PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)

Introduced: September 1968

Description

This subclass covers mechanical and electromechanical devices for non-invasive physical therapy, including apparatus for locating and stimulating reflex points (acupressure, trigger points), vibration and massage equipment, artificial respiration devices, and specialized bathing or hydrotherapy systems designed for therapeutic or hygienic treatment of the body or specific anatomical regions. Examples include massage chairs, vibration platforms, percussion massagers, electrodes for reflex stimulation, and therapeutic bathing equipment. The classification excludes drug delivery or chemical treatments (covered in A61K) and specialized surgical or diagnostic instruments, focusing instead on mechanical stimulation and physical manipulation therapies.

Title

Titles differ between systems:

IPC: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY

CPC: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)

Full Title

Full titles differ between systems:

IPC:

PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY

CPC:

Additional Content IPC

Glossary

Therapy therapies Any medical treatment of an abnormal condition of a human or animal body (e.g. disease, impaired organ, injured limb) by means, instruments, devices, or methods that utilise forms of energy (e.g. mechanical energy) and which is not used for surgical purposes. In general, the treatment time for therapy is long-term relative to that for surgery which usually has a much more immediate effect on the body. Disabled person disabled persons A human being that is unable to do a basic physical task (e.g. walking) without assistance due to a physical or mental impairment/condition. Patient patients A human being awaiting or undergoing any form of (a) medical care (e.g. testing) or treatment by medical staff (e.g. doctors, dentists, midwives, chiropractors) or (b) physical tending (e.g. feeding) by care providers (e.g. hospice or nursing home staff) due to impairment.

Limiting references

Training or exercising equipment for animals Garments with controlled internal environment Ventilating, cooling or heating means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses Apparatus for helping babies to walk Baths; Showers; Appurtenances therefor for merely cleaning human bodies Body washing or cleaning implements for merely cleaning human bodies Dental implements for therapeutic treatment Orthopedic devices or methods Devices for treatment of the eyes Means for washing bed-ridden persons Beds for promoting or observing sleep Subaquatic intestinal cleaning Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means (other than alarm clocks or the like) Blood pumps or devices for mechanical circulatory assistance Electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy, ultrasound therapy Electromedical massage devices applying continuous direct current by contact electrodes Electrotherapy devices applying alternating or intermittent currents by contact electrodes Applying ionised fluids to the human body for therapy Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body Exercising devices for feet or toes

Application references

Accessory implements for clippers or shavers carrying out massage or other functions than cutting hair

Of 24 combined children, 18 exist in both systems.

6 codes are CPC-only extensions.

Note: 6 CPC extensions are marked as secondary classification only.

9 shared codes have differing titles between IPC and CPC.

Child Classifications

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A61H 1/00 Apparatus for passive exercising (A61H5/00 takes precedence); Vibrating apparatus; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones +4 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61H 11/00 Belts, strips or combs for massage purposes +1 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61H 13/00 Gum massage +1 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61H 15/00 Massage by means of rollers, balls, e.g. inflatable, chains, or roller chains +5 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61H 19/00 Massage for the genitals; +3 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61H 21/00 Massage devices for cavities of the body IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61H 2201/00 Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes 2nd only +7 CPC CPC only CPC only
A61H 2203/00 Additional characteristics concerning the patient 2nd only +3 CPC CPC only CPC only
A61H 2205/00 Devices for specific parts of the body (A61H1/02, A61H13/00, A61H19/00, A61H21/00, A61H35/00 take precedence) 2nd only +6 CPC CPC only CPC only
A61H 2207/00 Anti-cellulite devices 2nd only CPC only CPC only
A61H 2209/00 Devices for avoiding blood stagnation, e.g. Deep Vein Thrombosis [DVT] devices 2nd only CPC only CPC only
A61H 2230/00 Measuring physical parameters of the user 2nd only +14 CPC CPC only CPC only
A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms +4 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61H 3/00 Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about (apparatus for helping babies to walk A47D13/04 ) +6 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61H 31/00 Artificial respiration by a force applied to the chest; Heart stimulation, e.g. heart massage (applying electric currents by contact electrodes for stimulation, e.g. heart pace-makers, A61N1/36 ) +5 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61H 33/00 Bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes (A61H35/00 takes precedence; for sub aquatic intestinal cleaning A61M9/00; electric or magnetic baths, applying ionised fluids A61N1/44 ) +9 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61H 35/00 Baths for specific parts of the body +4 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61H 36/00 Sweating suits IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61H 37/00 Accessories for massage +1 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
A61H 39/00 Devices for locating or stimulating specific reflex points of the body for physical therapy, e.g. acupuncture (chiropodists' instruments A61B17/54; ) since 1974 +3 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC

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