Apparatus and method for penetration with shaft having a sensor for sensing penetration depth
US6391005B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 21, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2090/062
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus having a shaft that can sense the depth of penetration, for penetrating into an object (the substrate). The substrate being penetrated has impedance that varies according to the depth under a surface of the substrate. The shaft has a tip for penetration and has conductive ends near to the tip of the shaft. A change of impedance of material of the object between the conductive ends can be sensed to provide information on the depth of penetration. A processor can be provided external to the object being penetrated by the shaft to gather and process the impedance information to determine whether the desired depth has been achieved.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.