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 key 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;
retractable centerline cutting and positioning means;
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 having a protective pocket for said at least one sensing means;
said tubular means further having a longitudinal slot for receiving said alignment key of said main guide cannulae, and extends from one end of said tubular means to the opposite end of said tubular means;
said tubular means further having an alignment projection means located at the upper end of said tubular means for maintaining said tubular means in the proper orientation within tissue;
said upper end of said tubular means being in close replaceable contact with the lower end of said main guide cannulae for the purpose of buttressing the tubular means during implantation; and
said tubular means further having an enlarged tapered section at the end opposite said upper end for preventing said tubular means from backing out of the tissue.
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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 containing a longitudinal slot down one side with at least one piezo-resistive strain gauge element bonded to its inner or outer 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.
54 Citations
5 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 key 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; retractable centerline cutting and positioning means; 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 having a protective pocket for said at least one sensing means; said tubular means further having a longitudinal slot for receiving said alignment key of said main guide cannulae, and extends from one end of said tubular means to the opposite end of said tubular means; said tubular means further having an alignment projection means located at the upper end of said tubular means for maintaining said tubular means in the proper orientation within tissue; said upper end of said tubular means being in close replaceable contact with the lower end of said main guide cannulae for the purpose of buttressing the tubular means during implantation; and said tubular means further having an enlarged tapered section at the end opposite said upper end for preventing said tubular means from backing out of the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. 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 key projecting therefrom; providing a retractable trocar; inserting the retractable trocar within the main guide cannulae; providing tubular means which has a sensing means attached thereto; providing tubular means further having a longitudinal slot therein; emplacing the tubular means over the trocar; protecting said sensing means from said trocar with a protective pocket; positioning the alignment key in the longitudinal slot of said tubular means; 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