Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Touch or pain response of skin
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-14
2001-10-23
Winakur, Eric F. (Department: 3736)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Touch or pain response of skin
Reexamination Certificate
active
06306101
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to devices for measuring sensory thresholds in humans and laboratory animals. More particularly, the present invention relates to electronic devices for testing and measuring sensory thresholds in humans and laboratory animals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Specifically, devices for testing and measuring sensory thresholds of humans and laboratory animals are well known in the art. These prior devices use nylon lines or stiff pins. The disadvantage with prior art devices is that they are sensitive to humidity and ambient temperature. The prior art devices consist of acrylic thin handles, into the end of which a nylon string is mounted by permanent means. For all the different resiliences required, there are about 19-20 different nylon string thickness with their 19-20 plastic handles. Each handle has a force resiliency marked on it. This imprinted number is the only data available to the user or scientist. Although it is a fact, that a 15% relative humidity change can change the exerted force by 40%, the user had to believe that this number is constant. There was no means to reliably measure the change due to these factors. There is a 20-30% change in force depending on the degree of bending. In some cases due to relative humidity some nylon strings exhibit over 100% change in force with 26% relative humidity change.
It is highly desirable to have a very efficient and also very effective design and construction of an electronic algometer for testing and measuring sensory thresholds in humans and laboratory animals. It is desirable to provide an electronic algometer with a resilient pressure sensitive probe, where the resilient pressure sensitive probe is not sensitive to the degree of bending, humidity and ambient temperature. It is also desirable to provide an electronic algometer with a resilient pressure sensitive probe, where the probe has a uniform tip diameter which creates a uniform reaction when the force is exerted thereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus for testing and measuring sensory thresholds in humans and animals.
The apparatus includes an electronic algometer that has a probe housing which houses a strain gauge. The strain gauge has a fixed end and a movable end. A rigid support member is attached to the movable end of the strain gauge and extends out from an opening on the probe housing. A pipette member is press-fitted to the rigid support member. A resilient nylon string or nylon-monofilament has one end attached to the pipette member and the other end has a flexible uniform tip diameter for creating a uniform reaction when a force is exerted thereto. The strain gauge measures the amount of deflection responsive to the force applied from the nylon string onto the rigid support member with the uniform tip diameter of the nylon string in contact with the skin area of the human or animal and produces an electrical output signal indicative of the pressure applied. The electronic algometer is electrically interconnected to the strain gauge for receiving the electrical output signal from the strain gauge. The electronic algometer includes a readout display for displaying the pressure sensed by the strain gauge, where the electronic algometer accurately displays the pressure applied by the uniform tip diameter of the nylon string on the skin area of the human or animal.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved electronic algometer which employs a resilient nylon string made of any suitable material as a pressure sensitive delivering element.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an improved electronic algometer which employs a resilient nylon string having a uniform diameter and a uniform tip diameter which creates a uniform reaction when a force is exerted thereto.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved electronic algometer which employs a resilient nylon string which is not sensitive to the degree of bending, humidity and ambient temperature.
Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3662744 (1972-05-01), Low et al.
patent: 5673703 (1997-10-01), Fisher et al.
patent: 6113551 (2000-10-01), Isaacs et al.
Delahanty Thomas C.
Vaynovsky Barney
Vaynovsky Gregory
Vaynovsky Ingrid
Chen Tony D.
Fong Jerry
IITC Inc.
Rozsa Thomas I.
Winakur Eric F.
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