FO In-Situ Fouling Characterization Patent Snapshot
The forward osmosis in-situ fouling characterization patent space is highly concentrated, with a single applicant — Porifera Inc — holding an outsized position among the small set of active filers. Activity has been intermittent since 2019 and annual volume has eased from its prior peak, signaling a nascent, low-competition field with limited but technically focused output.
Porifera Inc leads a highly concentrated, early-stage field
Porifera Inc ranks first among all filers and accounts for the visible share of patent records in this space, reflecting a field where one commercial actor has defined most of the intellectual property to date.
The top five filers collectively represent 100% of the ranked applicants visible in this query’ combined total, confirming near-total concentration at the top tier with no meaningful second tier of challengers.
| # | Applicant | Patent records | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Porifera Inc | 12 | |
| 2 | Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering | 1 | |
| 3 | Mothers Milk Is Best Inc | 1 | |
| 4 | RES & BUSINESS FOUND SUNGKYUNKWAN UNIV | 1 |
Porifera Inc’s position implies that any entrant seeking to work in forward osmosis membrane fouling monitoring would need to navigate a portfolio anchored around separation processes and water treatment — the two primary technical branches the company has pursued.
Patent publication typically lags filing by 18–24 months; activity in the most recent periods may be under-represented and should be interpreted accordingly. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Intermittent filing pattern with separation science as the dominant technology branch
Filing activity has been sparse and irregular since 2019, clustering in discrete years rather than showing continuous growth. The technology mix is anchored in separation processes and water treatment, with a minor footprint in dairy applications.
Annual filing trend
Filings first appeared in 2019, with small pulses in 2021 and 2025; intervening years show no recorded activity. Given publication lag, the 2025 data point may be incomplete, and the apparent absence in 2026 almost certainly reflects lag rather than a true cessation.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
B01D (separation processes including filtration) and C02F (water and wastewater treatment) jointly account for the overwhelming majority of records, reflecting the core membrane-science focus of the field. A23C (dairy products) appears as a minor, isolated branch.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
Devices and methods for processing human milk
Methods, devices, and systems for processing breast milk are described. Concentrating nutrients in breast milk may be achieved using an apparatus comprising at least one forward osmotic membrane. In an example, the apparatus can include a forward osmotic membrane enclosing a draw material, and arranged so that water can traverse the forward osmotic… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Water purification systems and methods having pres… | 15 |
| 2 | Water purification systems and methods having pres… | 4 |
| 3 | Water purification systems and methods having pres… | 3 |
| 4 | A assembly and method of real-time fouling monitor… | 2 |
| 5 | Water purification systems and methods having pres… | 1 |
| 6 | Water purification systems and methods having pres… | 1 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
Assignee snapshot from the current evidence set
The applicants below are visible in this query result. Because the evidence set is relatively small, read this section as a directional snapshot rather than a full competitive ranking.
Porifera Inc
Porifera Inc holds 12 patent records — far exceeding any other filer — concentrated in B01D 61 (membrane separation processes), C02F 1 (water and wastewater treatment), and B01D 65 (membrane maintenance and fouling). This technical focus is consistent with the company’s forward osmosis membrane product line. No momentum trend data is available in the evidence, but the filing history shows activity across multiple years, suggesting ongoing prosecution of a defined portfolio rather than a single burst.
patent records: 12Mothers Milk Is Best Inc
Mothers Milk Is Best Inc holds 1 patent record, with technology focus spanning A23C 9 (dairy products), B01D 61, and B01D 63 — indicating an application of forward osmosis fouling characterization in a dairy/human milk processing context rather than water treatment. This is a distinct use-case niche not covered by the visible applicant, though no momentum data is available to assess trajectory.
patent records: 1Frequently asked questions
The evidence covers 6 patent families in scope for this topic globally.
Porifera Inc is the clear leader with 12 patent records, far ahead of the next-ranked applicants who each hold 1 patent record.
The United States leads with 6 patent records, followed by Israel and Singapore. India, South Korea, and WIPO PCT each account for 1 patent record.
Porifera Inc’s filings concentrate on B01D 61 (membrane separation processes), C02F 1 (water and wastewater treatment), and B01D 65 (membrane maintenance and fouling mitigation).
The lifecycle evidence places the field in a Decline stage, with annual filings easing back from a 2019 peak. Activity has been intermittent, appearing in 2019, 2021, and 2025. The most recent period may be under-counted due to publication lag.
The A23C (dairy products) branch holds only 1 patent record, representing 3% of IPC assignments, making it the sparsest branch observed. Instrumentation-focused real-time fouling monitoring also appears as an adjacent area with limited dedicated patent coverage.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from Patsnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
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