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
Introduced: September 1968
Last revised: January 2006
Classification Context
- Section:
- HUMAN NECESSITIES
- Class:
- MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- Subclass:
- 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
Description
A61F covers a broad range of medical devices and supplies used for therapeutic intervention, structural support, and protective care. This includes vascular implants such as stents and blood vessel filters, prosthetic limbs and organs, devices that maintain or restore patency in the body's tubular structures, orthopaedic supports and fixation systems, contraceptive devices, and ophthalmic/otological treatments. The subclass also encompasses wound management products including bandages, dressings, absorbent pads, fomentation devices (heat/moisture therapy), nursing aids, and first-aid kits. These technologies span both implantable and external applications across cardiovascular, orthopedic, ophthalmic, and general wound-care fields.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass A61F recorded 447,357 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 30,362 in 2013 to 39,227 in 2023 (+29%), peaking at 56,342 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
A61F ranks 5th of 13 subclasses with filings in A61, with 447,357 applications between 2013 and 2023, 6.6% of the class. Annual filings grew 29% from 2013 to 2023, below 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 | 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% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Additional Content
Glossary
Absorbent articles Articles adapted to absorb liquid excreted by the body. Dilator Dilators A (surgical) device or instrument used to dilate, distend, enlarge, expand, stretch an opening, organ, passage, tube, canal or cavity of a human or animal body (e.g. urethrotomy, tracheotomy, nasal, anal or cervix (Hegar's dilator) or vaginal dilation, bougienage, percutaneous dilation of tissues (Byrd dilator), whereas stents are not dilators but prostheses for providing patency, or preventing collapsing of tubular structures of the body. Disabled person disabled persons A human being that is unable to do certain basic physical tasks (e.g. walking) 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 giver (e.g. hospice or nursing home staff) due to impairment. Stent Stents Balloon- or self-expandable tubular device for use in the treatment of duct-like organs typified for example by a blood vessel, biliary tract, urinary tract, digestive tract, and the like providing patency. Stent graft Stent with a tubular member made of a synthetic resin affixed to the inside or outside of the stent.
Limiting references
Brassieres Cosmetic articles, e.g. wigs, hair pieces Caps with means for protecting the eyes or the ears Ordinary arch supports for shoes Artificial nails Heating or cooling means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses Surgical instruments Devices for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed Dental prostheses Chiropractic methods or devices Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk Massage of the genitals Chemical aspects of contraception Chemical aspects of, or use of materials for, bandages, dressings or absorbent pads , Adhesives for costolomy devices Surgical adhesives or cements Materials for prostheses Materials for costolomy devices Artificial hearts, kidneys Irrigators Drainage appliances for wounds Dilators Valves specially adapted for medical use Making artificial eyes from organic plastic material , Arm rests for use as writing aids Arrangements of tyre-inflating valves to tyres or rims Safety devices for welding in general Removable contact lenses Sunglasses or goggles having the same features as spectacles Electric heating elements
Related Keywords
11 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- A61F 11/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense; Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand
- A61F 13/00 Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
- A61F 15/00 Auxiliary appliances for wound dressings; Dispensing containers for dressings or bandages
- A61F 17/00 First-aid kits
- A61F 2/00 Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
- A61F 3/00 Lengthening pieces for natural legs
- A61F 4/00 Methods or devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or a device not forming part of the body
- A61F 5/00 Orthopaedic methods or devices for non-surgical treatment of bones or joints; Nursing devices
- A61F 6/00 Contraceptive devices; Pessaries; Applicators therefor
- A61F 7/00 Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body
- A61F 9/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting in contact-lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand
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