IPC Definitions - January 01, 2012
A61J - Definition
This subclass covers:
Apparatus, devices, or methods specially adapted for changing or fashioning bulk medicines, or their essential constituents, into pharmaceutical products having specific physical forms designed to either:
Apparatus, devices, or methods specially adapted for administering medications or pharmaceutical products to humans though their oral cavity.
Receptacles that are not designed to be ingestible and are specially adapted for holding or containing medicines or pharmaceutical products prior to their usage or consumption by humans.
Receptacles specially adapted to hold, contain, or transport pharmaceutical, surgical, or therapy related materials other than medicines or pharmaceutical products (e.g., containers for storing blood).
Hollow flexible conduits specially adapted, or solely intended, for the purpose of providing nutriments in fluid or fluent forms to humans by insertion of the conduits into an orifice of their bodies (e.g., enteral feeding using functioning gastrointestinal tract).
Containers specially adapted for holding water or nutriments in fluid or fluent forms (e.g., feeding bottles) that is withdrawn by the sucking of infants, young children, or other humans (e.g., patients, disabled persons) on orally engaged portions or subcomponents of the containers.
The orally engaged subcomponents per se of the containers of the preceding paragraph (e.g., compressible rubber teats for feeding bottles) which are specially adapted for infants, young children, or other humans to suck upon to withdraw water or nutriments in fluid or fluent forms from the containers.
Other types of apparatus or devices specially adapted for orally administering only nutriments in fluid or fluent forms to infants, patients or disabled persons.
Devices that are not designed to be ingestible and are specially adapted, or solely intended, for either:
Devices or receptacle specially adapted, or solely intended, for receiving spittle, phlegm, or other forms of naturally occurring oral discharge from humans.
Devices specially adapted to prevent irritation of the teat portion of the mammary gland of humans from abrasive or rubbing contact.
Specially adapted subcomponents or steps for the above types of apparatus, containers, devices or methods of the preceding paragraphs that are not provided for in another subclass.
Auxiliary appliances or accessories specially adapted for use with the apparatus, containers, or devices of the preceding paragraphs to facilitate either:
Relationship between large subject matter areas
If an apparatus, device, or method is usable for both humans and animals for the same purpose and in the same manner, and it is otherwise proper for this subclass, classification is made only in subclass A61J
Similar apparatus, devices, or methods to those covered by subclass A61Jthat are usable exclusively for animals, or are used in animals in a different manner or for different purposes than for humans, are classified in subclass A61D
Devices that may be interesting to a baby (e.g., they have a specific shape such as an animal that the baby may manipulate) and are intended to serve to relieve a physical craving, irritation, or inflammation of the baby are covered by subclass A61J
Devices that are primarily intended to be played with by a baby to entertain it, but might also incidentally emotionally calm it (e.g., stuffed bear at bedtime), are covered by subclass A63H
References relevant to classification in this subclass
This subclass does not cover:
Infusion devices | A61M 5/14 |
Syringe ampoules or cartridges | A61M 5/28 |
Time release microcapsules for introduction of media into body and other devices for introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body | A61M 31/00 |
Time release medication patches for application to human bodies | A61M 35/00 |
Tubes, tube connectors, valves or tube couplings specially adapted for medical use | A61M 39/00 |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Foods, foodstuffs, or their preparation or treatment | A23L 1/00 |
Spoon type tableware | A47G 21/04 |
Drinking vessels used for table service | A47G 19/22 |
Protective casings or covers for appliances or instruments | A61B 19/02 |
Medical preparations characterized by special physical form | A61K 9/00 |
Suppositories | A61K 9/02 |
Capsules | A61K 9/48 |
Devices for introducing media into or on the body | A61M |
Droppers or containers for laboratory use | B01L 3/00 |
Containers for storage or transport of articles or materials in general or their accessories, closures, or fittings | B65D |
Containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible member or portion | B65D 17/00 |
Details of bottles or jars not otherwise provided for | B65D 23/00 |
Dropper type dispensers for closing containers | B65D 47/18 |
Closures for containers with means for discouraging their opening or removal without authorization or required level of physical aptitude | B65D 50/00 |
Blister packages | B65D 75/36 |
Applying closure members to bottles, jars, or similar containers | B67B |
In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
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 | Man made or natural medicines specially adapted by manufactures or pharmacies into forms that facilitate their internal or external usage by humans. |
Patient | 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 | 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. |
In patent documents the following expressions/words "teat" and "nipple" are often used as synonyms for the orally engaged portion of feeding bottles.
In patent documents the following expressions/words "feeding bottle", "nursing bottle", and "baby bottle" are often used as synonyms.
In patent documents the following expressions/words "spittoon", and "cuspidor" are often used as synonyms.