1, B, shows a more distal view of the same patient where retrograde flow down the ECA (red) is shown adjacent to antegrade flow up the ICA (blue). A stepbystep overview of a patent application and maintenance process.The five stages of a patent process. This page provides information on the types of patents and types of patent applications, and the examination process. Accurate selection of surgical candidates remains imprecise. This tutorial will focus on patents and the process for securing a patent in the U.S. First, let's consider why we have a patent system? Figure 1 Example of flow in a patent functional LIMA graft. Normal. The Washington Pro Bono Patent Network matches qualified low-income inventors in Washington state with experienced patent attorneys.