Method of and means for implanting a pressure and force sensing apparatus
First Claim
1. An implantable pressure and force sensing apparatus, for measuring the mechanical behavior of the soft tissue of the body, comprising:
- a main guide cannulae;
said main guide cannulae having an alignment slot positioned at the lower end of said main guide cannulae;
said main guide cannulae further having a direction indicator at the upper end of said cannulae;
said main guide cannulae further having an inner ledge at its lower end for providing buttressing means;
retractable centerline cutting and positioning means;
inner tubular means comprising means that fit over said retractable centerline cutting and positioning means;
said tubular means having at least one sensing means attached thereto;
said tubular means further having an alignment projection means located at the upper end of said inner tubular means for being positioned within said alignment slot of said main guide cannulae;
said upper end of said tubular means being in replaceable contact with said buttressing means of said main guide cannulae; and
said tubular means further having an enlarged tapered section at the end opposite said upper end.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This apparatus is adapted for replaceable implantation in soft body tissues for the measurement of the mechanical behavior of the soft tissues of the body. The apparatus consists of a thin walled tube with a piezo-resistive strain gauge element bonded to its walls. Tension in tissue fiber bundles results in a squeezing pressure against the sides of the tube, which produces a change in the shape of the tube and thus a change in the resistance of the strain gauge element. This resistance change is then measured and displayed. A method of inserting and removing the apparatus is also described, as are several techniques for calibration.
236 Citations
6 Claims
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1. An implantable pressure and force sensing apparatus, for measuring the mechanical behavior of the soft tissue of the body, comprising:
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a main guide cannulae; said main guide cannulae having an alignment slot positioned at the lower end of said main guide cannulae; said main guide cannulae further having a direction indicator at the upper end of said cannulae; said main guide cannulae further having an inner ledge at its lower end for providing buttressing means; retractable centerline cutting and positioning means; inner tubular means comprising means that fit over said retractable centerline cutting and positioning means; said tubular means having at least one sensing means attached thereto; said tubular means further having an alignment projection means located at the upper end of said inner tubular means for being positioned within said alignment slot of said main guide cannulae; said upper end of said tubular means being in replaceable contact with said buttressing means of said main guide cannulae; and said tubular means further having an enlarged tapered section at the end opposite said upper end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of implanting a pressure and force sensing apparatus into a patient'"'"'s body, for use in medical and other applications, comprising the steps of:
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providing a main guide cannulae which has an alignment slot formed therein; providing a retractable trocar; inserting the retractable trocar within the main guide cannulae; providing an inner tubular means which has a sensing means attached thereto; and emplacing the inner tubular means over the trocar;
whereinsaid tubular means providing step comprises providing such a tubular means which further has an alignment projection at an end thereof; positioning the alignment projection in the alignment slot of said cannulae; pressing the trocar and said tubular means at a desired position on the soft tissue of the patient'"'"'s body; cuttingly penetrating the soft tissue of a patient'"'"'s body with said trocar and said tubular means until the desired depth, at which to implant the sensing means, has been reached; and using the cannulae as a buttressing element during the penetrating step;
whereinsaid cannulae has a positioning arrow at one end thereof; and maintaining a proper positioning of the cannulae and the alignment projection of the tubular means by reference to the arrow; removing the trocar from the cannulae; and removing the cannulae.
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Specification