This analysis has been done by considering the Filing Year of the Total US patents filed by the Inventors of Ohio State of the US, ranging from year 2017 to 2024. We have taken into account the addresses of Inventors from Ohio obtained from the patents application data sourced from USPTO database.
In the last 7 years (2017 – 2024), a total number of 45002 (Excluding PCT’s) patents were filed by the Ohio inventors at the USPTO, highlighting the state’s growing innovation trend. Also 2747 PCT’s were filed during this time period.
Here’s some trivia for you:
When talking about Ohio’s innovations, it’s worth noting that the state has its own Hall of Fame dedicated to local inventors who have made significant contributions across various industries through their patents.
Also, Ohio consistently ranks among the top 10 U.S. states for patent filings, showcasing its strong culture of innovation.
California, Massachusetts, Washington, Colorado and Texas are the other innovation hot spots that are spread across the country.
Do read about some interesting highlights on Illinois Patent Statistics, North Carolina Patent Statistics, Florida Patents Statistics & California Patent Statistics.
If we talk about the key Ohio Patent Inventors, Frederick E Shelton, Jason L Harris and Bor Z Jang hold the top 3 spots. Continue reading the article to learn more about which businesses are engaged in the Ohio State, how many patents the Ohio Inventors have filed over time, who are the top patent inventors, which companies have they been associated with, the Ohio institutions that have filed the most patents, and more.
Type of Patent Applications
The chart below provides a breakdown of the types of patent applications filed in Ohio between 2017 and 2024.
The utility & PCT filings represent approximately 84% & 6% respectively of the total patent filings while design patents account for 10% of the total patent filings.
How many patents did the Inventors of Ohio file every year?
Are you wondering why there is a drop in patent filing for the last two years? It is because a patent application can take up to 18 months to get published. Certainly, it doesn’t suggest a decrease in the patent filing.
Who are the key Inventors from the Ohio State?
Frederick E Shelton IV, from Hillsboro, OH, is a prolific inventor with 1,935 patents specialising in surgical image acquisition and visualization. His innovations, like systems for characterizing tissue irregularities and surgical visualization, have revolutionized surgical procedures. Working with Ethicon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, Shelton has significantly advanced the medical device industry. His collaborations with colleagues like Jason L Harris and Jerome R Morgan have led to numerous successful projects.
Jason L Harris, a prolific inventor with over 1,111 patents, has revolutionized surgical instruments through innovative, less invasive designs that enhance patient outcomes. Based in Lebanon, Ohio, he has developed groundbreaking technologies, including precision surgical stapling anvils and instruments with integrated displays. Collaborating with industry leaders like Ethicon and Cilag International GmbH, Harris combines expertise in medical device innovation, IP strategy, and early-stage discovery to advance surgical practices and set new benchmarks in the field.
Bor Z Jang, based in Centerville, OH, is a renowned materials scientist and prolific inventor with 416 patents to his name. His groundbreaking work on dark-color polymer composite films and graphene sheet production has revolutionized the materials science landscape. As a key figure at Nanotek Instruments, Inc. and the Global Graphene Group, Inc., Jang has translated his innovative ideas into practical applications, advancing industries ranging from electronics to sustainable energy. His collaborations with esteemed peers like Aruna Zhamu have further solidified his legacy as a pioneer in graphene research and materials innovation.
List of Top 50 Inventors from Ohio
| Inventor | Gender | Patents |
| Frederick E Shelton | Male | 1935 |
| Jason L Harris | Male | 1111 |
| Bor Z Jang | Male | 416 |
| David C Yates | Male | 355 |
| Aruna Zhamu | Female | 305 |
| Jerome R Morgan | Male | 289 |
| Gregory J Bakos | Male | 287 |
| Chester O Baxter | Male | 268 |
| Charles J Scheib | Male | 264 |
| Michael J Vendely | Male | 228 |
| Gregory J Holland | Male | 211 |
| Jeffrey S Swayze | Male | 198 |
| Shane R Adams | Male | 189 |
| Kevin M Fiebig | Male | 179 |
| Jeffrey D Messerly | Male | 156 |
| Brandon W Miller | Male | 144 |
| Jonathan Lewis Nook | Male | 139 |
| Mark Robert Sivik | Male | 137 |
| Taylor W Aronhalt | Male | 136 |
| Matthew A Silverman | Male | 135 |
| Nicholas J Kray | Male | 133 |
| Kevin L Houser | Male | 130 |
| Mark D Overmyer | Male | 128 |
| Chad P Boudreaux | Male | 125 |
| Ken Alibek | Male | 120 |
| Gary D LaVon | Male | 115 |
| Uwe Schneider | Male | 112 |
| Gregory S Miracle | Male | 111 |
| Michael A Benjamin | Male | 109 |
| Paul D Trokhan | Male | 106 |
| Jeffrey G Sheehan | Male | 104 |
| Mark S Zeiner | Male | 103 |
| Aaron D Goodman | Male | 102 |
| William B Weisenburgh | Male | 98 |
| William Knight Nook | Male | 95 |
| Richard L Leimbach | Male | 90 |
| Paul Albert Sagel | Male | 89 |
| William Henniger | Male | 89 |
| Andrew J Sherman | Male | 88 |
| Kelyn Anne Arora | Female | 86 |
| Gregory T Garay | Male | 86 |
| Donald C Roe | Male | 84 |
| Hui He | Female | 80 |
| Stephen A Boxwell | Male | 80 |
| Stanley J Vernier | Male | 80 |
| Jeffrey D Rambo | Male | 80 |
| Anant Madabhushi | Male | 79 |
| Michael J Stokes | Male | 78 |
| Michael C Lambertson | Male | 77 |
| Paul T Weisman | Male | 77 |
Out of the 50 inventors listed, 45 are male, and 5 are female.
