A61B - Definition 
Definition statement
This subclass covers:
Apparatus, instruments, implements, or processes that are either specially adapted or intended to be solely utilized for evaluating, examining, measuring, monitoring, studying, or testing particular characteristics and aspects of either living or dead human and animal bodies for medical purposes (i.e., diagnosis). Diagnosis consists of scrutinizing the following characteristics or aspects of bodies:
- internal or external portions of the bodies (e.g., lungs),
- abnormal bodily conditions (e.g., sickness, broken bones, detecting foreign bodies, pregnancy),
- mental conditions (e.g., psychotechnics), and
- bodily functions (e.g., heart beat, vision).
Apparatus, instruments, implements, or processes that are either specially adapted or intended to be solely utilized for medical procedures employing physical actions (e.g., laser cutting, pressure of fluid) on portions of human or animal bodies to correct, enhance, or inspect (e.g., autopsies) them for medical purposes (i.e., surgery). Surgery consists of the following medical procedures:
- repositioning (e.g. aligning broken bones, opening wounds) parts of bodies,
- stabilizing (e.g., inserting bone pins) to prevent harmful movement of parts of bodies,
- repairing (e.g., fastening skin together, removing cancerous tissue) bodies,
- facilitating the occurrence of naturally occurring bodily functions (e.g., child birth, passing kidney stones) that are out of the ordinary,
- introducing, collecting, or removing cells and organs (e.g., inseminations, tissue sampling, hair transplants, skin grafting, biopsies, organ harvesting) to or from bodies, and
- introducing or taking out foreign objects (e.g., replacement heart valves, bullets) to or from bodies.
Apparatus, instruments, implements, or processes that are either specially adapted or intended to be solely utilized in procedures for identifying individual human beings (e.g., finger printing, by recognition of shape or dimension of body part) using unique characteristics of their bodies or behaviour (i.e. identification).
Adjunct or supplementary means specially adapted for use in, or intended for exclusive use in, diagnosis, surgery, or identification. These adjunct or supplementary means contribute to the effectiveness (e.g., surgical drapes) or safety (e.g., operating gloves) of a medical procedure, but may or may not (e.g., protective covers for scalpels) themselves involve any direct contact with a body.
Components of diagnosis, surgery, or identification means with structural features limiting their usefulness to medical procedures.
Relationship between large subject matter areas
Several subclasses provide for subject matter that is used for 'diagnosis'. The relationship between these subclasses with regard to the type of 'diagnosis' covered by each is as follows:
Subclass A61B provides for diagnosis in general.
A61B also provides for any surgical or identification apparatus or methods when
- the apparatus or methods are combined with diagnosis means or
- the apparatus can be used for diagnosis and either surgery or identification.
A61B additionally provides for any diagnostic apparatus or methods combined with therapy apparatus or method normally covered by subclass A61H or A61N when
- the same apparatus or methods are used for both purposes or
- combined together but only useable separately.
Subclass A61H provides for diagnostic means or steps that are combined with massage and physical therapy apparatus or methods used for the treatment of disease or disability (i.e., an abnormal condition of the body) by utilization of direct mechanical energy; when the diagnostic means or step is used solely for operational feedback purposes to enhance therapy.
Subclass A61N provides for diagnostic means or steps that are combined with medical treatment therapy apparatus or methods used for the treatment of disease or disability by utilization of forms of energy other than direct mechanical energy; when the means or step is used solely for operational feedback purposes to enhance therapy.
References relevant to classification in this subclass
This subclass does not cover:
Tools or instruments for operating on the mouth portion of a human being (e.g., tooth saws) | A61C 3/00 |
Saliva removers combined with instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth (e.g., mouth props, tongue guards, tongue depressors, cheek spreaders) | A61C 17/10 |
Medical instruments, implements, tools, or methods specially adapted so as to limit their usefulness to only animals | A61D |
Methods or devices for treatment of eyes, putting in contact lenses, eye surgery, or correcting squinting | A61F 9/00 |
Ear surgery | A61F 11/00 |
Physical therapy apparatus that includes diagnostic feedback means for influencing operation | A61H |
Syringes and suction, pumping or atomizing devices for medical use (e.g. cups, breast relievers, irrigators, sprays, powder insufflators, atomizers, inhalers), apparatus for general or local anesthetics, devices or methods for causing a change in the state of consciousness, catheters, dilators, and apparatus for introducing medicines into the body other than orally | A61M |
Non-surgical treatment of medical conditions or physical injuries by utilization of forms of energy not directly generated by mechanical apparatus, devices, or means that includes diagnostic feedback means for influencing its operation | A61N |
Clinical thermometers for measuring the temperature of body parts | G01K 5/00 |
Informative references
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Operating tables and auxiliary devices for these tables | A61G 13/00 |
Operating chairs | A61G 15/00 |
Apparatus for artificial respiration or heart stimulation | A61H 31/00 |
Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes | A61J 1/00 |
Devices for administering medicines orally | A61J 7/00 |
Materials for surgical sutures or for ligaturing blood vessels | A61L 17/00 |
Surgical adhesives or cements and adhesives for colostomy devices | A61L 24/00 |
Materials for colostomy devices | A61L 28/00 |
Measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or micro organisms | C12Q 1/00 |
Analyzing samples of biological material | G01N |
Obtaining records using waves other than optical waves and viewing such records by using optical means | G03B 42/00 |