Off-Center Liner Applications Beyond Hip Joint Replacement

Publication ID: 24-11857423_0007_PTD
Published: October 28, 2025
Category:New Applications & Use Cases

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Off-Center Liner Applications Beyond Hip Joint Replacement,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857423_0007_PTD, Published October 28, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857423_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. 11,857,423.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

This inventive concept explores novel applications of off-center liners, originally designed for acetabular cups in hip joint replacement, in diverse industries such as agriculture, wind energy, construction, water purification, and robotics.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent disclosed off-center liners for acetabular cups, addressing the need for improved hip joint replacement procedures. However, the limitations of this technology lie in its restricted application to a specific medical field. This inventive concept tackles the problem of underutilization of the core technology by exploring its potential in unrelated industries, thereby expanding its impact and value.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The off-center liner's unique geometry and properties are leveraged in various new applications. For instance, in agricultural crop health monitoring, the liner is coupled with a sensor array to detect anomalies in growth patterns. In wind turbine blade design, the liner serves as a mold to create curved surfaces, enabling stress pattern analysis for optimal blade shapes. In modular building systems, interlocking modules with off-center liners provide structural support and facilitate easy assembly and disassembly. In water purification, the liner's unique geometry enhances fluid flow and contaminant removal. Lastly, in robotic grasping systems, the liner-based end effector enables improved grip stability and adaptability to various object shapes.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The novelty of this inventive concept lies in the unexpected application of off-center liners in diverse industries, leveraging their unique properties to solve distinct problems. The inventive step involves recognizing the potential of the original technology and adapting it to address unmet needs in unrelated fields.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments may include using off-center liners in other industries, such as aerospace, automotive, or consumer products. Variations could involve modifying the liner's material, size, or shape to suit specific application requirements.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in multiple industries, including agriculture, renewable energy, construction, water treatment, and robotics. The target market includes companies and organizations seeking innovative solutions to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance performance in their respective fields.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61F2/34
A A61 A61F2/4609
A A61 A61F2002/30617
A A61 A61F2002/3453
A A61 A61F2002/4681

Field of Art

Medical device engineering, specifically orthopedic implant design with a focus on acetabular cup liners and biomechanical interfaces

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer with expertise in orthopedic prosthetics, familiar with materials science, mechanical design, and surgical interface optimization, typically holding a Master's or PhD in biomedical engineering

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the fundamental geometric principles of the off-center liner disclosed in US 11857423 can be readily adapted to alternative technical domains by leveraging its core structural characteristics. The source patent's emphasis on geometric offset and functional adaptability provides a clear conceptual framework for exploring novel applications across different technical fields. The PTD's variations represent predictable extensions of the original liner concept by applying its fundamental mechanical and geometric principles to solve problems in diverse technological contexts.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Off-center liner with concave bearing surface offset from primary axis
PTD Variation
Agricultural sensor array integration using liner's geometric properties for mounting and positioning
Obviousness Reasoning
A PHOSITA would recognize the liner's geometric offset as a standard mounting technique for sensor integration, representing a known technique for structural adaptation
Source Patent Element
Visual indicators on proximal surface of liner
PTD Variation
Robotic grasping system using liner's offset geometry and indicator markings for precision positioning
Obviousness Reasoning
Adapting alignment indicators to robotic end effector design represents a predictable design variation using known mechanical interface techniques
Source Patent Element
Concave surface configured to receive a head component
PTD Variation
Water purification filter using liner's curved geometry to optimize fluid flow characteristics
Obviousness Reasoning
Translating a biomechanical interface design to fluid dynamics represents a standard engineering approach of applying geometric principles across technical domains
Source Patent Element
Outer convex surface configured to extend into a cup structure
PTD Variation
Wind turbine blade molding technique using liner's curved surface generation capabilities
Obviousness Reasoning
Utilizing a complex geometric surface generation technique across different manufacturing contexts represents a predictable design transfer
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US 11857423, a person of ordinary skill in the art would find the technical variations disclosed in the Published Technical Disclosure to represent obvious extensions of the source patent's core geometric and functional principles. The disclosed adaptations demonstrate predictable applications of known structural design techniques across multiple technical domains, thereby rendering potential derivative claims obvious under 35 U.S.C. Section 103.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,423
TitleOff-center liner for acetabular cup
Assignee(s)Arthrology Consulting, LLC