A61D VETERINARY INSTRUMENTS, IMPLEMENTS, TOOLS, OR METHODS
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- HUMAN NECESSITIES
- Class:
- MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- Subclass:
- 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
IPC subclass A61D recorded 33,768 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 1,264 in 2013 to 4,239 in 2023 (+235%), peaking at 5,049 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class A61 are PHILIPS ELECTRONICS (18,523 applications), NOVARTIS (14,253 applications) and COVIDIEN (13,953 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
A61D ranks 13th of 13 subclasses with filings in A61, with 33,768 applications between 2013 and 2023, 0.5% of the class. Annual filings grew 235% from 2013 to 2023, above the class as a whole (+32%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A61K, Preparations for Medical, Dental or Toiletry Purposes | Preparations for Medical, Dental or Toiletry Purposes | 1,792,627 | 26.5% |
| 2 | A61B, Diagnosis; Surgery; Identification | Diagnosis; Surgery; Identification | 1,204,106 | 17.8% |
| 3 | A61P, Specific Therapeutic Activity of Chemical Compounds or Medicinal Preparations | Specific Therapeutic Activity of Chemical Compounds or Medicinal Preparations | 1,178,026 | 17.4% |
| 4 | A61M, Devices for Introducing Media Into, or Onto, the Body; Devices for Transducing Body Media or for Taking Media From the Body; Devices for Producing or Ending Sleep or Stupor | Devices for Introducing Media Into, or Onto, the Body; Devices for Transducing Body Media or for Taking Media From the Body; Devices for Producing or Ending Sleep or Stupor | 625,206 | 9.2% |
| 5 | A61F, Filters Implantable Into Blood Vessels; Prostheses; Devices Providing Patency To, or Preventing Collapsing Of, Tubular Structures of the Body, e.g. Stents; Orthopaedic, Nursing or Contraceptive Devices; Fomentation; Treatment or Protection of Eyes or Ears; Bandages, Dressings or Absorbent Pads; First-Aid Kits | Filters Implantable Into Blood Vessels; Prostheses; Devices Providing Patency To, or Preventing Collapsing Of, Tubular Structures of the Body, e.g. Stents; Orthopaedic, Nursing or Contraceptive Devices; Fomentation; Treatment or Protection of Eyes or Ears; Bandages, Dressings or Absorbent Pads; First-Aid Kits | 447,357 | 6.6% |
| 6 | A61L, Methods or Apparatus for Sterilising Materials or Objects in General; Disinfection, Sterilisation or Deodorisation of Air; Chemical Aspects of Bandages, Dressings, Absorbent Pads or Surgical Articles; Materials for Bandages, Dressings, Absorbent Pads or Surgical Articles | Methods or Apparatus for Sterilising Materials or Objects in General; Disinfection, Sterilisation or Deodorisation of Air; Chemical Aspects of Bandages, Dressings, Absorbent Pads or Surgical Articles; Materials for Bandages, Dressings, Absorbent Pads or Surgical Articles | 373,304 | 5.5% |
| 7 | A61H, 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 | 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 | 247,277 | 3.7% |
| 8 | A61Q, Specific Use of Cosmetics or Similar Toiletry Preparations | Specific Use of Cosmetics or Similar Toiletry Preparations | 221,780 | 3.3% |
| 9 | A61G, Transport, Personal Conveyances or Accommodation Specially Adapted for Patients or Disabled Persons; Operating Tables or Chairs; Chairs for Dentistry; Funeral Devices | Transport, Personal Conveyances or Accommodation Specially Adapted for Patients or Disabled Persons; Operating Tables or Chairs; Chairs for Dentistry; Funeral Devices | 221,545 | 3.3% |
| 10 | A61N, Electrotherapy; Magnetotherapy; Radiation Therapy; Ultrasound Therapy | Electrotherapy; Magnetotherapy; Radiation Therapy; Ultrasound Therapy | 197,020 | 2.9% |
| 13 | A61D | Veterinary Instruments, Implements, Tools, or Methods | 33,768 | 0.5% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Additional Content
Glossary
stock animals kept or raised for use or pleasure.
Limiting references
Apparatus or methods normally used by non-medical personnel in the care of animals to maintain their health e.g. animal husbandry Animal feed bags Sucking apparatus for young stock Animal dehorners Apparatus to help wean animals Devices for assisting or preventing mating Animal feeding-stuffs with antibiotics Mouth openers for use on humans and animals
Related Keywords
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
- A61D 13/00 Thermometer holders specially adapted to veterinary purposes
- A61D 15/00 Mouth openers
- 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
- A61D 9/00 Bandages, poultices or compresses specially adapted to veterinary purposes
- 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 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