MPEP Section 902.01(a), Index to the U.S. Patent Classification System

Executive summary:

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902.01(a) Index to the U.S. Patent Classification System

The Index to the U.S. Patent Classification System >(USPC)< is an alphabetic listing of technical and common terms referring to specific classes and subclasses of the **>USPC. The index is used< as an initial entry into the system and should not be considered exhaustive. All appropriate class schedules should be scanned for specifically related subclasses>,< and the definitions and associated notes of the pertinent classifications *>should< also be reviewed, even when the citation found in the Index appears to be restricted to a specific subject matter area.

The Index is **>regularly updated<. Suggestions or changes to the Index are encouraged and should be directed to the **>Technology Center (TC) classification contact in the TCs<.

The Index is available online to USPTO personnel from the Classification Home Page - USPC Index. The Classification Home Page >(http://ptoweb:8081/)< is accessible from the desktop via the Patent Examiner's Toolkit.