It’s not your fault.
Most scientists and engineers have been conditioned for years or even decades of schooling to perfect their paper, verify their results, or optimize their yield or designs. Schools and even big businesses reward perfectionism. And of course, most businesspeople tend to rely on scientists and engineers to let them know when an invention has been discovered. Who would know better than an inventor when they have actually invented something?
No, you are not required to optimize your invention before filing a patent application.
The mantra of every successful entrepreneur is progress over perfection. This is especially true for patenting your invention. U.S. patent law rewards innovation; not optimization.
If you can make one molecule of an anti-cancer drug, then you can patent that molecule, you can patent the method for making it, and the method of treating people with it. Tell that to a scientist or engineer or your medical staff. You can patent a chemical process with a 1% yield. From a legal standpoint, everything else is mere optimization.
That being said, patentable does not always equal profitable. From a business standpoint, you may want to reproduce any result at least once to avoid patenting a flash in the pan. You may want to optimize or improve an invention enough for you to be reasonably sure it will be profitable.
But once you’re sure. Don’t hesitate.
Call us at 832-621-0353, and let’s talk about protecting your progress.