title: [Cluster analysis on authorized patents of compound traditional Chinese medicines with different efficacy in 2010].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the authorized patent of compound traditional Chinese medicines with different efficacy in 2010, in order to provide reference for R&D of relevant compounds and patent protection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literatures for patents of compound traditional Chinese medicines were searched to screen relevant data and create a sample space. The samples were classified by hierarchical cluster procedures and iterative partitioning procedures using "authorized percentage" and "authorized time interval" as variable quantities. The comprehensive results generated by the two clustering methods were used to draw a conclusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The samples were classified into four groups by clustering methods, each has significant difference in authorized patents' number and authorized time interval with others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among compounds showing therapeutic advantage of traditional Chinese medicines, patents with short authorization period and in less number can be given most attention for patent application. Those with longer authorization period and in less number can be given more attention. While those with shorter authorization period and in large number can also be given attention for information guidance for traditional Chinese medicine science and technology and commercialization of patent achievements.
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Materia Medica, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050091, China. medicalhistory@sina.com
authors.forename: Xujie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shiying
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Zan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002681:China; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004358:Drug Therapy; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000592:standards*; D010330:Patents as Topic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal