Structural analyzer, in particular for medical implants
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A probe comprising:
- a probe tip for contacting a structure;
an accelerometer coupled to the probe tip for measuring an acceleration time history of the structure;
a hammer for impacting the probe tip against the structure, the probe tip being mechanically isolated from the hammer such that the probe tip can move independently from the hammer after the structure is impacted; and
an actuator for firing the hammer.
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Abstract
A dental analyzer for analyzing dental implants includes a dental probe having a probe tip for contacting a patient'"'"'s dental implant. An accelerometer is coupled to the probe tip. A hammer fired by an actuator against the accelerometer impacts the probe tip against the dental implant which vibrates the dental implant. The accelerometer measures the acceleration time history of the vibrating dental implant. A processor converts the measured acceleration time history of the dental implant into a frequency spectrum from which a diagnosis can then be made regarding the condition of the dental implant.
98 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A probe comprising:
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a probe tip for contacting a structure; an accelerometer coupled to the probe tip for measuring an acceleration time history of the structure; a hammer for impacting the probe tip against the structure, the probe tip being mechanically isolated from the hammer such that the probe tip can move independently from the hammer after the structure is impacted; and
an actuator for firing the hammer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A probe comprising:
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a probe tip for contacting a structure; an accelerometer coupled to the probe tip for measuring an acceleration time history of the structure; a hammer for impacting the probe tip against the structure; an actuator for firing the hammer; a probe body comprising a hollow tube for housing the actuator; and a membrane secured to the probe body supporting the accelerometer for isolating motion of the accelerometer from motion of the probe body. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of measuring dynamic characteristics of a structure comprising the steps of:
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positioning a probe tip against the structure, the probe tip being secured to an accelerometer; impacting the probe tip against the structure with a hammer to initiate dynamic resonance of the structure, the probe tip remaining in contact with the structure during dynamic resonance of the structure; and measuring an acceleration time history of the structure with the accelerometer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of measuring dynamic characteristics of a structure comprising the steps of:
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positioning a probe tip against the structure, the probe tip being secured to an accelerometer; firing a hammer with an actuator, the actuator being housed within a hollow probe body; impacting the probe tip against the structure with the hammer; and measuring an acceleration time history of the structure with the accelerometer, the accelerometer being supported on a membrane secured to the probe body for isolating motion of the accelerometer from motion of the probe body. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of measuring dynamic characteristics of a structure comprising the steps of:
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positioning a probe tip against the structure, the probe tip being secured to an accelerometer; impacting the probe tip against the structure to initiate dynamic resonance of the structure, the probe tip remaining in contact with the structure during dynamic resonance of the structure; measuring an acceleration time history of the structure with the accelerometer; and converting the measured acceleration time history of the structure into a frequency spectrum.
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29. A method of determining dynamic characteristics of a medical implant comprising the steps of:
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impacting the medical implant with a probe tip to initiate dynamic resonance of the structure, the probe tip remaining in contact with the structure during dynamic resonance of the structure; measuring the acceleration time history of the medical implant with an accelerometer coupled to the probe tip; and converting the measured acceleration time history into a frequency spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A probe comprising:
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a probe tip for contacting a structure; a sensor coupled to the probe tip for measuring motion characteristics of the structure; a hammer for impacting the probe tip against the structure; an actuator for firing the hammer; a probe body comprising a hollow tube for housing the actuator; and a membrane secured to the probe body supporting the sensor for isolating motion of the sensor from motion of the probe body.
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32. A system for measuring dynamic characteristics of a structure comprising:
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a hand-held probe having a probe body and a probe tip, the probe tip for impacting the structure, the probe tip being substantially mechanically isolated from the probe body such that the probe tip can move independently from the probe body, an accelerometer coupled to the probe tip measuring the acceleration time history of the structure; and a processor for converting the measured acceleration time history of the structure into a frequency spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A method of measuring dynamic characteristics of a structure comprising the steps of:
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positioning a probe tip against the structure, the probe tip being secured to an accelerometer; impacting the probe tip against the structure with a hammer; mechanically isolating the probe tip from the hammer such that the probe tip can move independently from the hammer after the structure is impacting; and measuring an acceleration time history of the structure with the accelerometer.
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35. A probe comprising:
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a probe tip for contacting a structure; a sensor coupled to the probe tip for measuring motion characteristics of the structure; a hammer for impacting the probe tip against the structure, the probe tip being mechanically isolated from the hammer such that the probe tip can move independently from the hammer after the structure is impacted; an actuator for firing the hammer; and a probe body comprising a hollow tube for housing the actuator.
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Specification