Guidewire-based Sensing for Industrial and Environmental Applications

This inventive concept applies the core technology of pressure sensing guidewires to entirely new industries and fields, including wind turbine structural health monitoring, aerospace structure fatigue life prediction, industrial process control, soil moisture level monitoring, and industrial pipeline leak detection.

The original patent disclosed pressure sensing guidewires for medical applications, but the technology has limitations in terms of its scope and versatility. The new inventive concept addresses this limitation by exploring novel applications of the guidewire technology, leveraging its ability to detect pressure changes in various environments.

The inventive concept involves adapting the pressure sensing guidewire technology to detect pressure changes in various industrial and environmental settings. For instance, in wind turbine structural health monitoring, the guidewire-based sensor can be integrated into the turbine blade to detect pressure changes indicative of structural fatigue. Similarly, in industrial process control, the guidewire can be used to monitor pressure changes in process fluids, enabling real-time optimization of process parameters. The guidewire-based sensors can also be deployed in soil to detect pressure changes indicative of moisture levels, or in industrial pipelines to detect leaks.

The new claims introduce novel applications of the guidewire technology, extending its scope beyond medical devices to industrial and environmental monitoring. The inventive step lies in recognizing the versatility of the guidewire technology and adapting it to address specific challenges in these new fields.

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could involve using different types of sensors, such as temperature or vibration sensors, in conjunction with the pressure sensing guidewires. Additionally, the guidewires could be designed with specific materials or geometries to optimize their performance in particular applications.

The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in various industries, including renewable energy, aerospace, industrial process control, agriculture, and oil and gas. The market for guidewire-based sensing solutions is expected to grow as industries increasingly adopt IoT and sensing technologies to optimize their operations and improve efficiency.