Environmental and Biological Monitoring System using Stapling Technology

Publication ID: 24-11857185_0007_PTD
Published: November 07, 2025
Category:New Applications & Use Cases

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Environmental and Biological Monitoring System using Stapling Technology,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857185_0007_PTD, Published November 07, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857185_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. 11,857,185.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

This inventive concept leverages the core stapling technology from the original surgical stapling device patent to create novel systems and methods for monitoring environmental pollution, wildlife populations, soil quality, water quality, and food safety.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent's surgical stapling device was designed for medical applications, but its core technology has untapped potential in other fields. Traditional monitoring methods in environmental and biological fields often rely on manual sampling, which can be time-consuming, expensive, and prone to errors. This inventive concept addresses these limitations by adapting the stapling technology to collect and analyze samples in various industries.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The inventive concept encompasses a range of systems and methods that utilize the stapling device to collect and analyze samples in different environments. For instance, the system for monitoring environmental pollution uses a network of sensors and the stapling device to collect and analyze pollution samples. Similarly, the method for monitoring wildlife populations employs the stapling device to collect and analyze biological samples. The device for monitoring soil quality combines the stapling device with a sensor to detect nutrient levels, while the system for monitoring water quality uses the stapling device with a sensor to detect contaminants. The method for monitoring food safety utilizes the stapling device to collect and analyze food samples. These systems and methods leverage the stapling technology's precision, efficiency, and reliability to provide accurate and timely data.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce a significant departure from the original patent's medical focus, applying the stapling technology to entirely new industries and use cases. The inventive step lies in the recognition of the core technology's potential in these fields and the adaptation of the stapling device to address specific challenges in environmental and biological monitoring.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include modifications to the stapling device's design, materials, or operation to better suit specific monitoring applications. Variations could also involve integrating the stapling device with other technologies, such as drones, autonomous vehicles, or IoT sensors, to enhance monitoring capabilities.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in various industries, including environmental consulting, wildlife conservation, agriculture, water treatment, and food processing. The market for monitoring systems and methods is growing rapidly, driven by increasing concerns about environmental sustainability, public health, and food safety. The adapted stapling technology could provide a competitive edge in these markets, offering a more efficient, accurate, and cost-effective solution for monitoring and analysis.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61B17/072
A A61 A61B90/03
A A61 A61B2017/07271
A A61 A61B2090/038

Field of Art

Surgical and sampling technologies, specifically medical device design, sampling mechanisms, and precision mechanical systems with applications in biotechnology, environmental monitoring, and diagnostic sampling

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A professional with expertise in mechanical engineering, biomedical device design, and interdisciplinary sampling technologies, possessing advanced degrees and practical experience in adapting precision mechanical systems across multiple domains

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize the fundamental mechanical principles of the surgical stapling device as readily adaptable to sampling and monitoring applications. The core technological elements - precise mechanical actuation, sample collection mechanism, and modular design - are directly transferable across different technical domains. The PTD demonstrates predictable variations that leverage the source patent's core technological innovations by repurposing the stapling mechanism's precision and reliability for environmental and biological monitoring contexts.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Surgical stapling device with precise mechanical alignment and sample compression capabilities
PTD Variation
Environmental sampling system using stapling device mechanism to collect pollution, biological, soil, and water samples
Obviousness Reasoning
Known technique of adapting precision mechanical systems across domains, with predictable results in sample collection efficiency and accuracy
Source Patent Element
Elongate body portion with distal end effector for tissue manipulation
PTD Variation
Modifying distal end effector to include integrated sensors for environmental and biological monitoring
Obviousness Reasoning
Predictable design modification using known sensor integration techniques, extending device functionality through routine engineering modifications
Source Patent Element
Mechanical locking and alignment mechanisms for precise device positioning
PTD Variation
Applying alignment mechanisms to stabilize sampling processes in diverse environmental monitoring contexts
Obviousness Reasoning
Finite set of known mechanical solutions for precise positioning, with clear technological transferability across technical domains
Source Patent Element
Deployment member for moving alignment components
PTD Variation
Repurposing deployment mechanism for automated sample collection in wildlife, soil, and water monitoring systems
Obviousness Reasoning
Obvious extension of existing mechanical actuation principles to new application domains with predictable functional outcomes
Source Patent Element
Surgical device designed for precise tissue interaction
PTD Variation
Adapting device for non-medical sample collection with integrated sensor technologies
Obviousness Reasoning
Known technique of technological cross-domain adaptation, utilizing established mechanical principles in novel application contexts
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on US Patent 11857185's disclosure of a surgical stapling device with precise mechanical sampling and alignment mechanisms, the present publication demonstrates that variations applying such mechanisms to environmental and biological monitoring would be obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art. The fundamental technological principles underlying the source patent's mechanical design are directly transferable and predictably adaptable to diverse sampling and monitoring applications, rendering subsequent claims of novelty invalid under 35 U.S.C. ยง 103.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,185
TitleSurgical stapling device with shipping cap
Assignee(s)Covidien LP