Digital depth gauge
First Claim
1. A digital depth gauge apparatus for measuring a depth of a hole in an object that is within a deep surgical field, the apparatus comprising:
- an elongated reader shaft that includes a distal end and a proximal end;
a user interface portion configured at the proximal end of the elongated reader shaft, the user interface portion including a display and at least one actuator that controls operation of at least one of the display and the apparatus;
a probe that couples with and extends from the distal end of the reader shaft, the probe including a tip configured to locate a distal surface of the object;
a sleeve member that includes a distal end configured to abut a proximal surface of the object, the sleeve member being coupled with the elongated reader shaft for relative translational and rotational movement with respect to a longitudinal axis through the elongated reader shaft; and
a sensor interposed between the elongated reader shaft and the sleeve member for measuring relative translational movement between the elongated reader shaft and the sleeve member.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A digital depth gauge is provided for measuring a depth of a hole in an object. In one embodiment the gauge includes: a user interface with a display and at least one actuator; a reader shaft with a distal end and a proximal end connected to the user interface; a probe that extends from the distal end of the reader shaft and which includes a tip configured to locate a distal surface of the hole; a sleeve member with a distal end configured to abut a proximal surface of the hole, the sleeve member being coupled with the reader shaft for relative translational and rotational movement; and a sensor interposed between the reader shaft and the sleeve member for measuring relative translational movement between the reader shaft and the sleeve member. In some embodiments, the gauge may include a means for aligning elements of the sensor.
61 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A digital depth gauge apparatus for measuring a depth of a hole in an object that is within a deep surgical field, the apparatus comprising:
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an elongated reader shaft that includes a distal end and a proximal end; a user interface portion configured at the proximal end of the elongated reader shaft, the user interface portion including a display and at least one actuator that controls operation of at least one of the display and the apparatus; a probe that couples with and extends from the distal end of the reader shaft, the probe including a tip configured to locate a distal surface of the object; a sleeve member that includes a distal end configured to abut a proximal surface of the object, the sleeve member being coupled with the elongated reader shaft for relative translational and rotational movement with respect to a longitudinal axis through the elongated reader shaft; and a sensor interposed between the elongated reader shaft and the sleeve member for measuring relative translational movement between the elongated reader shaft and the sleeve member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A digital depth gauge apparatus for measuring a depth of a hole having a proximal surface and a distal surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a user interface portion that includes a display and at least one actuator that controls operation of at least one of the display and the apparatus; a reader shaft that includes a distal end and a proximal end connected to the user interface portion; a probe that couples with and extends from the distal end of the reader shaft, the probe including a tip configured to locate the distal surface; a sleeve member that includes a distal end configured to abut the proximal surface, the sleeve member being coupled with the reader shaft for relative translational and rotational movement with respect to a longitudinal axis through the reader shaft; and a sensor interposed between the reader shaft and the sleeve member for measuring relative translational movement between the reader shaft and the sleeve member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A digital depth gauge apparatus for measuring a depth of a hole having a proximal surface and a distal surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a user interface portion that includes a display and at least one actuator that controls operation of at least one of the display and the apparatus; and a longitudinally-extending reader shaft that includes a keyed outer surface, a distal end and a proximal end connected to the user interface portion; a probe that couples with and extends from the distal end of the longitudinally-extending reader shaft, the probe including a tip configured to find purchase on the distal surface; a first sleeve member that includes a generally cylindrical outer surface and a longitudinally-extending bore having a complementary keyed surface to the keyed outer surface of the reader shaft, the first sleeve member being translatable on the longitudinally-extending reader shaft; a second sleeve member that encompasses the first sleeve member, the second sleeve member including an outer surface, a distal end configured to abut the proximal surface of the hole, and a generally cylindrical longitudinally-extending bore; and a sensor interposed between the keyed outer surface of the longitudinally-extending reader shaft and the complementary keyed surface of the first sleeve member. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A digital depth gauge apparatus for measuring a depth of a hole having a proximal surface and a distal surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a user interface portion that includes a housing, control circuitry disposed in the housing, a display coupled to the control circuitry, and at least one actuator coupled with the control circuitry for changing an indication on the display; a longitudinally-extending reader shaft that includes a keyed outer surface, a distal end and a proximal end connected to the user interface portion; a probe that extends from the distal end of the longitudinally-extending reader shaft, the probe including a tip configured to find purchase on the distal surface; an inner sleeve member that includes a generally cylindrical outer surface and a longitudinally-extending bore having a complementary keyed surface to the keyed outer surface of the reader shaft, the inner sleeve member being translatable along substantially an entire length of the longitudinally-extending reader shaft; an outer sleeve member that encompasses the inner sleeve member, the outer sleeve member including an outer surface, a distal end configured to abut the proximal surface of the hole, and a generally cylindrical longitudinally-extending bore; a coupling that removably engages with a proximal end of the outer sleeve member for retaining the inner sleeve member within the generally cylindrical longitudinally-extending bore; and a sensor including first and second sensor elements, the first sensor element coupled with the control circuitry and configured on the keyed outer surface of the longitudinally-extending reader shaft, and wherein the second sensor element is configured on the complementary keyed surface of the inner sleeve member. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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Specification