Trademark Class 10: Medical Apparatus

Class 10 covers medical devices, surgical instruments, prosthetics, and therapeutic apparatus. Medical device manufacturers and healthcare equipment companies file here.

What Class 10 Covers

Class 10 includes surgical, medical, dental, and veterinary apparatus and instruments. This class covers medical devices used for diagnosis, treatment, and patient care.

The class covers:

Surgical instruments - Scalpels, forceps, surgical scissors
Diagnostic equipment - Stethoscopes, blood pressure monitors
Prosthetics - Artificial limbs, hearing aids, implants
Therapeutic devices - CPAP machines, orthopedic supports

Included in Class 10

Surgical Instruments:

Scalpels
Surgical scissors
Forceps
Surgical needles
Retractors
Clamps

Diagnostic Equipment:

Stethoscopes
Blood pressure monitors
Thermometers (medical)
Glucose monitors
Pulse oximeters
Ophthalmoscopes

Prosthetics:

Artificial limbs
Hearing aids
Dental implants
Joint replacements
Pacemakers
Cochlear implants

Therapeutic Devices:

CPAP machines
Orthopedic supports
Physical therapy equipment
Massage devices (medical)
Breast pumps
Compression garments

NOT Included in Class 10

These similar items belong in other classes:

Pharmaceutical preparations - Class 5 (Pharmaceuticals)
Fitness equipment - Class 28 (Toys & Sporting Goods)
Medical software - Class 9 (Electronics)
Hospital furniture - Class 20 (Furniture)
Medical services - Class 44 (Medical & Beauty Services)

Class 10 vs. Class 5

Understanding the distinction between medical devices and pharmaceuticals:

Class 10 (this class): Physical devices, apparatus, and instruments used in medical care. These are equipment and tools.

Class 5: Pharmaceutical preparations, drugs, and consumable medical supplies like bandages and dressings.

Example: A blood glucose monitor is Class 10; glucose test strips are Class 5.

Common Goods Descriptions

Using pre-approved descriptions from the USPTO Trademark ID Manual avoids the $200 custom description surcharge.

Popular pre-approved descriptions for Class 10:

Surgical apparatus and instruments
Medical apparatus and instruments
Diagnostic apparatus for medical purposes
Artificial limbs and prosthetics
Orthopedic articles
Hearing aids
Massage apparatus

Well-Known Marks in Class 10

These recognizable brands are registered in Class 10:

Medtronic - Medical devices and implants
Siemens Healthineers - Diagnostic imaging equipment
Stryker - Surgical instruments and implants
ResMed - CPAP and sleep therapy devices
Phonak - Hearing aids
Zimmer Biomet - Orthopedic devices

Filing Tips for Class 10

FDA Considerations

Medical devices sold in the United States typically require FDA clearance or approval:

Class I devices: Generally exempt or 510(k)
Class II devices: Usually require 510(k) clearance
Class III devices: Require premarket approval (PMA)

Ensure your trademark registration aligns with your FDA regulatory status.

Specify Medical Function

The USPTO requires specific descriptions:

Good: "Medical devices for monitoring blood glucose levels"
Good: "Orthopedic braces for joint support"
Good: "Surgical instruments for minimally invasive surgery"
Bad: "Medical equipment"
Bad: "Healthcare products"

Specimens for Medical Devices

For Class 10 trademarks, acceptable specimens include:

Product labels on medical devices
Packaging with FDA-required labeling
Website pages where devices are sold
Product inserts

Filing Fees

Current USPTO fees for Class 10 trademark applications (2025):

Filing Type	Fee per Class
Electronic filing (ID Manual description)	$350
Electronic filing (custom description)	$550
Paper filing	$1,000

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Trademark Class 10: Medical Apparatus | Complete Filing Guide