Multifrequency Ultrasound Technology for Diverse Industrial Applications

Publication ID: 24-11857368_0007_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:New Applications & Use Cases

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Multifrequency Ultrasound Technology for Diverse Industrial Applications,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857368_0007_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857368_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. 11,857,368.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

This inventive concept leverages the core technology of the original universal ultrasound device to expand into new industries, including water quality monitoring, composite material inspection, soil moisture level monitoring, food product inspection, and structural health monitoring of buildings.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent's ultrasound device was primarily designed for medical imaging applications. However, the limitations of traditional ultrasound technologies in other industries, such as water quality monitoring and composite material inspection, are well-documented. These industries require adaptable, high-resolution imaging capabilities that can operate across multiple frequency ranges. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by applying the core technology of the original patent to these novel applications.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The inventive concept involves configuring the universal ultrasound device to operate at multiple frequency ranges, enabling its application in various industrial settings. The device is paired with a processing unit that analyzes the received ultrasound signals to determine specific parameters, such as water quality, defects in composite materials, soil moisture levels, defects or contaminants in food products, and cracks or defects in building structures. The system can be implemented in various modes, including non-invasive monitoring, defect detection, and inspection, depending on the specific industry and application.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce novel applications and use cases for the original universal ultrasound device, expanding its capabilities beyond medical imaging. The inventive step lies in the adaptation of the core technology to address specific challenges in diverse industries, demonstrating a non-obvious extension of the original patent's concept.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include customized ultrasound probes designed for specific industrial applications, integration with other sensing technologies to enhance the accuracy of parameter detection, or the development of specialized software for data analysis and visualization. Variations may also include adapting the system for use in other industries, such as aerospace or automotive.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in various industries, including environmental monitoring, materials science, agriculture, food safety, and construction. The market demand for adaptable, high-resolution imaging technologies is substantial, and the new inventive concept is poised to capture a significant share of this market.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61B8/4477
A A61 A61B8/0883
A A61 A61B8/0891
A A61 A61B8/12
A A61 A61B8/4236
A A61 A61B8/4427
A A61 A61B8/4444
A A61 A61B8/4472
A A61 A61B8/4494
A A61 A61B8/465
A A61 A61B8/467
A A61 A61B8/483
A A61 A61B8/485
A A61 A61B8/488
A A61 A61B8/5207
A A61 A61B8/54
A A61 A61B8/56
B B06 B06B1/0292
B B06 B06B1/0622

Field of Art

Ultrasound imaging and sensing technologies, encompassing medical, industrial, and non-destructive testing applications, with expertise in transducer design, signal processing, and multi-frequency signal generation and analysis

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A skilled engineer or researcher with advanced degree in electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, or applied physics, possessing deep knowledge of ultrasound transducer technologies, signal processing algorithms, and cross-domain sensing applications

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the universal ultrasound device's core technology of multi-frequency signal generation and flexible processing capabilities naturally extends to diverse industrial monitoring applications. The source patent's emphasis on adaptable ultrasound systems with configurable operating modes provides a clear technological foundation for exploring alternative sensing domains. The PTD's variations represent predictable extensions of known ultrasound principles applied to different technical challenges.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Single array of capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers (CMUTs) capable of operating across multiple frequency ranges
PTD Variation
Adapting CMUT technology to generate ultrasound signals for water quality monitoring, composite material inspection, and structural health assessment
Obviousness Reasoning
Known CMUT design principles enable frequency adaptability, making cross-domain sensing applications a predictable technological progression
Source Patent Element
Processing device with configurable graphical user interface and downloadable operating modes
PTD Variation
Developing specialized software interfaces for analyzing ultrasound signals in industrial monitoring contexts
Obviousness Reasoning
Flexible processing architecture inherently supports domain-specific signal interpretation through software configuration
Source Patent Element
Ultrasound probe connected to host system for signal generation and processing
PTD Variation
Implementing ultrasound systems for non-invasive inspection of food products, soil moisture levels, and building structures
Obviousness Reasoning
Fundamental signal generation and analysis techniques are transferable across different sensing applications with minimal technical adaptation
Source Patent Element
Graphical user interface with selectable operating modes for different imaging scenarios
PTD Variation
Creating industry-specific user interfaces for configuring ultrasound parameters in industrial monitoring systems
Obviousness Reasoning
User interface design principles for mode selection are consistently applicable across diverse technological domains
Source Patent Element
Multi-frequency ultrasound signal generation capability
PTD Variation
Utilizing different frequency ranges to detect varying material properties and structural characteristics
Obviousness Reasoning
Frequency-based sensing is a well-established technique for extracting material-specific information across multiple domains
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on US Patent 11857368's teachings of a universal ultrasound device with multi-frequency signal generation and flexible processing capabilities, the disclosed industrial monitoring variations represent obvious technological extensions that would be readily conceived by a person having ordinary skill in ultrasound sensing technologies. The combination of known ultrasound principles with domain-specific application contexts demonstrates a predictable technological progression that lacks inventive complexity.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,368
TitleUniversal ultrasound device and related apparatus and methods
Assignee(s)BFLY Operations, Inc