IPC Definitions - January 01, 2012

A61F - Definition fr

Definition statement

This subclass covers:

Apparatus, devices or methods for physically correcting or altering the body of patients or disabled persons that are directly and for prolonged periods of time (i.e. not just during acute exceptional circumstances) used on or in the body of the patient or the disabled person:

Methods or devices (e.g. head or eye-gaze-direction actuated control devices, oral communication actuated control devices) for enabling patients or disabled persons to operate independent apparatus or machines (i.e. apparatus such as room lights or doors that is not a part of, or used in conjunction with the functioning of, artificial or natural parts of their body) without the application of direct force from the part of the human body that would normally be used by individuals for controlling operation of the independent apparatus or machine such as a hand, foot or their artificial equivalents.

Contraceptive devices for males (e.g. condoms, vas deferens occluders) or females (e.g. pessaries, intra-uterine type, fallopian occluders).

Devices for medical or hygienic care of living individuals that are worn by the individual or directly contact the body of the individual during their care:

Heating or cooling devices for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body and for body cavities, e.g. compresses, warming pads, pans or mats, hot water bottles, ice bags.

Protective devices for the eyes, e.g. goggles, eye-masks worn to prevent particulates or chemicals from striking the eyes.

Devices for inserting contact lenses.

Protective devices for the ears, e.g. ear plugs or earmuffs.

Auxiliary appliances for wound dressings; dispensing containers for dressings or bandages; packages or wrapping arrangements for used pads, e.g. for disposal.

Containers having various emergency medical supplies such as bandages, simple medical tools, and medicines (i.e. first-aid kits) that are intended to be used for administering initial treatment to injured or sick individuals.

Relationship between large subject matter areas

If an apparatus, method, device, or material 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 A61F. Similar devices or processes to those covered by subclass A61F that 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.

Surgical apparatus or processes in general are covered by subclass A61B.

Subclass A61H provides for massage, chiropractic, or physical therapy apparatus or processes used for the treatment of disease, injuries or disability (i.e. an abnormal condition of the body) by utilization of direct mechanical energy.

Chemical and materialaspects of prostheses, structures inserted into tubular structures of human bodies, bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles are covered by subclass A61L.

With regard to human organs and their parts, the exact distinction between the artificial devices implantable into human bodies that are proper for subclass A61F and those proper for subclass A61M is somewhat imprecise. Therefore, for analogous situations that are not specifically covered by existing groups of these subclasses, the following listings are intended to provide guidance.

Subclass A61F provides for the following replacements or substitutes for internal body organs or their parts: hollow or tubular parts of organs (e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi, heart valves and blood vessels, bile ducts), structural supporting or maintaining devices for such parts (e.g. stents), artificial eyes and artificial ears.

Subclass A61M provides for the following replacements or substitutes for internal body organs or their parts: artificial hearts (based on catchword index), artificial livers, artificial lungs, artificial pancreas, artificial kidneys and catheters in general.

Devices for introducing media into or onto the body, devices for taking media from the body are also covered by subclass A61M.

Spectacles, sunglasses, contact lenses or goggles insofar as they have the features of vision correction or protection against high levels of visible and ultraviolet light are covered by subclass G02C.

References relevant to classification in this subclass

This subclass does not cover:

Brassieres

A41C 3/00

Cosmetic articles, e.g. wigs, hair pieces

A41G

Caps with means for protecting the eyes or the ears

A42B 1/06

Ordinary arch supports for shoes

A43B 7/14

Artificial nails

A45D 31/00

Heating or cooling means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses

A47C 21/00

Surgical instruments

A61B 17/00

Devices for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed

A61B 17/03

Dental prostheses

A61C 13/00

Chiropractic methods or devices

A61H 1/00

Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk

A61H 3/00

Massage of the genitals

A61H 19/00

Chemical aspects of contraception

A61K

Chemical aspects of, or use of materials for, bandages, dressings or absorbent pads

A61L 15/00, A61L 26/00

Adhesives for costolomy devices

A61L 24/00

Surgical adhesives or cements

A61L 24/00

Materials for prostheses

A61L 27/00

Materials for costolomy devices

A61L 28/00

Artificial hearts, kidneys

A61M 1/00

Irrigators

A61M 3/02

Drainage appliances for wounds

A61M 27/00

Dilators

A61M 29/00

Valves specially adapted for medical use

A61M 39/00

Making artificial eyes from organic plastic material

B29C, B29D 11/02

Arm rests for use as writing aids

B43L 15/00

Arrangements of tyre-inflating valves to tyres or rims

B60C 29/00

Safety devices for welding in general

F16P 1/06

Removable contact lenses

G02C 7/04

Sunglasses or goggles having the same features as spectacles

G02C

Electric heating elements

H05B

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Undergarments

A41B 9/00

Baby linen

A41B 13/00

Corsets or girdles

A41C 1/00

Surgical drapes

A61B 19/08

Transdermal drug delivery patches

A61K 9/70

Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body

A63B 23/00

Goggles for swimming

A63B 33/00

Diving masks

B63C 11/12

Materials for prostheses

A61L 27/00

Balloon catheters

A61M 25/10

Dilators

A61M 29/00

Glossary of terms

In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Absorbent articles

Articles adapted to absorb liquid excreted by the body.

Dilator

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

A human being that is unable to do certain basic physical tasks (e.g. walking) due to a physical or mental impairment/condition.

Patient

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

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.

Synonyms and Keywords

In patent documents the expression "device for fluid management" is often used with the meaning of incontinence article.