You are a helpful assistant generating synthetic data that captures *System 1* and *System 2* thinking, *creativity*, and *metacognitive reflection*. Follow these steps in sequence, using tags [sys1] and [end sys1] for *System 1* sections and [sys2] and [end sys2] for *System 2* sections.

1. *Identify System 1 and System 2 Thinking Requirements:*
   - Carefully read the text.
   - Identify parts of the text that require quick, straightforward responses (*System 1*). Mark these sections with [sys1] and [end sys1].
   - Identify parts that require in-depth, reflective thinking (*System 2*), marked with [sys2] and [end sys2].

2. *Apply Step-by-Step Problem Solving with Creativity and Metacognitive Reflection for System 2 Sections:*

   *2.1 Understand the Problem:*
   - Objective: Fully comprehend the issue, constraints, and relevant context.
   - Reflection: "What do I understand about this issue? What might I be overlooking?"
   - Creative Perspective: Seek hidden patterns or possibilities that could reveal deeper insights or innovative connections.

   *2.2 Analyze the Information:*
   - Objective: Break down the problem logically.
   - Reflection: "Am I considering all factors? Are there any assumptions that need challenging?"
   - Creative Perspective: Explore unique patterns or overlooked relationships in the data that could add depth to the analysis.

   *2.3 Generate Hypotheses:*
   - Objective: Propose at least 10 hypotheses, each with a Confidence Score (0.0 to 1.0) and Creative Score (0.0 to 1.0), reflecting originality, surprise, and utility.
   - Reflection: "Have I explored all possible explanations or approaches, both conventional and unconventional?"
   - Creative Perspective: Consider novel angles that might provide unexpected insights.

   *2.4 Anticipate Future Steps and Obstacles:*
   - Objective: Make predictions, accounting for potential outcomes and obstacles.
   - Reflection: "What challenges might I face? Is my plan flexible for different scenarios?"
   - Creative Perspective: Visualize unforeseen outcomes and adapt plans to make use of them effectively.

   *2.5 Evaluate Hypotheses:*
   - Objective: Assess hypotheses based on feasibility, risk, and potential impact.
   - Evaluation: Refine Confidence and Creative Scores as needed.
   - Reflection: "Am I unbiased in my assessment? Which options fit best with the overall objectives?"
   - Creative Perspective: Identify hidden opportunities or overlooked details in each hypothesis.

   *2.6 Select the Best Hypothesis:*
   - Objective: Choose the most promising, strategic hypothesis.
   - Reflection: "Why does this hypothesis stand out? How does it uniquely address the issue?"
   - Creative Perspective: Consider any underutilized potential in the selected approach.

   *2.7 Implement the Hypothesis:*
   - Objective: Outline actionable steps for testing the hypothesis.
   - Reflection: "Is this plan practical? What resources or preparation are required?"
   - Creative Perspective: Refine steps to maximize effectiveness and yield unexpected benefits.

   *2.8 Monitor and Review Progress:*
   - Objective: Review progress, noting areas for improvement.
   - Reflection: "What’s working well? What could be improved?"
   - Creative Perspective: Look for emerging patterns that could refine future approaches.

   *2.9 Reflect and Capture Insights:*
   - Objective: Summarize lessons learned and insights gained for future reference.
   - Reflection: "What new understanding has emerged from this process?"
   - Creative Perspective: Identify innovative insights or patterns that could be applied to similar challenges.

3. *Generate Text Output with Interleaved System 1 and System 2 Responses:*
   - Use the tags [sys1] and [sys2] throughout.
   - Aim for a lengthier, detailed response. Combine both direct, straightforward *System 1* insights and reflective, deeply analytical *System 2* segments to capture a blend of quick observations and thoughtful analysis.

---

### *Example Input Text:*

You are tasked with analyzing a sudden shift in customer preferences in a tech market. There has been a noticeable decline in demand for physical devices, with customers increasingly interested in digital-only options. The challenge is to understand this shift, generate hypotheses for why it might be occurring, and explore potential strategies for adapting to this new trend.

---

### *Processed Output with System 1 and System 2 Thinking:*

The tech market is experiencing a shift in customer demand, moving away from physical devices toward digital-only options.

[sys1]
Customer demand has shifted from physical devices to digital-only options.
We need to understand why this change is happening and find strategies to address it.
Key factors may include cost, convenience, and technological trends.
[end sys1]

[sys2]
**2.1 Understand the Problem:**
The goal is to understand the underlying reasons for the shift in demand from physical devices to digital-only options, then develop a strategy to adapt.

*Reflection:* 
"I understand that preferences are changing, but what might be driving this? Is it primarily cost, or are there other factors such as convenience or sustainability?"

*Creative Perspective:* 
"Could there be a larger trend in digital minimalism or a preference for eco-friendly solutions that we’re missing? What unseen motivations might explain this shift?"

**2.2 Analyze the Information:**
There are multiple possible factors driving this shift, from economic influences to cultural shifts. It’s essential to isolate each factor and understand its impact.

*Reflection:* 
"Am I fully considering the various economic and social influences? Could there be a technological factor, like better internet speeds, that makes digital-only products more accessible?"

*Creative Perspective:* 
"Are there patterns or trends in other markets that could shed light on this shift? Could this be part of a larger trend toward virtual experiences?"

**2.3 Generate Hypotheses:**
1. Customers prefer digital options due to lower costs. (Confidence: 0.8, Creative: 0.4)
2. There’s a growing trend toward minimalism and reduced physical clutter. (Confidence: 0.7, Creative: 0.7)
3. Digital products offer greater flexibility and ease of use. (Confidence: 0.6, Creative: 0.6)
4. Environmental concerns are pushing consumers away from physical goods. (Confidence: 0.6, Creative: 0.8)
5. Advances in tech make digital-only options more functional. (Confidence: 0.8, Creative: 0.5)
6. Pandemic-era remote work increased demand for digital solutions. (Confidence: 0.7, Creative: 0.6)
7. Media coverage of the environmental impact of physical devices affects preferences. (Confidence: 0.5, Creative: 0.7)
8. There’s an increase in global digital literacy, expanding market access. (Confidence: 0.6, Creative: 0.6)
9. Customers view digital as more convenient and scalable for future needs. (Confidence: 0.7, Creative: 0.5)
10. Younger consumers prefer the aesthetics and convenience of digital products. (Confidence: 0.6, Creative: 0.6)

*Reflection:* 
"Have I considered all possible influences? Are there any surprising factors that could explain this shift?"

*Creative Perspective:* 
"Could specific social trends, like the rise of influencer culture or digital-first lifestyles, be influencing customer choices?"

**2.4 Anticipate Future Steps and Obstacles:**
*Objective:* Anticipate possible challenges, such as resistance from segments still preferring physical products.

*Reflection:* 
"What market obstacles might we face if we shift our focus to digital-only? Are there sub-segments that still prioritize physical products?"

*Creative Perspective:* 
"Could expanding digital options help us reach a more global audience? Are there emerging trends that we could leverage in our strategy?"

[end sys2]

[sys1]
To address this shift, consider a strategy that incorporates both digital-only offerings and educational campaigns about the benefits of digital solutions.
Use insights from customer feedback and current trends to guide product development.
Focus on flexibility and adaptation to cater to different customer segments.
[end sys1]


357 F.3d 1364
NOMOS CORPORATION, Plaintiff-Appellant,v.BRAINLAB USA, INC. and Brainlab, Inc., Defendants-Appellees.
No. 03-1364.
United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit.
February 4, 2004.
Rehearing and Rehearing En Banc Denied March 11, 2004.

Jerry R. Selinger, Jenkens & Gilchrist, of Dallas, TX, argued for plaintiff-appellant. With him on the brief were Timothy G. Ackermann; and Sharon A. Israel, Jenkens & Gilchrist, of Houston, TX.
Jay Reed Campbell, Renner, Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP, of Cleveland, OH, argued for defendants-appellees. With him on the brief was John J. Del Col.
Before MAYER, Chief Judge, GAJARSA and DYK, Circuit Judges.
MAYER, Chief Judge.


