Patent ID: 7164476

Claim:
A method for detecting defects or damage in the interior wall of a pipe or pipeline, comprising: obtaining a probe comprising an optical sensor or viewer comprising a lens capable of viewing about 360 degrees, a direction locator, and a distance measurer, wherein said probe is in communication with a computer or data processor for processing data from said probe; passing said probe through the interior of said pipeline while illuminating at least a portion of said pipeline interior wall with said light source and viewing and transmitting for recording views of said pipeline interior wall where illuminated with said probe; recording said location and distance of said probe in said pipeline as data for at least some of said views; and processing said recorded views and direction and distance data such that said views are digitized and displayed in real-time as forward views and side-scan views and wherein said side-scan views are unfolded images showing approximately 360 degrees of the pipeline wall.