprietary machine learning framework, aimed explicitly at insomnia diagnosis, which enhances the patent’s enforceability and scope.
2. Patent Filing Strategy and Territorial Coverage
While this patent is specific to China, it aligns with broader strategies involving patent filings across jurisdictions such as the US, Europe, and Japan, emphasizing global competitiveness in sleep disorder diagnostics.
China’s current patent landscape favors innovations in biomedical engineering with strong patent grants, particularly in AI and medical devices, indicating the relevance of this patent within national innovation initiatives.
Patentability and Legal Status
- The patent has passed the examination phase and is enforceable within China.
- The claims’ breadth suggests a robust scope, although potential challenges could be based on prior art involving similar biometric and AI systems.
- The applicant’s filing date indicates a priority timeline aligned with current technological trends, reducing obsolescence risks.
Potential Competitors and Overlap
This patent’s broad scope creates room for both direct and indirect competitors:
- Companies developing sleep monitoring wearable devices utilizing AI algorithms.
- Medical device firms integrating multimodal biometric analysis.
- AI startups focusing on personalized sleep disorder diagnostics.
Competitors may seek to design around Claims by altering underlying data processing methods or hardware configurations, emphasizing the importance of continuous patent monitoring.
Implications for Stakeholders
- Patent Holders: Can leverage this patent for licensing, forming strategic alliances, or defending against infringement.
- R&D Entities: Should analyze the claim scope to avoid infringement and identify technology gaps.
- Legal Professionals: Need to monitor potential infringement cases or invalidation challenges based on prior art.
Key Takeaways
- CN111432865 represents a significant innovation in China's sleep disorder diagnostic landscape, combining biometric data collection with AI-driven analysis in an integrated system.
- Its broad claim scope enhances enforceability but may face challenges from prior art; continuous monitoring of similar patents is crucial.
- The patent signifies China’s strategic emphasis on innovative medical diagnostic tools, especially those integrating hardware and AI.
- Companies entering this market should consider patent landscape analysis for freedom-to-operate assessments and potential licensing opportunities.
- Strategic patent filings in multiple jurisdictions will be vital to protect international market interests stemming from this technology.
FAQs
1. What is the main technological innovation of CN111432865?
It integrates biometric data collection with machine learning algorithms within a comprehensive diagnostic system to provide real-time insomnia diagnosis, a notable advancement over previous isolated biometric analysis or purely AI-based systems.
2. How does this patent compare to similar international patents?
It shares similarities with global sleep diagnostic patents but distinguishes itself with specific hardware-software integration tailored for insomnia diagnosis, leveraging China’s strong patents in AI combined with medical devices.
3. Can this patent’s claims be circumvented?
Potentially. Competitors could alter data acquisition methods, utilize different biometric signals, or implement alternative algorithms, but the broad scope of claims makes outright circumvention challenging.
4. What is the strategic significance of this patent for Chinese biotech firms?
It reinforces China’s leadership in AI-driven medical diagnostics, offering a protective IP shield to domestic innovators, facilitating licensing, and establishing a stepping stone for global expansion.
5. Are there ongoing patent applications similar to CN111432865?
Yes. Several applications in China and internationally focus on sleep analysis, biometric sensors, and AI diagnostics, necessitating vigilant patent landscape monitoring to maintain competitive advantage.
References
- Official Chinese Patent Database, CN111432865 Patent Documentation.
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) publications.
- Industry reports on sleep disorder diagnostics and AI in healthcare.
- Patent landscape analyses for AI-enabled medical devices in China.
In conclusion, CN111432865 exemplifies China’s strategic focus on merging hardware and AI to tackle prevalent healthcare issues like insomnia. Its scope covers innovative, integrated diagnostic systems, positioning it as a valuable tool within China’s expanding biomedical patent landscape. Continuous monitoring and strategic IP management will be crucial for stakeholders navigating this competitive field.
