On 24 January 2012, US Patent No. 8,101,402 was granted to Elizabeth Holmes for a “Medical device for analyte monitoring and drug delivery”, which was positioned as a cornerstone for Theranos as a breakthrough health technology company.
The patent set out a bold and, at least conceptually, credible vision for continuous analyte monitoring combined with controlled drug delivery in a compact medical device.
On paper, it aligned with long-standing goals in medical technology, including integration, miniaturization and less invasive patient care. The later collapse of Theranos reshaped how this patent is viewed. Holmes was ultimately convicted for fraud related to misrepresentations made to investors about the company’s blood-testing technology.
At the same time, the broader record suggests that the initial ambition was to build something genuinely transformative, even though the technology could not be implemented at the required technical, clinical and regulatory level.
Seen in hindsight, the patent captures a familiar innovation gap. A promising idea can be inventive and patentable, yet still fail in execution. Patents document aspiration. Turning that aspiration into a working, validated medical product is a far harder step.
Elizabeth Holmes (Image Credit: Theranos Press Kit) and her US Patent No. 8,101,402 for a “Medical device for analyte monitoring and drug delivery”.
| Country | Kind | No. | Published | Title | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | Patent | 8,101,402 | 24.01.2012 | Medical device for analyte monitoring and drug delivery |
Last updated on 18 February 2026