What should be included in a patent application abstract?

This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.

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.