Medtech Innovation Related To Patent Activity

I’ve talked with many people and blogged a few times (1, 2, 3, 4) about life science / medical device / biotech / medtech / [insert your favorite term] hot spots. This article from MX discusses the link between patent activity and medtech innovation.

Many of the medtech industry’s largest companies play significant roles in developing and supporting centers of innovation, both within the United States and abroad. But universities, incubators, government agencies, and start-up companies also play measurable roles in defining the innovation capacity of a particular region. 

Patent activity is one of the best formal measures of innovation. 

The U.S. is still leading the world in medtech patent activity and innovation. It’s interesting to look at which regions within the U.S. are leading the way on this front. Here are the top 10:

1. Minneapolis–St.Paul–Bloomington, MN; WI
2. Los Angeles–Long Beach–Santa Ana, CA
3. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA
4. San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA
5. Boston–Cambridge–Quincy, MA; NH
6. New York–Northern New Jersey–Long Island, NY; NJ–PA
7. San Diego–Carlsbad–San Marcos, CA
8. Chicago–Naperville–Joliet, IL; IN–WI
9. Miami–Ft. Lauderdale–Miami Beach, FL
10. Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WA

Note that 4 of the top 10 regions most active in medtech patent activities are located in California. Does this mean that these are also the top 10 medtech hot spots in the U.S.?