A61D VETERINARY INSTRUMENTS, IMPLEMENTS, TOOLS, OR METHODS
Description
A61D covers instruments, implements, tools, and methods specifically designed for veterinary medical practice and animal healthcare. This subclass encompasses diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical devices used in treating diseases and injuries in animals, as well as procedures for examination, treatment, and care of animal patients. Examples include veterinary dental instruments, animal surgical tools, restraint devices, and specialized examination equipment adapted for animal handling. This subclass excludes general medical instruments covered under human-oriented classifications and focuses exclusively on technologies modified or developed for veterinary applications.
Filing statistics
CPC subclass A61D recorded 13,641 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 768 in 2013 to 1,119 in 2023 (+46%), peaking at 1,585 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class A61 are PHILIPS ELECTRONICS (20,621 applications), NOVARTIS (15,792 applications) and ROCHE (14,303 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
11 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- A61D 1/00 Surgical instruments for veterinary use
- A61D 11/00 Washing devices or gaseous curative baths specially adapted to veterinary purposes (milking machine accessories for treatment of udders or teats A01J7/04)
- A61D 13/00 Thermometer holders specially adapted to veterinary purposes
- A61D 15/00 Mouth openers (devices to prevent crib-biting A01K13/00)
- A61D 17/00 Devices for indicating trouble during labour of animals
- A61D 19/00 Instruments or methods for reproduction or fertilisation
- A61D 3/00 Arrangements for supporting or fettering animals for veterinary purposes
- A61D 5/00 Instruments for treating animals' teeth
- A61D 7/00 Devices or methods for introducing solid, liquid, or gaseous remedies or other materials into or onto the bodies of animals (for reproduction or fertilisation A61D19/00 )
- A61D 9/00 Bandages, poultices, compresses specially adapted to veterinary purposes (fetlock-joint protecting rings A01K13/00)
- A61D 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class A61, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NL 20,621
- NOVARTIS CH 15,792
- ROCHE CH 14,303
- COVIDIEN US 13,862
- HARVARD UNIVERSITY US 13,454
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA US 12,798
- P&G (PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY) US 12,140
- L'OREAL FR 11,800
- OLYMPUS CORPORATION JP 9,894
- BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED US 9,513