Guidewire-based Sensing for Industrial and Environmental Applications
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
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.
Background and Problem Solved
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.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
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.
Novelty and Inventive Step
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 and Variations
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.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
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.
CPC Classifications
| Section | Class | Group |
|---|---|---|
| A | A61 | A61B5/6851 |
| A | A61 | A61B5/02154 |
| A | A61 | A61B2562/0233 |
| A | A61 | A61B2562/0247 |
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Medical device sensing technologies, specifically pressure measurement systems for intracorporeal and industrial sensing applications, involving optical fiber-based pressure detection and sensor integration techniques
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
A skilled practitioner with expertise in biomedical engineering, sensor design, optical sensing technologies, and cross-domain sensor adaptation, possessing knowledge of pressure measurement principles and sensor miniaturization techniques
Obviousness Rationale
A PHOSITA would recognize the fundamental pressure sensing guidewire technology disclosed in the source patent as readily adaptable to multiple industrial and environmental monitoring contexts. The core optical sensing mechanism and guidewire structural principles are fundamentally transferable across different application domains. The PTD demonstrates predictable extensions of the original medical device sensing technology by applying known sensor integration techniques to alternative technical environments.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,345 |
|---|---|
| Title | Pressure sensing guidewires |
| Assignee(s) | Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. |