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CPC Subclass Not Allocatable
A61B

DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

Description

Subclass A61B covers medical and surgical diagnostic and therapeutic devices, instruments, and methods used for examining patients, performing surgical procedures, and identifying medical conditions or individuals. This encompasses a broad range of technologies including diagnostic imaging equipment, surgical instruments, monitoring apparatus, therapeutic devices, and identification systems such as medical imaging (ultrasound, endoscopy), surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and biometric identification for medical purposes. The subclass excludes pharmaceutical compositions and medicinal preparations (covered under A61K) and general physical examination or massage devices without diagnostic intent (covered under A61H).

24 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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  • A61B 13/00 Instruments for depressing the tongue (combined with illuminating and viewing instruments A61B1/24; combined with saliva removers A61C17/10)
  • A61B 16/00 Devices specially adapted for vivisection or autopsy

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class A61, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NL 20,621
  2. NOVARTIS CH 15,792
  3. ROCHE CH 14,303
  4. COVIDIEN US 13,862
  5. HARVARD UNIVERSITY US 13,454
  6. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA US 12,798
  7. P&G (PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY) US 12,140
  8. L'OREAL FR 11,800
  9. OLYMPUS CORPORATION JP 9,894
  10. BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED US 9,513