Sensor assembly and medical device incorporating same
First Claim
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1. A sensor assembly, comprising:
- a rigid structure;
a beam comprising a supported portion affixed to the rigid structure and an end portion that is freestanding with respect to the rigid structure;
a sensing element disposed on the beam; and
a loading member to deflect the end portion of the beam towards the rigid structure in response to a force applied to the sensor assembly, the loading member having a feature that contacts the supported portion to prevent deflection of the beam when the force applied is greater than a threshold value.
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Abstract
Apparatus are provided for sensor assemblies and related medical devices. An embodiment of a sensor assembly includes a beam and a sensing element disposed on the beam. The sensor assembly also includes a loading member to deflect the beam in response to a force applied to the sensor assembly. The loading member has a feature that prevents deflection of the beam when the force applied is greater than a threshold value.
292 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A sensor assembly, comprising:
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a rigid structure; a beam comprising a supported portion affixed to the rigid structure and an end portion that is freestanding with respect to the rigid structure; a sensing element disposed on the beam; and a loading member to deflect the end portion of the beam towards the rigid structure in response to a force applied to the sensor assembly, the loading member having a feature that contacts the supported portion to prevent deflection of the beam when the force applied is greater than a threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A portable medical device, comprising:
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a sliding member; a drive system to displace the sliding member in a first direction; and a sensor assembly coupled to the drive system to measure force provided by the drive system to displace the sliding member in the first direction, the sensor assembly comprising; a rigid structure; a beam comprising a supported portion affixed to the rigid structure and an end portion that is freestanding with respect to the rigid structure; a sensing element disposed on the beam; and a loading member arranged to deflect the end portion of the beam towards the rigid structure in response to a force applied to the sensor assembly, the loading member having a feature that contacts the supported portion to prevent deflection of the beam when the force applied to the sensor assembly is greater than a threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A sensor assembly, comprising:
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a rigid structure; a beam structure comprising a plurality of beams extending from an outer portion affixed to the rigid structure, each beam having a sensing element disposed thereon, wherein end portions of the beams are integral to provide an inner portion of the beam structure that is freestanding with respect to the rigid structure; and a loading element mechanically coupled to the inner portion to deflect one or more of the plurality of beams by displacing the inner portion towards the rigid structure in response to a force applied to the loading element, the loading element contacting the outer portion to restrict displacement of the inner portion when the force applied is greater than a threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification