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
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- HUMAN NECESSITIES
- Class:
- MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- Subclass:
- 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
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.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass A61H recorded 247,277 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 10,346 in 2013 to 24,411 in 2023 (+136%), peaking at 36,416 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
A61H ranks 7th of 13 subclasses with filings in A61, with 247,277 applications between 2013 and 2023, 3.7% of the class. Annual filings grew 136% 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 | 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
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
Related Keywords
18 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- A61H 1/00 Apparatus for passive exercising; Vibrating apparatus; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
- A61H 11/00 Belts, strips, or combs for massage purposes
- A61H 13/00 Gum massage
- A61H 15/00 Massage by means of rollers, balls, e.g. inflatable, chains, or roller chains
- A61H 19/00 Massage of the genitals
- A61H 21/00 Massage devices for cavities of the body
- A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms
- A61H 3/00 Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about
- A61H 31/00 Artificial respiration by a force applied to the chest; Heart stimulation, e.g. heart massage
- A61H 33/00 Bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes
- A61H 35/00 Baths for specific parts of the body, e.g. breast douches
- A61H 36/00 Sweating suits
- A61H 37/00 Accessories for massage
- A61H 39/00 Devices for locating or stimulating specific reflex points of the body for physical therapy, e.g. acupuncture
- A61H 5/00 Exercisers for the eyes
- A61H 7/00 Devices for suction-kneading massage; Devices for massaging the skin by rubbing or brushing not otherwise provided for
- A61H 9/00 Pneumatic or hydraulic massage
- A61H 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