TONGUE DEPRESSOR WITH A FORCE/PRESSURE SENSING ELEMENT

• US 20110190666A1
• Filed: 01/25/2011
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eric Mitchell Friedland, Mark Shaffer Annett
• Original Assignee: Eric Mitchell Friedland, Mark Shaffer Annett
• Inventors: Annett, Mark Shaffer, Friedland, Eric Mitchell
• Granted Patent: US 8,784,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/590
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 13/00 Instruments for depressing the tongue combined with illuminating and viewing instruments A61B1/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4552 Evaluating soft tissue within the mouth, e.g. gums or tongue

Abstract

A body force measurement system for both assessment and therapeutic usage comprising a non-rigid tongue depressor with a force sensing element attached to it and a means of converting the force sensed into quantifiable data. The system provides convenient method for making body force measurements consistent with current clinical practice and without the need for a fixed registration point.

Claims

1. A body force measurement system comprising:

a. a longitudinal element having a distal end with said distal end having geometry similar to a standard tongue depressor

b. a force sensing element located at the distal end of said longitudinal element

c. a means of measuring and displaying the force exerted onto said force sensing element.

2. The body force measurement system of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal element is non-rigid.

3. The body force measurement system of claim 1 wherein the force sensing element is comprised of a force sensing resistor, force-sensing capacitors, strain gauges, liquid filled bladders with a pressure transducer or one-time-use pressure sensitive films.

4. The body force measurement system of claim 1 wherein means of measuring and displaying the force exerted further comprises the ability to display peak force measured.

5. The body force measurement system of claim 1 wherein means of measuring and displaying the force exerted further comprises the ability to establish a zero offset against which all force measurements are taken.

6. The body force measurement system of claim 1 wherein means of measuring and displaying the force exerted further comprises the ability to go to sleep when the longitudinal element is removed.

7. The body force measurement system of claim 1 wherein further comprises a means for illuminating the distal end of the longitudinal element.

8. The body force measurement system of claim 1 wherein further comprises a means for mechanically locking the longitudinal element, such that it cannot be unintentionally removed.

9. A method of reducing the influence of the clinician on the body force measurement being taken without requiring a fixed registration to the patient that comprises:

a. determining the optimum design tradeoff between flexibility in the measurement system and still providing tactile feedback to both the clinician and the patient

b. asking the patient to push as hard as they can against the measurement system for a short fixed period of time and then relax

c. having the therapist attempt to provide only the force necessary to resist the force applied by the patient.