A61B DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- HUMAN NECESSITIES
- Class:
- MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- Subclass:
- DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
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).
Additional Content
Veterinary instruments, implements, tools or methods specially adapted so as to limit their usefulness to only animals
Related Keywords
17 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- A61B 1/00 Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
- A61B 10/00 Instruments for taking body samples for diagnostic purposes; Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. for vaccination diagnosis, sex determination or ovulation-period determination; Throat striking implements
- A61B 13/00 Instruments for depressing the tongue
- A61B 16/00 Devices specially adapted for vivisection or autopsy
- A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods
- A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
- A61B 3/00 Apparatus for testing the eyes; Instruments for examining the eyes
- A61B 34/00 Computer-aided surgery; Manipulators or robots specially adapted for use in surgery
- A61B 42/00 Surgical gloves; Finger-stalls specially adapted for surgery; Devices for handling or treatment thereof
- A61B 46/00 Surgical drapes
- A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B 50/00 Containers, covers, furniture or holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments, e.g. sterile covers
- A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment
- A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation
- A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- A61B 9/00 Instruments for examination by percussion; Pleximeters
- A61B 90/00 Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups , e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor 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