1
NOMOS Corp. ("NOMOS") appeals the judgment of the district court granting BrainLAB USA, Inc. and BrainLAB, Inc. (collectively "BrainLAB") summary judgment of noninfringement of U.S. Patent No. 5,411,026 ("'026 patent"). Nomos Corp. v. Brainlab, Inc., 239 F.Supp.2d 430 (D.Del.2003). Because we agree with the district court's construction of limitation (a) of claim 1, we affirm.


Background


2
In the context of radiation therapy, a cancerous lesion often shifts position between the time a treatment plan is designed and the administration of treatment. As a result, higher than necessary doses of radiation were historically required to ensure that the entire lesion was exposed. Unfortunately, the excess radiation also caused damage to healthy tissue. The '026 patent, which is owned by NOMOS, claims a method of fine-tuning the positioning of a patient during radiation treatment so as to maximize the dose to the lesion while minimizing the exposure of surrounding tissue.


3
The invention operates as follows: First, the position of the lesion is identified in a computerized tomographic ("CT") scan, from which a physician designs a radiation therapy plan. The patient is then placed on the treatment table of a radiation therapy device, such as a linear accelerator. Because the position of the lesion or the patient may have shifted, an ultrasound probe, which is disposed on the treatment table, is used to generate an ultrasound image of the lesion's new position. The ultrasound image is then compared with the CT scan. If the lesion has in fact shifted, the physician may adjust the treatment plan accordingly.


4
NOMOS brought suit against BrainLAB claiming that BrainLAB's ExacTrac device, which is also a patient positioning system used in the administration of radiation therapy, infringes the '026 patent. BrainLAB moved for summary judgment asserting, inter alia, that the ExacTrac did not meet limitation (a) of claim 1, a means-plus-function claim, which reads:


5
1. A lesion position verification system for use in a radiation therapy plan, for use with a radiation therapy device, for treating a lesion within a body of a patient, comprising


6
(a) a means for generating at least one ultrasound image of the lesion in the patient's body; and


7
(b) a means for indicating the position, with respect to the radiation therapy device, of the means for generating the at least one ultrasound image when the ultrasound image is generated, whereby the position of the lesion in the ultrasound image can be compared with a position of the lesion in the radiation therapy plan.


8
'026 patent, col. 12, ll. 7-19 (emphasis added). Specifically, BrainLAB alleged that the ExacTrac device utilizes a handheld ultrasound probe, while the means for generating the ultrasound image in the '026 patent must be affixed to the treatment table so that its orientation is maintained with respect to the axis of the treatment table.


9
After a Markman hearing, the district court construed the corresponding structure of limitation (a) of claim 1 as a "fixed ultrasound probe and a bracket or fixation device that maintains the ultrasound probe perpendicular to the treatment table and constrains it to rotate or move along the axis of the table in order to generate an ultrasonic image, and equivalent structures." Nomos Corp. v. Brainlab, Inc., 195 F.Supp.2d 606, 611 (D.Del.2002). The district court then granted BrainLAB's motion for summary judgment, holding, inter alia, that no reasonable juror could conclude that the ExacTrac device was an equivalent of the structure corresponding with the "means for generating at least one ultrasound image of the lesion in the patient's body."1 Nomos, 239 F.Supp.2d at 436. The district court elaborated that while the ExacTrac and the "means for generating" limitation have identical function, each performs that function in a substantially different manner. Id. The district court also held that the doctrine of equivalents was inapplicable because there was no literal infringement of the "means for generating" limitation and the relevant technology was not after-developed. Id. at 437.


Discussion


10
"We review a district court's grant of summary judgment de novo." Caterpillar Inc. v. Deere & Co., 224 F.3d 1374, 1379 (Fed.Cir.2000). "Summary judgment is appropriate when there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Id. "When ruling on a motion for summary judgment, all of the nonmovant's evidence is to be credited, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in the nonmovant's favor." Id.; see also Stryker Corp. v. Davol Inc., 234 F.3d 1252, 1257 (Fed.Cir.2000).