- Aruna Zhamu is the highest-ranked female inventor, with 305 patents, placing her 5th overall. Dr. Aruna Zhamu is a trailblazing scientist and inventor, recognized as the top female scientist in the U.S. for graphene-related patents and the second globally. As a co-founder of the Global Graphene Group (G3), she plays a pivotal role as the President of Honeycomb Battery Company and Vice President of New Product/Process Development. With a Ph.D. from Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics, Dr. Zhamu has driven innovations in graphene thermal films, advanced battery components, and supercapacitors, solidifying her impact on cutting-edge materials science. She is also a passionate advocate for women in STEM, inspiring confidence and leadership in future generations.
Companies associated with the Ohio Inventors
Ohio’s innovation ecosystem is diverse and robust, with significant contributions across healthcare, automotive, materials science, and digital technologies.
Top 50 Companies filing patents with Ohio Inventors
| Company | Patents |
| P&G | 3448 |
| General Electric | 2535 |
| Cilag Gmbh | 1565 |
| Ethicon | 1480 |
| Honda Motor | 741 |
| Goodyear Tire Rubber | 597 |
| Bridgestone | 534 |
| Rockwell Automation Technologies | 457 |
| Schaeffler Group | 392 |
| Goodrich Corporation | 361 |
| Lubrizol | 319 |
| IBM | 281 |
| Lincoln Global Inc | 271 |
| Cisco | 263 |
| Nanotek Instruments | 262 |
| Owensbrockway Glass Container Inc | 243 |
| Monsanto Technology Llc | 240 |
| Gojo Industries Inc | 238 |
| Owens Corning | 230 |
| Jpmorgan Chase Bank Na | 228 |
| Spectrum Diversified Designs Llc | 219 |
| Emerson Electric | 218 |
| Coulter Ventures Llc | 216 |
| Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems Llc | 211 |
| Hillrom Services Inc | 203 |
| Aptiv Technologies Limited | 170 |
| Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group Llc | 155 |
| Noco Company | 146 |
| Global Graphene Group Inc | 139 |
| Crown Equipment Corporation | 135 |
| Devicor Medical Products Inc | 133 |
| Illinois Tool Works Inc | 130 |
| Abbott Laboratories | 126 |
| Ford Global Technologies Llc | 124 |
| Parker Hannifin | 122 |
| Interdesign Inc | 121 |
| Mtd Products Inc | 121 |
| Honeywell International Inc | 120 |
| Philips | 119 |
| Swimc Llc | 109 |
| Swagelok Company | 107 |
| American Sterilizer Company | 106 |
| Diebold Nixdorf | 105 |
| American Greetings Corporation | 97 |
| Bank Of America Corporation | 97 |
| Regal Beloit America Inc | 96 |
| Unison Industries Llc | 95 |
| Vitamix Management Corporation | 93 |
| Dana Automotive Systems Group Llc | 92 |
| Sherwin-Williams | 88 |
The patent filings spotlight a clear trend: the Consumer Goods and Healthcare sectors are the powerhouses of innovation in Ohio. Impressively, 6 of the top 10 companies driving this innovation, including P&G, Ethicon, and Cilag GmbH, have a strong presence or headquarters rooted in the state, showcasing Ohio’s pivotal role in shaping advancements in these industries.
Note: The companies featured in this list have affiliations with Inventors who are residents of Ohio.
Inventor Patent Filing Ratios in the last 7 Years (2017 – 2024)
Note: The analysis of patenting by gender is based on the information available at USPTO. The gender of inventors is determined using the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) World Gender-Name Standards Dictionary (WGND) 2.0. Fractional counting of inventors is used, with the credit for each patent divided equally between the inventors.
Patent filing trend of Female Inventors of Ohio in the last 7 years
The trend of female inventors in Ohio’s patent filings shows steady participation around 28%-29% from 2017 to 2021, peaking at 30.99% in 2022, reflecting progress in gender diversity.
However, 2023 saw a sharp drop to 24.11%, alongside a significant decline in total patent filings, which fell from 2,363 in 2017 to just 231 in 2023.
This highlights both achievements in female representation and challenges in sustaining growth, emphasizing the need for continued efforts to support women in innovation, especially as projections indicate gradual improvement in the coming years.
Patent Filing Patterns for Women Inventors in Ohio
Key Female Inventors from Ohio State of US
| Inventors | Patents | Currently Associated |
| Aruna Zhamu | 275 | Global Graphene Group |
| Johnson Amy J | 219 | Vincerx Pharma |
| Kelyn Anne Arora | 77 | P&G |
| Megan Dittrich | 70 | Fiskars Group |
| Hui He | 69 | Honeycomb Battery |
| Courtney Wilson | 65 | The HC Companies |
| Emily A Schellin | 65 | Ethicon |
| Gail Besner | 64 | Nationwide Children’s Hospital |
| Lauren O Bakaletz | 57 | Nationwide Children’s Hospital |
| Tamara Widenhouse | 55 | Johnson & Johnson |
| Xi Yang | 54 | ASML |
| Jena Moseman | 52 | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
| Young Shin Kim | 51 | Ticona Llc |
| Casey Slane | 50 | Goodrich Corp |
| Billi Duran Sharon | 48 | Rockwell Automation |
| Aarohi Thakkar | 45 | Nationwide Children’s Hospital |
| Thompson Mary Kathryn | 43 | Baker Hughes |
| Sarah A Worthington | 42 | Ethicon |
| Chen Li Yu | 42 | Nationwide Children’s Hospital |
| Nguyen Huong Thi Thanh | 42 | Case Western Reserve University |
| Zhao Jean Jianqun | 42 | P&G |
| Meyer Kathrin Christine | 41 | Alcyone Therapeutics |
| Wade Sarah Marie | 40 | P&G |
| Rivard Monica LZ | 39 | Cilag |
| Lin Wendy Wenling | 38 | General Electric |
| Kristen G Denzinger | 38 | Ethicon |
| Pigos Elena Mora | 36 | NanoSynthesis Plus |
| Kien Kathryn Christian | 36 | P&G |
| Katherine J Schmid | 36 | Cilag |
| Lisa Bielke | 36 | North Carolina State University |
Universities filing patents with the Inventors from Ohio State of US
The Ohio State Innovation Foundation (OSIF), Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic Foundation—are leading the charge in innovation, collectively filing 1,978 patents over the past seven years (2017-2024).
The Ohio State Innovation Foundation (OSIF) serves as the technology commercialization arm of The Ohio State University, focusing on the management and licensing of the university’s intellectual property. OSIF’s patent portfolio encompasses a diverse array of technological advancements, including: Biomedical Devices, Nanotechnology, Advanced Manufacturing, Energy Solutions and Biotechnology.
Case Western Reserve University consistently files over 100 patents annually, focusing on fields like biotechnology, medical devices, advanced materials, and energy solutions. It has also facilitated the creation of numerous startups, which have collectively raised over $600 million. In 2023, Case Western Reserve ranked among the top U.S. universities for utility patents, showcasing its significant contributions to advancing technology and innovation.
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation is a renowned nonprofit academic medical center dedicated to integrating clinical care with research and education. Through its commercialization arm, Cleveland Clinic Innovations, the institution has significantly contributed to medical advancements by managing and commercializing its intellectual property. The foundation’s patent portfolio encompasses a wide range of medical fields, including: Biomedical Devices, Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostic Methods.
Note: These are the institutions wherein the key innovators from Ohio filed the majority of their patents.
Top Companies/Universities filing PCT Applications with the Inventors from Ohio
| Top PCT Filers | Patents | Entity |
| P&G | 347 | Company |
| General Electric | 169 | Company |
| Ethicon | 161 | Company |
| Ohio State Innovation Foundation | 95 | University |
| Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital | 69 | University |
| Bridgestone | 69 | Company |
| Lubrizol | 67 | Company |
| Case Western Reserve University | 65 | University |
| Children’s Hospital Medical Center | 63 | University |
| Cleveland Clinic Foundation | 49 | Company |
| University Of Cincinnati | 45 | University |
| Schaeffler Group | 38 | Company |
| Owensbrockway Glass Container Inc | 34 | Company |
| Nanotek Instruments Inc | 29 | Company |
| Noco Company | 28 | Company |
| Owens Corning | 25 | Company |
| Battelle Memorial Institute | 24 | University |
| Devicor Medical Products Inc | 23 | Company |
| Emerson Electric | 20 | Company |
| Gojo Industries Inc | 20 | Company |
| Materion Corporation | 19 | Company |
| Diebold Nixdorf | 19 | Company |
| Swimc Llc | 18 | Company |
| Ohio University | 18 | University |
| University Of Toledo | 16 | University |
| Eccrine Systems Inc | 16 | Company |
| Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems Llc | 15 | Company |
| Crown Equipment Corporation | 15 | Company |
| Sun Chemical Corporation | 15 | Company |
| Avery Dennison | 13 | Company |