Surgical, medical, dental and veterinary apparatus and instruments; artificial limbs, eyes and teeth; orthopaedic articles; suture materials; therapeutic and assistive devices adapted for the disabled; massage apparatus; apparatus, devices and articles for nursing infants; sexual activity apparatus, devices and articles.
Trademark applications and registrations in Class 10 over the past 15 years.
Class 10 covers surgical, medical, dental, and veterinary apparatus and instruments, artificial limbs, eyes, and teeth, orthopaedic articles, suture materials, therapeutic and assistive devices for persons with disabilities, massage apparatus, and apparatus, devices, and articles for nursing infants. It is a major class driven by the scale and innovation pace of the medical device and healthcare technology industries.
The class's top filers — Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, Medtronic, and Muncy Geissler Olds & Lowe — illustrate the dual nature of Class 10 filing activity: specialized patent and trademark firms with deep medtech client rosters alongside device manufacturers that maintain their own substantial in-house filing operations. The medical device industry's regulatory requirements, where FDA clearance timelines intersect with trademark prosecution, make early and strategic filing in Class 10 essential for product launch planning.
The primary classification pitfall in Class 10 is the boundary with Class 5 and Class 9. Medical devices and instruments — the physical apparatus used to diagnose, treat, or monitor — belong in Class 10. Pharmaceutical preparations and medical consumables (drugs, bandages, disinfectants) belong in Class 5. General-purpose electronics that happen to measure health metrics, such as consumer fitness trackers, are typically Class 9, while FDA-cleared medical monitoring devices are Class 10. Baby bottles and pacifiers fall under Class 10, which surprises applicants who expect them in Class 21 with other household containers. Massage devices are Class 10 regardless of whether they are used for therapeutic or recreational purposes.
Medical device companies routinely file across Classes 5, 9, 10, and 42, covering pharmaceuticals, software components, the devices themselves, and SaaS platforms for health data. Dental companies pair Class 10 with Class 5 for dental materials and Class 44 for dental services. The nursing infant subcategory makes Class 10 relevant to baby product brands, which typically also file in Classes 5, 12, and 25 for infant food, strollers, and clothing.
Class 10 includes mainly surgical, medical, dental and veterinary apparatus, instruments and articles generally used for the diagnosis, treatment or improvement of function or condition of persons and animals.
| # | Owner | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP, | 376 |
| 2 | STRYKER CORPORATION | 302 |
| 3 | MEDTRONIC, INC. | 298 |
| 4 | BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC. | 290 |
| 5 | CR. BARD, INC. | 242 |
| 6 | SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG | 224 |
| 7 | COVIDIEN LP | 213 |
| 8 | COOK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC | 208 |
| 9 | DENTSPLY SIRONA INC. | 201 |
| 10 | JOHNSON &JOHNSON | 195 |
Editorial deep dives spanning Nice Class 10 and adjacent classes
Ejec Ventures, LLC applied to register AURI for nutritional supplements in the form of gummies.
In June 2025, most U.S. applications from owners outside the U.S. did not come through Madrid. The five routes into the U.S. register, what each requires, and how each fared.
The USPTO requires your street address, but it hides it if you also give a different mailing address. Your email is another matter, and mistakes are very hard to undo.
Explore 118,687 live trademarks in Medical Apparatus. Search by name, owner, or serial number — then filter by Class 10.
Search TrademarksClass 10 covers medical devices and apparatus (instruments, implants, diagnostic equipment). Class 5 covers pharmaceutical and medical consumable preparations (drugs, bandages, disinfectants). A stethoscope is Class 10; a medication is Class 5.
General-purpose fitness trackers and smart watches are typically in Class 9 (electronics). Devices specifically marketed for medical monitoring (FDA-cleared heart rate monitors, blood glucose monitors) belong in Class 10.
Yes. Surgical instruments for cosmetic procedures are classified in Class 10 alongside other medical and surgical apparatus.
Yes. Baby bottles, pacifiers, teething rings, and other nursing infant articles are classified in Class 10, not Class 21. This is one of the most counterintuitive classifications in the Nice system — applicants often assume baby feeding products belong with household containers.
At-home diagnostic test kits (pregnancy tests, COVID tests, blood glucose monitors) are classified in Class 10 as medical apparatus. The chemical reagents inside the test may separately fall under Class 1 or Class 5, but the test device itself is Class 10.
Yes. Massage apparatus of all types — including electric massage guns, foam rollers, and massage chairs — belong in Class 10 regardless of whether they are used for therapeutic or recreational purposes. This applies even to consumer wellness products sold outside medical channels.
Yes. Veterinary apparatus and instruments are specifically included in Class 10 alongside human medical devices. A veterinary surgical instrument and a human surgical instrument are both Class 10. Veterinary pharmaceutical preparations, however, belong in Class 5.
The distinction depends on FDA clearance and medical claims. Consumer wearables like Fitbit that track steps and general wellness metrics are Class 9. Devices with FDA clearance for specific medical monitoring (continuous glucose monitors, medical-grade ECG devices) are Class 10.
Medical device companies typically file across Class 10 (devices and instruments), Class 5 (pharmaceutical consumables), Class 9 (software and electronic components), Class 42 (SaaS health platforms and R&D services), and Class 44 (medical and telemedicine services). This covers the full product-service ecosystem.