Probe for a biophysical skin measurement device

Claim 2

A probe for use with a biophysical skin measurement device having a cable, said probe comprising: a disposable sensor device; a handle for receiving the measurement device cable; a socket on said handle electrically interconnected with the measurement device cable; and means for removably engaging said disposable sensor device and said socket; when engaged, said sensor device being electrically interconnected with the cable through said socket for providing measurement signals to the biophysical skin measurement device.

Claim 3

The probe of claim 1 in which said handle includes means for removably interconnecting a cap with said handle for covering said socket and securing said socket to said handle.

Claim 4

The probe of claim 1 in which said means for engaging includes first thread means on said socket and second, complementary thread means on said sensor device for engaging said sensor device and said socket.

Claim 5

The probe of claim 1 in which said sensor device and said socket are engaged by means of a friction fit.

Claim 6

The probe of claim 1 in which said means for engaging includes two projections on said sensor and two complementary slots in said socket for receiving said projections and securing said projections and sensor to said socket.

Claim 7

The probe of claim 1 in which said sensor device is at least partially formed of brass.

Claim 8

The probe of claim 1 wherein the measurement device cable has first and second conductors and wherein said sensor device includes a first sensor member for interconnecting with one of the first and second conductors and a second sensor member for interconnecting with the other of the first and second conductors.

Claim 9

The probe of claim 7 in which said first and second sensor members are electrical conductors.

Claim 10

The probe of claim 7 in which said second sensor member is peripherally disposed about said first sensor member and said first and second sensor members are separated by an insulating member.

Claim 11

A probe for a biophysical skin measurement device comprising: a disposable sensor device; a handle for receiving a cable from the measurement device; a threaded socket on said handle electrically interconnected with the cable; said disposable sensor device having threads complementary to the threads on said socket for removably engaging said threaded socket; when engaged, said sensor device being electrically interconnected with said cable through said socket for providing measurement signals to the biophysical skin measurement device; and a cap for engaging the second end of said handle for covering and securing said socket to said handle.

Claim 12

A probe for a biophysical skin measurement device comprising: a disposable sensor device; a handle for receiving a cable from the measurement device; a threaded socket on said handle electrically interconnected with the cable; said disposable sensor device having threads complementary to the threads on said socket for removably engaging said threaded socket; when engaged, said sensor device being electrically interconnected with said cable through said socket for providing measurement signals to the biophysical skin measurement device; and a cap for engaging the second end of said handle for covering and securing said socket to said handle.

Claim 13

A probe for use with a biophysical skin measurement device with a cable, comprising: a disposable sensor device including a central conductor, an insulating medium coaxially disposed about said central conductor, and an outer conductor member coaxially disposed about said insulating medium; a handle for receiving the measurement device cable; a socket on said handle for removably receiving said sensor device, said socket including a conducting inner wall which is in electrical contact with the outer conductor of the sensor device and a central conductor contact within said socket in electrical contact with said central conductor of the sensor device, the conducting inner wall and the central conductor contact separated by an insulating medium, said conducting inner wall and said central conductor contact being electrically interconnected with the measurement device cable through said socket for providing measurement signals from the sensor to the measurement device.

Claim 14

A probe for use with a biophysical skin measurement device with a cable, comprising: a disposable sensor device including a central conductor, an insulating medium coaxially disposed about said central conductor, and an outer conductor member coaxially disposed about said insulating medium; a handle for receiving the measurement device cable; a socket on said handle for removably receiving said sensor device, said socket including a conducting inner wall which is in electrical contact with the outer conductor of the sensor device and a central conductor contact within said socket in electrical contact with said central conductor of the sensor device, the conducting inner wall and the central conductor contact separated by an insulating medium, said conducting inner wall and said central conductor contact being electrically interconnected with the measurement device cable through said socket for providing measurement signals from the sensor to the measurement device.

Claim 15

A probe for use with a biophysical skin measurement device with a cable, comprising: a disposable sensor including a contact surface for contacting a patient's skin, the contact surface including a pair of first and second spaced apart conductors thereon, the sensor further including a single male member extending from said contact surface; a handle for receiving the measurement device cable; a socket in said handle including means for removably receiving the male member of the sensor to facilitate the disposability and interchangeability of sensors received therein.

Claim 16

A probe for use with a biophysical skin measurement device with a cable, comprising: a disposable sensor including a contact surface for contacting a patient's skin, the contact surface including a pair of first and second spaced apart conductors thereon, the sensor further including a single male member extending from said contact surface; a handle for receiving the measurement device cable; a socket in said handle including means for removably receiving the male member of the sensor to facilitate the disposability and interchangeability of sensors received therein.

Claim 17

The probe of claim 12 in which the first conductor is disposed centrally through the male member, and the second conductor is coaxially disposed about the first conductor and separated therefrom by an insulating medium.

Claim 18

The probe of claim 12 in which the male member includes a set of threads thereon and the means for removably receiving includes a complementary set of threads in the socket.

Claim 19

The probe of claim 12 in which the male member has a first diameter and the means for removably receiving includes an inner surface of the socket of a second diameter less than the first diameter to receive said male member via a friction fit.

Claim 20

The probe of claim 12 in which the male member includes a bayonet projection thereon and the means for removably receiving includes a complementary curved slot in the socket for receiving said bayonet projection.

Claim 21

A probe for use with a biophysical skin measurement device comprising: A) a handle having means for communicating with instrumentation and having at one end a socket having first and second spaced, coaxial electrical contacts formed therein, B) a disposable sensor device having at one end spaced electrodes for contacting the skin and at the other end spaced electrodes for engaging the first and second electrodes in said socket, and C) first and second complementary releasable engagement means attached in said socket at the other end of said sensor for having relative motion between locked and unlocked positions whereby said sensor electrodes contact said socket electrodes when said sensor is positioned in said socket and said releasable means is in the locked position and said sensor is removable from said socket when said releasable means is in the unlocked position.

Claim 22

A probe for use with a biophysical skin measurement device comprising: A) a handle having means for communicating with instrumentation and having at one end a socket having first and second spaced, coaxial electrical contacts formed therein, B) a disposable sensor device having at one end spaced electrodes for contacting the skin and at the other end spaced electrodes for engaging the first and second electrodes in said socket, and C) first and second complementary releasable engagement means attached in said socket at the other end of said sensor for having relative motion between locked and unlocked positions whereby said sensor electrodes contact said socket electrodes when said sensor is positioned in said socket and said releasable means is in the locked position and said sensor is removable from said socket when said releasable means is in the unlocked position.

Claim 23

A probe as recited in claim 17 wherein the sensor further includes a single male member extending from said contact surface and said socket in said handle includes means for removably receiving the male member of the sensor to facilitate the disposability and interchangeability of sensors received therein.

Claim 24

A probe as recited in claim 18 wherein said first conductor is disposed centrally through said male member, and said second conductor is coaxially disposed about the first conductor and separated therefrom by an insulating medium.

Claim 25

A probe as recited in claim 18 wherein said male member includes a set of threads thereon and said means for removably receiving includes a complementary set of threads in said socket.

Claim 26

A probe as recited in claim 18 wherein said male member has a first diameter and said removably receiving means includes an inner surface of the socket of a second diameter less than the first diameter to receive said male member via a friction fit.

Claim 27

A probe as recited in claim 18 wherein said male member includes a bayonet projection thereon and said removably receiving means includes a complementary curved slot in said socket for receiving said bayonet projection.