Optical Property Measurement for Non-Medical Applications
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
A novel approach to measuring optical properties of various materials, extending the core technology of medical devices to new industries, including food quality monitoring, cut flower freshness evaluation, water contamination detection, fruit ripeness monitoring, and textile quality assessment.
Background and Problem Solved
The original patent focused on medical devices for measuring tissue properties. However, the limitations of the original patent lie in its restricted application to medical fields. The new inventive concept addresses this limitation by applying the core technology to various non-medical industries, providing a novel solution for measuring optical properties in these fields.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The new inventive concept comprises a light-guiding cone, an image sensor, and a processing unit. The light-guiding cone is configured to direct light onto a material of interest, measuring its optical properties. The image sensor captures images based on the measured optical properties, and the processing unit analyzes these images to determine the quality, freshness, or contamination of the material. This concept can be applied to various industries, such as food quality monitoring, cut flower freshness evaluation, water contamination detection, fruit ripeness monitoring, and textile quality assessment.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The new claims introduce a novel application of the core technology to non-medical industries, providing an inventive step beyond the original patent's medical focus. The combination of the light-guiding cone, image sensor, and processing unit to measure optical properties in various materials constitutes a new and non-obvious concept.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept may include varying the design of the light-guiding cone, using different types of image sensors, or incorporating additional components to enhance the accuracy of the measurements. Variations of the concept could also involve adapting the system for use in other industries, such as pharmaceuticals or cosmetics.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The new inventive concept has significant commercial potential in various industries, including food quality monitoring, agriculture, water treatment, and textile manufacturing. The market for optical property measurement systems in these industries is substantial, with potential applications in quality control, product development, and supply chain management.
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Optical sensing and measurement technologies with applications in medical diagnostics, materials analysis, and non-destructive testing
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
An engineer or scientist with expertise in optical sensing, image processing, and sensor design, capable of adapting measurement technologies across different domains
Obviousness Rationale
A person of ordinary skill would recognize the fundamental optical measurement principles disclosed in the source patent can be readily adapted to non-medical material analysis applications. The core technological elements of light-guiding cone, optical sensing, and image processing are directly transferable across different measurement contexts. The PTD demonstrates predictable variations that extend the source patent's core technological concept to alternative domains using substantially identical technical approaches.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,294 |
|---|---|
| Title | Medical devices for measuring tissue properties and methods of use |
| Assignee(s) | THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM |