What should be included in a patent application abstract?

A patent application abstract should include a concise summary of the key technical elements of the invention. The MPEP 608.01(b) states:

The abstract should sufficiently describe the disclosure to assist readers in deciding whether there is a need for consulting the full patent text for details.

The abstract should cover:

• The technical disclosure of the improvement
• The nature and gist of the invention
• The principal use of the invention

It’s important to note that legal phraseology often used in patent claims should be avoided in the abstract.

To learn more:

• abstract content
• patent application
• technical elements