Instrument comprising a contact force sensor device

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 11871900
APP PUB NO 20210251714A1
SERIAL NO

17251167

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

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Abstract

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A contact force sensor device (10) comprises a gas-inflatable balloon (20) 5 arranged to switch from a deflated state (D) to an inflated state (J) in which it protrudes out of a support member (11); a valve assembly (34) to inflate/deflate the gas-inflatable balloon (12) with a gas; a detector (41) of a force-related value related to a force acting on the inflated gas-inflatable balloon (20) including a membrane (22) due to a contact with a wall (90) 10 outside of support member (11); a processing unit (60) configured to receive a detection signal (45) and to consequently calculate a contact force signal (54) according to a predetermined function; and a notification device (70) configured to receive the contact force signal (54) and to notify it to a user. The value detected can be an excess pressure ΔP in gas-15 inflatable balloon 20, or a deformation parameter of gas-inflatable balloon 20 caused by the contact, or a strain or stress modification in membrane 22, all these effect being caused by the contact with wall 90. Due to its simple structure and small size, the contact force sensor device (10), can be advantageously used in an diagnostic or surgical instrument since, 20 deflated, it can be easily inserted into a patient's body through a very small entry site, possibly along with a surgical or diagnostic tool to perform a mini-invasive surgical or diagnostic operation.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI SIENA53100 SIENA

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Gaudeni, Chiara Lapedona, IT 1 2
Meli, Leonardo Siena, IT 1 2
Prattichizzo, Domenico Siena, IT 8 9

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