IPC Definitions - January 01, 2012
C12M - Definition
This subclass covers:
Apparatus for enzymology or microbiology in which in particular:
Apparatus specially adapted to employ micro-organisms or enzymes as "reactants" or biocatalysts.
Apparatus for enzymology or microbiology of both the laboratory and industrial scale.
Tissue, human, animal or plant cell, or virus culture apparatus.
Specific apparatus provided for in this subclass include fermentation apparatus, apparatus for the treatment of micro-organisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy, mutation or genetic engineering apparatus, inoculators or samplers, measuring or testing apparatus.
Relationship between large subject matter areas
Physical or chemical apparatus in general are classified in class B01.
Controlling or regulating apparatus in general is classified in subclass G05.
In subclasses C12M-C12Q or C12S, and within each of these subclasses, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, classification is made in the last appropriate place.
The codes of subclass C12R are only for use as indexing codes associated with subclasses C12C-C12Q or C12S, so as to provide information concerning the micro-organisms used in the processes classified in these subclasses.
References relevant to classification in this subclass
This subclass does not cover:
Installations for fermenting manure | A01C 3/02 |
Preservation of living parts of humans or animals | A01N 1/02 |
Brewing apparatus | C12C |
Producing methane by anaerobic treatment of sludge | C02F 11/04 |
Fermentation apparatus for wine | C12G |
Apparatus for preparing vinegar | C12J 1/10 |
Special rules of classification
In this subclass, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, classification is made in the last appropriate place.
In this subclass, viruses, undifferentiated human, animal, or plant cells, protozoa, tissues, and unicellular algae are considered as micro-organisms.
In this subclass, unless specifically provided for, undifferentiated human, animal or plant cells, protozoa, tissues and unicellular algae are classified together with micro-organisms. Sub-cellular parts, unless specifically provided for, are classified with the whole cell.
In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
Enzyme | Proteinaceous material which causes a chemical change in a starting material without being consumed in the reaction |
Micro-organism | Comprises single-celled organisms such as bacteria, actinomycetales or single-celled fungi, e.g. yeasts; for the purposes of classification, this term also includes viruses, undifferentiated human, animal or plant cells, protozoa, tissues and unicellular algae. |