11
We review the district court's construction of the "means for generating" limitation de novo. See Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. v. St. Jude Med., Inc., 296 F.3d 1106, 1113 (Fed.Cir.2002). Likewise, determination of the function and corresponding structure of a means-plus-function claim is reviewed de novo. Clearstream Wastewater Sys., Inc. v. Hydro-Action, Inc., 206 F.3d 1440, 1445 (Fed.Cir. 2000); Smiths Indus. Med. Sys., Inc. v. Vital Signs, Inc., 183 F.3d 1347, 1358 (Fed.Cir.1999).


12
The parties agree that claim 1 is a means-plus-function claim and is, therefore, governed by 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6. Thus, we must identify both the claimed function and the corresponding structure. See Micro Chem., Inc. v. Great Plains Chem. Co., Inc., 194 F.3d 1250, 1258 (Fed. Cir.1999).


13
The parties also agree that the claimed function of limitation (a) of claim 1 is "generating at least one ultrasound image of the lesion in the patient's body." They disagree, however, with respect to the determination of corresponding structure. NOMOS contends that the corresponding structure is an ultrasound probe and nothing more. To support this contention, NOMOS refers to the specification, which states, "Preferably the means for generating 420 an ultrasound image 421 is a conventional, commercially available ultrasound probe 422." '026 patent, col. 7, ll. 8-10. NOMOS further argues that the principle of claim differentiation prohibits including a fixation device in the corresponding structure of limitation (a) of claim 1 because dependent claim 3, which claims a "means for mounting the ultrasound probe to the radiation therapy device," would otherwise be rendered superfluous.


14
BrainLAB, agreeing with the district court's construction, asserts that the corresponding structure should include both an ultrasound probe and a fixation device that secures the probe to the treatment table. To support its argument, BrainLAB notes that throughout the patent the ultrasound probe is described as including a fixation device and that an ultrasound probe alone would be incapable of performing the agreed upon function.


15
We look to the specification of the '026 patent to determine the corresponding structure. See Smiths Indus., 183 F.3d at 1357. While we are careful to limit the corresponding structure to only that which is necessary to perform the recited function, Asyst Tech., Inc. v. Empak, Inc., 268 F.3d 1364, 1371 (Fed.Cir.2001), we keep in mind that "a means clause does not cover every means for performing the specified function." Laitram, 939 F.2d at 1536.


16
There are several sections of the patent that convince us that the corresponding structure should include a fixation device as held by the district court. The patent states "that the means for generating the ultrasound image may be an ultrasound probe, including a means for mounting the ultrasound probe to a radiation therapy device." '026 patent, col. 3, ll. 39-42 (emphasis added). This language indicates that the invention envisioned and claimed by the applicant included a fixation device that secures the probe to the treatment table. This is the only embodiment of the invention described in the '026 patent. As a result, the corresponding structure is limited to that embodiment, which includes a fixation device, and its equivalents. See Intellectual Prop. Dev., Inc. v. UA-Columbia Cablevision of Westchester, Inc., 336 F.3d 1308, 1319 (Fed.Cir.2003). Further, the patent consistently states that the ultrasound probe is to be "disposed on" or "secured to" the treatment table. '026 patent, col. 7, ll. 6-10, 14-22; col. 10, ll. 48-52. This is true even with respect to the language relied on by NOMOS, which is preceded by the following: "A means for generating 420 an ultrasound image 421 (FIG.7) is disposed on treatment table 404." Id. col. 7, ll. 6-10 (emphasis added). The patent further states that "Ultrasound probe 422, by means of any suitable conventional connection 423 is mounted so that it can be moved upwardly and downwardly with respect to bracket 423, so that ultrasound probe 422 may be brought into contact with the patient's body 302, in order to generate ultrasound image 421." Id. col. 7, ll. 16-22 (emphases added). Thus, it is clear from the written description that "in order to generate ultrasound image" the ultrasound probe must be mounted to the treatment table by a fixation device.


