Adaptable Spiral Needle Technology for Diverse Industrial Applications

Publication ID: 24-11857177_0007_PTD
Published: November 07, 2025
Category:New Applications & Use Cases

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Adaptable Spiral Needle Technology for Diverse Industrial Applications,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857177_0007_PTD, Published November 07, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857177_0007_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. 11,857,177.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

The inventive concept leverages the core technology of the original patent, a spiral suturing needle, to create novel solutions for precision farming, automated 3D printing, underwater exploration, robotic assembly, and automated welding. By adapting the spiral needle's design and functionality, new industries can benefit from precise, efficient, and reliable operations.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent's suturing technology, although innovative in the medical field, has limitations in its applicability to other industries. The new inventive concept addresses this limitation by applying the spiral suturing needle's principles to diverse fields, where precision, efficiency, and reliability are crucial. This adaptation enables the development of novel solutions that overcome specific challenges in these industries.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The inventive concept comprises a spiral needle with modified designs and functionalities to cater to specific industrial applications. For instance, in precision farming, the spiral needle is adapted for planting seeds at precise intervals, ensuring optimal crop growth and reduced waste. In automated 3D printing, the spiral needle is equipped with a printing head to deposit material at precise locations, enabling the creation of complex structures. Similarly, in underwater exploration, the spiral needle collects marine samples at precise depths, and in robotic assembly, it assembles components at precise locations. In automated welding, the spiral needle is equipped with a welding torch to weld metal parts at precise locations, ensuring strong and reliable joints.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new inventive concept's novelty lies in its adaptation of the spiral suturing needle's design and functionality to address specific challenges in diverse industries. The inventive step is in recognizing the potential of the original patent's technology and creatively applying it to new fields, resulting in novel solutions that overcome existing limitations.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include modifications to the spiral needle's material, shape, or size to suit specific industrial requirements. Variations may also involve integrating the spiral needle with other technologies, such as sensors or artificial intelligence, to enhance its performance and precision.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in various industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, aerospace, and construction. The market demand for precision, efficiency, and reliability in these fields is high, and the adaptable spiral needle technology is poised to revolutionize these industries by providing novel solutions that address specific challenges and needs.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61B17/0469
A A61 A61B17/0491
A A61 A61B2017/00367
A A61 A61B2017/047
A A61 A61B2017/0475
A A61 A61B2017/0479
A A61 A61B2017/0496
A A61 A61B2017/0498
A A61 A61B2017/06076
A A61 A61F2002/075
A A61 A61F2240/001

Field of Art

Medical device engineering and precision mechanical systems, focusing on needle-based interventional technologies, with expertise in mechanical design, motion control, and precision positioning mechanisms

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A skilled engineer with advanced degrees in mechanical engineering or biomedical engineering, experienced in designing precision medical instruments, familiar with motion control systems, needle mechanics, and cross-industry technological adaptations

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize the fundamental design principles of the spiral suturing needle as readily adaptable to multiple industrial contexts by substituting the end effector while maintaining the core mechanical motion and positioning system. The source patent's detailed mechanical design provides a comprehensive framework for precise path-based needle movement that can be trivially modified for different applications. The core innovation of controlled path-based needle movement is fundamentally transferable across domains with predictable engineering modifications.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Spiral suturing needle with driving and recovery mechanisms for medical interventions
PTD Variation
Adapting spiral needle mechanism for precision farming seed planting
Obviousness Reasoning
Substituting seed placement for medical suturing represents a predictable application of known precise positioning technology, with minimal technical complexity
Source Patent Element
Inner strut sheathed inside sutured material for guidance and control
PTD Variation
Using inner guidance mechanism for underwater sample collection
Obviousness Reasoning
Transferring guidance principle from medical to marine exploration represents a straightforward engineering adaptation with known mechanical principles
Source Patent Element
Suture-taking-up mechanism with shaft and hook for precise material manipulation
PTD Variation
Integrating welding torch or 3D printing head at needle terminus
Obviousness Reasoning
Replacing suturing end effector with alternative tool represents a standard design modification within predictable technological substitution
Source Patent Element
Eccentric wheel mechanisms controlling needle movement and positioning
PTD Variation
Applying identical motion control principles to robotic assembly processes
Obviousness Reasoning
Translating precise rotational control mechanisms across different mechanical domains represents a routine engineering design choice
Source Patent Element
Groove and needle diameter relationship for controlled movement
PTD Variation
Modifying groove geometry to accommodate different industrial needle configurations
Obviousness Reasoning
Adjusting mechanical tolerances and geometries represents a standard engineering approach to adapting core mechanical designs
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. ยง 103, the variations disclosed herein would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention, based on the teachings of US Patent 11857177. The fundamental mechanical principles of the source patent's spiral needle technology represent a predictable technological framework readily adaptable across multiple industrial domains through routine engineering modifications, thereby rendering subsequent claimed variations unpatentable as obvious extensions of the prior art.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,177
TitleMethod for suturing along path and apparatus thereof
Assignee(s)Jiangnan University