Flexible Tube Insertion Solutions for Specialized Environments

Publication ID: 24-11857157_0009_PTD
Published: November 07, 2025
Category:Specialized Variations & Niche Solutions

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Flexible Tube Insertion Solutions for Specialized Environments,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857157_0009_PTD, Published November 07, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857157_0009_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,157.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

This inventive concept adapts the flexible tube insertion support apparatus for specific, narrow market or unique operational environments, such as high-security needs, disaster relief, extreme weather conditions, sterile environments, and underwater environments, ensuring safe and efficient insertion of flexible tubes in diverse scenarios.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent, Flexible tube insertion support apparatus, flexible tube insertion apparatus, and flexible tube insertion method, provides a flexible tube insertion support apparatus configured to insert a flexible tube toward a deep part of a pipeline section of a subject. However, this invention has limitations in addressing the unique challenges and requirements of specialized environments, such as high-security needs, disaster relief, extreme weather conditions, sterile environments, and underwater environments. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by adapting the flexible tube insertion support apparatus to cater to these specific environments.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The new inventive concept comprises a flexible tube insertion support apparatus, flexible tube insertion apparatus, and flexible tube insertion method, specifically designed for high-security environments, disaster relief scenarios, extreme weather conditions, sterile environments, and underwater environments. The system features a secure communication channel, a weather-resistant housing, a sterilization module, and real-time weather data integration to ensure the safe and efficient insertion of flexible tubes in these specialized environments. The processor generates propriety information regarding the propriety of a twisting operation of a flexible tube based on the specific environment's requirements and protocols.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new inventive concept's novelty lies in its adaptation of the flexible tube insertion support apparatus to address the unique challenges and requirements of specialized environments, such as high-security needs, disaster relief, extreme weather conditions, sterile environments, and underwater environments. The inventive step is the integration of environment-specific components and protocols to ensure the safe and efficient insertion of flexible tubes in these diverse scenarios.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include implementing the secure communication channel using blockchain technology, integrating AI-powered weather forecasting for more accurate real-time weather data, or utilizing nanotechnology-based sterilization modules for enhanced efficiency. Variations could include adapting the flexible tube insertion support apparatus for use in space exploration, high-radiation environments, or other extreme conditions.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The new inventive concept has significant commercial potential in various industries, including healthcare, disaster relief, environmental monitoring, and aerospace. The market for flexible tube insertion solutions in specialized environments is substantial, with potential applications in hospitals, emergency response units, research institutions, and government agencies.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61B1/00055
A A61 A61B1/00009
A A61 A61B1/009
A A61 A61B1/0057
A A61 A61B1/00096
A A61 A61B1/00097
A A61 A61B5/061
A A61 A61B5/065
A A61 A61B1/044

Field of Art

Medical device technology, specifically flexible tube insertion systems for endoscopic and diagnostic procedures, with expertise in force sensing, processor-based control systems, and medical instrument manipulation

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer or medical device designer with advanced degrees in bioengineering, experience in medical instrumentation, understanding of sensor technologies, processor-based control systems, and knowledge of environmental adaptation strategies for medical devices

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the source patent's core technology of force-based flexible tube insertion control can be readily adapted to specialized environments by integrating contextual sensors and environment-specific protocols. The fundamental processor-driven propriety information generation method remains consistent across variations, with environmental context serving as a predictable modification parameter. The technical solutions represent logical extensions of the source patent's core technological framework.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Processor generating propriety information based on external force quantities during tube twisting
PTD Variation
Generating propriety information using environment-specific protocols and contextual data in high-security, disaster relief, and underwater scenarios
Obviousness Reasoning
Known technique of parameterizing processor decision logic based on additional contextual inputs, representing a predictable design variation with foreseeable results
Source Patent Element
External force detection mechanism for tube insertion control
PTD Variation
Integrating weather data and environmental condition sensors to modulate tube insertion parameters
Obviousness Reasoning
Predictable combination of known sensing technologies to expand operational envelope of medical insertion devices
Source Patent Element
Force quantity accumulation and reference value calculation methods
PTD Variation
Implementing secure communication channels and encryption for insertion data processing
Obviousness Reasoning
Application of standard data security techniques to existing force-based control systems, representing an obvious design improvement
Source Patent Element
Processor-based twisting operation permission generation
PTD Variation
Sterilization status and environmental protocol integration into tube insertion permission logic
Obviousness Reasoning
Extending existing permission generation methods with additional contextual safety parameters, a standard engineering design approach
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on US Patent 11857157's fundamental flexible tube insertion support apparatus teachings, the present publication demonstrates that a person of ordinary skill in the art would find the disclosed environmental adaptations and specialized protocol integrations to be obvious variations, rendering potential claims to such implementations anticipated and non-patentable under standard obviousness analysis.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,157
TitleFlexible tube insertion support apparatus, flexible tube insertion apparatus, and flexible tube insertion method
Assignee(s)OLYMPUS CORPORATION