A61J CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- HUMAN NECESSITIES
- Class:
- MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- Subclass:
- CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
Description
A61J covers specialized containers and delivery devices for pharmaceutical and medical applications, including packaging designed to protect, preserve, or facilitate the administration of medicines and medicinal products. This subclass encompasses devices for oral drug delivery (such as dosing cups, syringes for liquid medicines, and pill organizers), equipment for formulating pharmaceuticals into specific physical forms (tablets, capsules, powders), and related medical accessories like baby pacifiers and spittoons. The classification applies to both the structural design of containers that meet pharmaceutical safety and stability requirements and the functional mechanisms enabling controlled or convenient medicine administration to patients.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass A61J recorded 113,107 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 6,765 in 2013 to 10,817 in 2023 (+60%), peaking at 15,415 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
A61J ranks 12th of 13 subclasses with filings in A61, with 113,107 applications between 2013 and 2023, 1.7% of the class. Annual filings grew 60% 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% |
| 12 | A61J | Containers Specially Adapted for Medical or Pharmaceutical Purposes; Devices or Methods Specially Adapted for Bringing Pharmaceutical Products Into Particular Physical or Administering Forms; Devices for Administering Food or Medicines Orally; Baby Comforters; Devices for Receiving Spittle | 113,107 | 1.7% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Additional Content
Glossary
Medicine, Medication Chemical or biological substance intended to be used for the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation, alleviation, or prevention of diseases, disorders, injuries, or any other abnormal physical or mental state in humans. Pharmaceutical product pharmaceutical products Man made or natural medicines specially adapted by manufactures or pharmacies into forms that facilitate their internal or external usage by humans. Patient patients 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. Disabled person disabled persons A human being that is unable to do a certain basic physical task (e.g., walking) without assistance due to a physical or mental impairment/condition.
Limiting references
Infusion devices Syringe ampoules or cartridges Time release microcapsules for introduction of media into body and other devices for introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body Time release medication patches for application to human bodies Tubes, tube connectors, valves or tube couplings specially adapted for medical use
Related Keywords
9 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- A61J 1/00 Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
- A61J 11/00 Teats
- A61J 13/00 Breast-nipple shields
- A61J 15/00 Feeding-tubes for therapeutic purposes
- A61J 17/00 Baby comforters; Teething rings
- A61J 19/00 Devices for receiving spittle, e.g. spittoons
- A61J 3/00 Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms
- A61J 7/00 Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
- A61J 9/00 Feeding-bottles in general
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