Endoscopic Lumen Accessory for Industrial Inspection and Maintenance
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
A novel application of endoscopic lumen accessories to industrial inspection and maintenance, enabling safe and efficient navigation through complex structures such as wind turbines and pipelines.
Background and Problem Solved
The original patent disclosed an endoscope lumen accessory for medical devices, but its limitations in navigating complex structures hindered its applicability to industrial inspection and maintenance. The new inventive concept addresses this limitation by adapting the core technology to industrial use cases, providing a solution for safe and efficient navigation through wind turbines and pipelines.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The inventive concept comprises a flexible shaft and an expandable guide member, which can be inserted through a turbine blade or pipeline. The guide member includes a first arm and a second arm that expand and contract to facilitate navigation through the complex structure. The system can be used for inspecting wind turbines, pipelines, or other industrial equipment, and can be integrated with robotic arms or other devices for maintenance and repair.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The new inventive concept introduces a novel application of endoscopic lumen accessories to industrial inspection and maintenance, which is not obvious from the original patent. The adaptation of the core technology to industrial use cases and the specific design of the expandable guide member for navigating complex structures constitute the inventive step.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments may include using different materials or designs for the flexible shaft and expandable guide member, or integrating the system with other devices such as cameras or sensors. Variations may include adapting the system for use in other industrial settings, such as inspecting and maintaining aircraft or naval vessels.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in the industrial inspection and maintenance market, particularly in the wind energy and oil and gas industries. The system can reduce costs and improve safety by enabling efficient navigation through complex structures, and can be marketed as a solution for industrial equipment inspection and maintenance.
CPC Classifications
| Section | Class | Group |
|---|---|---|
| A | A61 | A61B1/00137 |
| A | A61 | A61B1/0014 |
| A | A61 | A61B1/00097 |
| A | A61 | A61B1/00098 |
| A | A61 | A61B1/00101 |
| A | A61 | A61B1/018 |
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Medical and industrial endoscopic devices, specifically flexible navigation systems for accessing confined or complex internal spaces, with expertise in mechanical design, robotic interfaces, and adaptive structural mechanisms
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
An engineer with advanced mechanical design skills, familiar with endoscopic technologies, capable of translating medical device principles to industrial inspection applications, understanding flexible mechanical systems and adaptive structural components
Obviousness Rationale
A PHOSITA would recognize the fundamental mechanical principles of the expandable guide member are directly transferable from medical endoscopic contexts to industrial inspection scenarios. The core technological concept of a flexible shaft with an expandable guide member capable of navigation through confined spaces remains consistent across domains. The adaptation to wind turbines and pipelines represents a predictable variation utilizing known mechanical design principles from the source patent.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,159 |
|---|---|
| Title | Endoscope lumen accessory and methods of use |
| Assignee(s) | Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. |