A Review of the Intellectual Property Rights in the Field of Wearable Sensors and Systems

Wearable Biomedical Systems (WBS) integrate a complexity of components and technologies which are all crucial even though, sometimes, extremely simple: sensors, actuators, materials, data communication, power control units, user interfaces, new algorithms for signal processing, mechanical components, washability, characteristics and stability of the sensors and their placement on the body. Moreover those factors could change according to the activities or actions monitored and anthropometric characteristics of subjects. It’s worth noting that is a very high number of features but each essential for the proper functioning of the entire system (without discussing the ethical and legal aspects of measuring and process sensitive personal data). From here we can identify many strategic areas for the development of WBS. In order to correctly address the research, especially the industrial one and its potential exploitation, it is fundamental a rigorous analysis of the state of the art both scientific and especially about the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and related issues. In this context, in recent years the result of innovations supported by the international research has primarily focused on IPR issues about textile sensors and electronic systems. This chapter offers an overview of this knowledge.