Patent US3905356A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3905356A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Subminiature insertable force transducer
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1974-05-15
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Granted: 1975-09-16
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Expires: 1994-05-15
Abstract
Abstract A sub-miniature transducer suitable for measuring forces at a predetermined location within muscle tissue, including a small diameter tube with a slit at the lower end that forms a pair of tines, and a strain gauge fixed within the tube to one of the tines for measuring slight deflections of the tine. The tube can be inserted into muscle tissue to measure forces at a location deep within the tissue and with minimal disturbance to the tissue, and the tube can be turned to any orientation to measure forces in different direcitons.
Inventors
- 👤 James C Administrator Fletcher
- 👤 Robert H Silver
- 👤 Gilbert W Lewis
- 👤 Cyril Feldstein
- 👤 Edward N Duran
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/45; A61B5/4519; A61B5/103; A61B5/11; A61B5/1107; G; G01; G01L; G01L1/00; G01L1/20; G01L1/22; G01L1/2206; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/02; A61B2562/0261; A61B5/68; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6879; A61B5/6882
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
Apparatus for measuring forces in a body of material comprising: a material penetrator including a plurality of tines with tapered outer ends for penetrating a body of material; and strain gauge means coupled to said penetrator to measure deflections of at least one of said tines; said penetrator including a tube of substantially circular cross section, with a pair of substantially longitudinally-extending slots at one end forming a pair of curved tines, whereby to facilitate rotation of the penetrator to measure stresses in different directions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus for measuring forces in a body of material comprising: a material penetrator including a plurality of tines with tapered outer ends for penetrating a body of material; and strain gauge means coupled to said penetrator to measure deflections of at least one of said tines; said penetrator including a tube of substantially circular cross section, with a pair of substantially longitudinally-extending slots at one end forming a pair of curved tines, whereby to facilitate rotation of the penetrator to measure stresses in different directions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein: said tines are separated by no more than about one millimeter, whereby to enable insertion into muscles of the human body without trapping appreciable muscle fibers between the tines so that rotation of the penetrator can occur with little if any damage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
A transducer for measuring forces comprising: a tube having a pair of substantially longitudinally-extending slots at a first end that form a pair of tines with tapered ends; a strain gauge sensing element mounted on the inside of the tube on one of said tines; and electrical conductor means coupled to said strain gauge element and extending through said tube to a second end thereof which is opposite said first end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
A transducer for measuring forces comprising: a tube having a pair of substantially longitudinally-extending slots at a first end that form a pair of tines with tapered ends; a strain gauge sensing element mounted on the inside of the tube on one of said tines; and electrical conductor means coupled to said strain gauge element and extending through said tube to a second end thereof which is opposite said first end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The transducer described in claim 3 including: a quantity of material of much lower modulus of compression than the material of said tines lying in said slots between said tines, whereby to minimize filling up of the space between the tines.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for measuring forces in animal tissue comprising: inserting a transducer which includes a pair of tines and a strain gauge element coupled to at least one of the tines, deeply enough into the animal tissue so that the strain gauge element is completely immersed in blood of the animal tissue; and allowing current to pass through the strain gauge element and measuring the level of the resistance whereby to determine deflection of a tine and therefore the force exerted by the tissue.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for measuring forces in animal tissue comprising: inserting a transducer which includes a pair of tines and a strain gauge element coupled to at least one of the tines, deeply enough into the animal tissue so that the strain gauge element is completely immersed in blood of the animal tissue; and allowing current to pass through the strain gauge element and measuring the level of the resistance whereby to determine deflection of a tine and therefore the force exerted by the tissue.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method described in claim 5 including: rotating said transducer while it lies inserted in the animal tissue, whereby to measure forces in another direction.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-15 | 1979-03-17 | 1979-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-15 | 1983-03-17 | 1983-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-15 | 1987-03-17 | 1987-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |