Drilling Characteristics-based Monitoring and Optimization System

Publication ID: 24-11857204_0002_PTD
Published: November 07, 2025
Category:New Applications & Use Cases

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Drilling Characteristics-based Monitoring and Optimization System,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857204_0002_PTD, Published November 07, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857204_0002_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. 11,857,204.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

A system leveraging drilling characteristics to monitor and optimize energy consumption, predict structural damage, monitor soil quality, optimize manufacturing processes, and detect pipeline corrosion across various industries.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent disclosed a surgical instrument for bone screw length estimation from drilling characteristics. However, the core technology has broader applications beyond the medical field. The new inventive concept addresses the need for more efficient and accurate monitoring and optimization in various industries, such as energy management, wind turbine maintenance, soil quality control, manufacturing process optimization, and pipeline corrosion prevention.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The new inventive concept consists of a drilling device, a measuring device, and a processing unit. The drilling device detects changes in drilling characteristics, while the measuring device collects relevant data (e.g., energy consumption, soil properties, process parameters). The processing unit correlates the drilling characteristics with the collected data, enabling real-time monitoring and optimization. For example, in energy management, the system can identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption. In wind turbine maintenance, the system can predict potential damage and adjust turbine operation accordingly.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new inventive concept introduces a novel application of drilling characteristics analysis beyond the medical field, providing a non-obvious solution for various industries. The inventive step lies in the adaptation of the core technology to address specific challenges in these industries.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments may include using different types of drilling devices, integrating additional sensors, or developing industry-specific software for data analysis. Variations may include applying the system to other industries, such as aerospace or construction.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in various industries, including energy management, wind turbine maintenance, soil quality control, manufacturing process optimization, and pipeline corrosion prevention. The target market includes companies and organizations seeking to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance sustainability.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61B17/1626
A A61 A61B17/1628
A A61 A61B17/1633
A A61 A61B90/06
A A61 A61B2017/00075
A A61 A61B2017/00115
A A61 A61B2017/00221
A A61 A61B2090/062
A A61 A61B2560/0223
A A61 A61B2562/0219

Field of Art

Medical device engineering and instrumentation, with expertise in surgical tools, measurement systems, and data processing techniques for monitoring drilling or cutting characteristics across mechanical and sensing domains

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A skilled engineer with advanced degrees in biomedical engineering or mechanical engineering, experienced in sensor integration, signal processing, and cross-domain technology adaptation, familiar with medical instrumentation and data analysis techniques

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize the fundamental technical principles of the source patent's drilling characteristic measurement system as readily adaptable to multiple industrial contexts. The core technological concept of measuring and analyzing drilling/cutting characteristics through integrated sensing and processing units represents a generalizable approach that can be systematically applied across different technical domains. The PTD demonstrates predictable extensions of the source patent's core technological framework by substituting domain-specific measurement parameters while maintaining the fundamental signal processing and measurement methodology.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Measuring device configured to track distance covered by cutting tool or drill bit
PTD Variation
Applying measurement technique to track energy consumption, soil properties, and manufacturing process parameters
Obviousness Reasoning
Known technique of adapting sensor measurement principles across domains, with predictable results of extracting quantitative performance data
Source Patent Element
Processing unit programmed to compare drilling characteristics against reference graphs
PTD Variation
Extending processing logic to correlate drilling characteristics with wind turbine damage prediction and pipeline corrosion detection
Obviousness Reasoning
Predictable application of pattern recognition and comparative analysis techniques to different technical domains
Source Patent Element
Digital data storage configured to hold time window of drilling characteristics
PTD Variation
Implementing similar data storage and comparative analysis for manufacturing process optimization and soil quality monitoring
Obviousness Reasoning
Routine engineering design choice to adapt data management techniques across technical contexts with minimal inventive complexity
Source Patent Element
Surgical instrument with integrated measurement and processing capabilities
PTD Variation
Repurposing instrument architecture for energy management, structural monitoring, and industrial process control systems
Obviousness Reasoning
Obvious technological transfer utilizing standard sensor integration and signal processing principles
Source Patent Element
Method for quantifying agreement between actual and reference drilling graphs
PTD Variation
Applying comparative analysis methodology to detect anomalies in wind turbine operation and pipeline integrity
Obviousness Reasoning
Known technique of extending signal comparison methods to identify deviations across different technical domains
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on US Patent 11857204's disclosure of a surgical instrument with integrated drilling characteristic measurement, the present publication demonstrates that a person having ordinary skill in the art would find the disclosed industrial monitoring and optimization techniques obvious through routine technological adaptation, thereby rendering potential claims to such variations unpatentable under standard obviousness analysis.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,204
TitleSurgical instrument
Assignee(s)Synthes GmbH