As acting secretary of commerce, Blank now has full responsibility for overseeing the USPTO, in addition to 11 other government bureaus and agencies.
Bryson reportedly stumbled badly in a speech he delivered at Polytechnic School in Pasadena last week, and then on Saturday lost consciousness while driving, hitting two cars.
Officials said the incidents may have been caused by sudden-onset seizures. Attendees of the Polytechnic commencement speech said Bryson lost his place several times and did not seem to notice his mistakes