To address challenges in identifying core patents in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) innovation evolution path amid technological advancements and industrialization, this study conducts topic modeling on TCM patents and combines it with the theory of technology life cycles to track the dynamic evolution of TCM topics. A multi-dimensional patent value indicator system and a dynamic patent citation network are designed and constructed. An improved scoring algorithm is employed to identify core patents along the innovation evolution path of TCM. The results indicate that TCM technology topics have evolved from traditional herbal formulas and extraction techniques to a more refined direction of component analysis and efficacy research. The integration of advanced technologies such as informatization signifies a new stage in the development of TCM research. The discovery and analysis of core patents in each topic along the TCM innovation evolution path provide a new perspective for understanding TCM technological innovation, assisting enterprises in gaining an advantageous position in technology transfer and patent transactions, and offering scientific support for the future direction of TCM research and development and the formulation of policies.