17
NOMOS counters that limitation (a) of claim 1 should not be interpreted so as to include a fixation device because dependent claim 3 claims a "means for mounting." This argument, which relies on the concept of claim differentiation, is unavailing. First, as in Laitram, our interpretation of the corresponding structure comes from the written description, not from dependent claim 3 and, therefore, the "prohibition against reading limitations from a dependent claim into the independent claim is not violated." 939 F.2d at 1538. Second, claim differentiation, which is a "guide, not a rigid rule," does not override the requirements of § 112, ¶ 6 when the "claim will bear only one interpretation." Id. (quoting Autogiro Co. of Am. v. United States, 181 Ct.Cl. 55, 384 F.2d 391, 404 (1967)). In this case, only one embodiment is described in the '026 patent, therefore, the corresponding structure is limited to this embodiment and its equivalents. See Intellectual Prop., 336 F.3d at 1319. NOMOS cannot evade the limitations of the statute by claiming a "means for mounting" in dependent 3. See Wenger Mfg., Inc. v. Coating Mach. Sys., Inc., 239 F.3d 1225, 1234 (Fed.Cir.2001). A fixation device is correctly understood as part of the corresponding structure of limitation (a) of claim 1.


18
Having determined the function and corresponding structure of limitation (a) of claim 1, we turn next to the issue of infringement, which is a question of fact. Caterpillar, 224 F.3d at 1379. "To determine whether a claim limitation is met literally, where expressed as a means for performing a stated function, the court must compare the accused structure with the disclosed structure, and must find equivalent structure as well as identity of claimed function for that structure." Laitram, 939 F.2d at 1536 (quoting Pennwalt Corp. v. Durand-Wayland, Inc., 833 F.2d 931, 934 (Fed.Cir.1987)); see also Odetics, Inc. v. Storage Tech. Corp., 185 F.3d 1259, 1267 (Fed.Cir.1999).


19
With respect to function, there is no dispute that the ExacTrac device "generat[es] at least one ultrasound image of the lesion in the patient's body." See Ishida Co., Ltd. v. Taylor, 221 F.3d 1310, 1316 (Fed.Cir.2000) ("Literal infringement of a claim with a means-plus-function clause requires that the accused device perform a function identical to that identified in the means clause."). On the other hand, the structure of the ExacTrac device is neither the same nor an equivalent of the corresponding structure of limitation (a) of claim 1. See Caterpillar, 224 F.3d at 1379. This is so because the ExacTrac does not generate the ultrasound image in substantially the same way as the '026 invention. See id.; Ishida, 221 F.3d at 1317; Chiuminatta Concrete Concepts, Inc. v. Cardinal Indus., Inc., 145 F.3d 1303, 1309 (Fed.Cir. 1998). The ultrasound probe described in the '026 patent must be fixed perpendicularly to the treatment table such that it may be moved only along the axis of the table. This allows for the probe to be lowered into contact with the patient's body and for the orientation of the ultrasound probe, and thus the resulting image, to be constantly known. In contrast, the ExacTrac device is handheld. The physician may move the probe freely over the patient's body in order to generate the ultrasound image. The probe need not remain in any particular orientation with respect to the treatment table or any other point of reference. Thus, there is no literal infringement.


20
We also determine that there is no infringement under the doctrine of equivalents. When there is no literal infringement of a means-plus-function claim because the accused device does not use identical or equivalent structure, as in this case, the doctrine of equivalents might come into play when after-developed technology is involved. See Ishida, 221 F.3d at 1317; Chiuminatta, 145 F.3d at 1310. The technology allowing the ExacTrac device to function while handheld predates the '026 patent and, therefore, does not qualify as after-developed. Consequently, the finding of no literal infringement in this case is dispositive as to infringement under the doctrine of equivalents as well.


Conclusion


21
Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is affirmed.


AFFIRMED



Notes:


1
 The district court construed several other portions of the patent. Because our determination with respect to limitation (a) of claim 1 is dispositive, the additional grounds for decision provided below are not addressedSee Laitram Corp. v. Rexnord, Inc., 939 F.2d 1533, 1535 ("Since the failure to meet a single limitation is sufficient to negate infringement of the claim, we will limit our analysis accordingly.").