Class 10 includes mainly surgical, medical, dental and veterinary apparatus and instruments that are generally used for the diagnosis or treatment of human or animal diseases and conditions. The words "apparatus" and "instruments" are important as they help to differentiate Class 10 goods from the medical and veterinary preparations in Cl. 5. In a very general manner, Cl. 5, Cl. 10 and Cl. 44 are the "medical/veterinary classes" of the Classification, the first for medicines, the second for medical and veterinary equipment, and the third for medical and veterinary services.
Certain apparatus and instruments classified in other classes belong to Class 10 when they are used for surgical, medical, dental or veterinary purposes. For example, needles in general are in Cl. 26 and lasers in Cl. 9 but when specified as being for medical purposes, they are in Class 10. The same is true of certain goods that are not apparatus or instruments, like clothing, furniture and bedding. For example, clothing especially for operating rooms, beds specially made for medical purposes, and childbirth mattresses are in Class 10. Nevertheless, adding "for medical or veterinary purposes" to any indication of good does not automatically place that good in Class 10. For example, sterilizers are in Cl. 11, even if they are used for sterilizing medical instruments. The Alphabetical List should thus be consulted when classifying goods "for medical or veterinary purposes". Furthermore, some goods used with medical apparatus, such as paper for medical examination tables, are classified according to different classification criteria (in this case, Cl. 16 on the basis of material composition).
Class 10 further includes prostheses and artificial implants. The term "artificial" is important for the classification of implants in Class 10 because living tissues used as surgical implants are in Cl. 5.
There are bandages in both Class 10 and Cl. 5. The difference is that the bandages in Class 10 are supportive, i.e., they are used for supporting injured muscles or parts of the body and thus have a therapeutic function, while the bandages in Cl. 5 are used simply to bind wounds or hold dressings in place.
It should be noted that certain articles made of rubber or similar materials also belong to Class 10 on the basis of function, such as feeding bottle teats and valves, teething rings, dummies (pacifiers) for babies, condoms, and gloves for medical purposes. Objects in the nature of sex toys are also included in Class 10 as these are not the sort of playthings considered appropriate to Cl. 28.
Class 10 also contains apparatus that, whilst not necessarily used directly for medical treatment, helps to maintain or improve human health. Examples include massage apparatus and articles for nursing infants.