Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators

Introduced: January 1990

Full Title

Full titles differ between systems:

IPC:

Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads > Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators

CPC:

Bandages or dressings (radioactive dressings ); Absorbent pads > Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators

Of 17 combined children, 12 exist in both systems.

4 codes are CPC-only extensions, 1 exist only in IPC.

Note: 2 CPC extensions are marked as secondary classification only.

7 shared codes have differing titles between IPC and CPC.

Child Classifications

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A61F 13/15203 +6 CPC CPC only CPC only
A61F 13/15577 +10 CPC CPC only CPC only
A61F 13/20 Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor +8 CPC −2 IPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61F 13/36 Surgical swabs, e.g. for absorbency or packing body cavities during surgery (A61F13/38, A61M35/006 take precedence) since 1990 IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61F 13/38 Swabs having a stick-type handle (A61M35/006 takes precedence) since 1990 +1 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61F 13/4 having means integral therewith for supplying media to the absorbent material, e.g. contained in a rupturable reservoir since 1990 IPC only IPC only
A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm since 1990 +9 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61F 13/44 with radio-opaque material or signalling means for residual material since 1990 IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61F 13/45 characterised by the shape (cup-shaped type tampons A61F13/2045) since 2000 +4 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61F 13/505 with separable parts, e.g. combination of disposable and reusable parts (A61F13/20 take precedence) since 2000 +1 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61F 13/51 characterised by the outer layers of the pads (A61F13/20 takes precedence) since 2000 +8 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61F 13/53 characterised by the absorbing medium (A61F13/20 takes precedence) since 2000 +7 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61F 13/551 Packaging before or after use since 2000 +6 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61F 13/56 Supporting or fastening means since 1990 +6 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61F 13/84 Accessories, not otherwise provided for, for absorbent pads since 2000 +7 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61F 2013/15008 2nd only +16 CPC CPC only CPC only
A61F 2013/16 2nd only CPC only CPC only

Top Applicants

Top Applicants (IPC)

Class A61,2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NL 18,523
NOVARTIS CH 14,253
COVIDIEN US 13,953
ROCHE CH 12,005
CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 11,955
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA US 11,692
HARVARD UNIVERSITY US 11,596
L'OREAL FR 11,593
P&G (PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY) US 11,297
OLYMPUS CORPORATION JP 9,594

Top Applicants (CPC)

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