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CPC Subgroup
A61M 39/18

Methods or apparatus for making the connection under sterile conditions, i.e. sterile docking

Full Title

Tubes, tube connectors, tube couplings, valves, access sites or the like, specially adapted for medical use (for respiratory devices, e.g. tracheal tubes A61M16/00; artificial heart valves A61F2/24) > Tube connectors; Tube couplings > having provision for disinfection or sterilisation > Methods or apparatus for making the connection under sterile conditions, i.e. sterile docking

Filing statistics

CPC A61M 39/18 belongs to the parent subclass A61M, which recorded 405,895 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 28,233 in 2013 to 30,654 in 2023 (+9%), peaking at 43,390 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

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