Electrical Stimulation for Agricultural and Environmental Applications
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
Applying implantable and non-invasive stimulators for gastrointestinal therapeutics to agricultural and environmental fields, enabling novel applications such as crop yield optimization, contaminated soil treatment, invasive species control, and bioremediation process enhancement.
Background and Problem Solved
The original patent disclosed implantable and non-invasive stimulators for gastrointestinal therapeutics. However, the patent's focus on medical applications limited its scope. The new inventive concept addresses the need for innovative solutions in agricultural and environmental fields, where electrical stimulation can be leveraged to enhance crop growth, remediate contaminated soil, control invasive species, and optimize bioremediation processes.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The inventive concept comprises a network of sensors and stimulators adapted to provide electrical stimulation to agricultural crops, contaminated soil, invasive species, or microorganisms in bioremediation processes. The sensors monitor parameters such as soil moisture, pH, and nutrient levels, while the stimulators deliver targeted electrical waveforms to enhance growth, reduce water consumption, increase microbial activity, or disrupt invasive species' growth and reproduction. The system can be controlled remotely using mobile devices, enabling real-time monitoring and optimization.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The new claims introduce novel applications of electrical stimulation in agricultural and environmental fields, which were not considered in the original patent. The inventive concept's novelty lies in its adaptation of gastrointestinal therapeutic stimulators to address pressing environmental and agricultural challenges.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments may include using different types of sensors, stimulators, or mobile devices. Variations could involve applying the inventive concept to other agricultural or environmental applications, such as optimizing livestock growth or enhancing ecosystem restoration.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in the agricultural and environmental industries, with potential applications in precision agriculture, soil remediation, invasive species management, and bioremediation. The market for these applications is substantial, with growing demand for sustainable and efficient solutions to environmental challenges.
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Bioelectrical stimulation systems with applications in medical, agricultural, and environmental engineering, requiring expertise in electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, and sensor network design
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
A skilled practitioner with advanced degrees in electrical or biomedical engineering, understanding electrical stimulation techniques, sensor integration, and cross-domain technology adaptation
Obviousness Rationale
The PTD demonstrates a straightforward extension of the source patent's electrical stimulation methodology by applying the core technological principles of targeted electrical waveform delivery to alternative domains. A PHOSITA would recognize the fundamental similarity in electrical stimulation approach across biological systems, enabling predictable translation of the gastrointestinal stimulation technology to agricultural and environmental contexts. The remote mobile device control and independently addressable electrode array concepts are directly transferable between the medical and proposed applications.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,783 |
|---|---|
| Title | Implantable and non-invasive stimulators for gastrointestinal therapeutics |
| Assignee(s) | The Regents of the University of California |