Abstracting Conventions


The abstract portion of the Full Record provides a description of the invention, CRADA or biological material transfer. As much information as is available is provided, and abstracting is both descriptive and indicative. Invention abstracts, and particularlythe first sentence, are written to broadly describe and indicate the nature and potential utility of the invention (often in terms broader than the official claims). Abstracts provide detailed technical information, interpret potential uses, and explain the invention/collaboration and its commercial relevance.

Some frequently and consistently used terms (also used for subject indexing), such as treatments, immunodiagnostics, genes, expression and others, are used in a broad or generic sense. For example, "treatment" is used to encompass therapeutics (drugs and biologics) and therapy, "immunodiagnostics" refers to any use of an antibody or antigen to detect a corresponding antigen or antibody, and "gene" refers to cloned and isolated genes and gene sequences. See the Subject Index Users Guide for further information about standardized vocabulary used in indexing and abstracts.

Where available, licenses granted and commercialization activities are described, including any available information about clinical trials and products in development or on the market. Where companies are involved, subsidiary/parent company relationships, location, corporate partners and other information are often provided. Information about the status of related or competing technologies (not necessarily involving federal licensees or CRADA collaborators) may also be provided. Cross-references in the form of "see" or "see also" followed by Patent/CRADA or Accession Numbers provide referrals to related entries. Cross-references are provided within the text of the Full Record abstract. The use of "see" generally indicates records that should be examined to fully understand that entry, while "see also" references generally provide further or related information and may not need to be examined. Cross-references are provided for a number of reasons including: referrals to entries with further information concerning the same technology; references between patent continuations and divisions; inventions included in the same licensing packages; and entries involving the same or related technology or utility.