Apparatus and method for penetration with shaft having a sensor for sensing penetration depth
First Claim
1. An apparatus having a shaft for penetrating into an object which has impedance that varies according to the depth under a surface of the object, comprising:
- a shaft comprising;
(i) a shaft body with a tip for penetration; and
(ii) first and second conductive ends proximate to the tip such that a change of impedance of material of the object between the conductive ends can be sensed to provide information on the depth of penetration.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus having a shaft that can sense the depth of penetration, for penetrating into an object (the substrate). The substrate being penetrated has impedance that varies according to the depth under a surface of the substrate. The shaft has a tip for penetration and has conductive ends near to the tip of the shaft. A change of impedance of material of the object between the conductive ends can be sensed to provide information on the depth of penetration. A processor can be provided external to the object being penetrated by the shaft to gather and process the impedance information to determine whether the desired depth has been achieved.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus having a shaft for penetrating into an object which has impedance that varies according to the depth under a surface of the object, comprising:
a shaft comprising;
(i) a shaft body with a tip for penetration; and
(ii) first and second conductive ends proximate to the tip such that a change of impedance of material of the object between the conductive ends can be sensed to provide information on the depth of penetration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19)
- 5. The apparatus according to claim I further comprising a channel in the shaft extending from the tip for conducting fluid from the tip through the shaft.
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12. An apparatus having a shaft for penetration into an animal object which has impedance that varies according to the depth under a surface of the animal object, comprising:
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(a) a shaft having a size of that of a hypodermic needle, with a sharp tip for penetration;
(b) an impedance sensor connected to the shaft and including;
first and second conductive ends proximate to the sharp tip such that a change of impedance of material of the object between the conductive ends can be sensed to provide information on the depth of penetration;
electronics for sensing said change in impedance;
first and second conductors extending along the shaft to connect the conductive ends to the electronics; and
an electrical insulator interposing between the first conductor and the second conductor; and
(c) mechanical driver for incrementally driving the shaft, the driving action being affected by said change of impedance.
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13. A method for driving a shaft into an object, comprising:
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(a) driving a shaft to penetrate into the object; and
(b) sensing the impedance of the material in the object proximate the tip of the shaft during penetration to determine whether desired depth has been achieved and modifying the driving action based on the impedance-sensed.
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18. A method for inserting a needle-sized shaft through the skin of an animal, comprising:
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(a) driving the needle-sized shaft to penetrate into the animal through the skin;
(b) electrically sensing to determine whether desired penetration depth has been achieved; and
(c) stopping the advance of the needle-sized shaft when the desired depth has been achieved.
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20. A method of making an apparatus having a shaft for penetration into an object, the object having impedance that varies according to the depth under a surface of the object, comprising:
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(a) providing a tip on the shaft for penetration;
(b) positioning first and second conductive ends proximate to the tip of the shaft such that a change of impedance of material of the object between the conductive rids can be sensed to provide information on the depth of penetration; and
(c) connecting the first and the second conductive ends to electronics for sensing said change in impedance.
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Specification