Force transducer, medical instrument, and machine implemented method

摘要

A force transducer comprises a handle operably connected to a probe having an elongate tip. The force transducer includes a biasing element arranged with respect to the handle, in force transmitting communication with the probe, and a detector operable to detect a degree of force applied between the probe and the handle. The force transducer further includes an actuator operable to exert a force on the biasing element in dependence upon the degree of force detected by the detector so as to cause a predetermined force to be transmitted from the handle to the probe.

主权项

1. A medical instrument comprising:
a force transducer configured to apply a predetermined force, at a position selected from an array of predetermined possible positions within the medical instrument, as a stimulus to a test area of a body part of a patient; a processor configured to detect a location of said test area of said body part with respect to a current position of said force transducer and said array of predetermined possible positions; a translation element configured to move said force transducer to one or more positions in said array closest to said location of said test area detected by said detector; and a sample surface against which said body part of said patient may be placed, said sample surface comprising said array of predetermined possible positions; wherein said processor is configured to detect regions of said sample surface which correspond to a position of said body part with respect to said sample surface when said sample surface is in physical contact with said body part and to generate a pressure map indicative of pressure at those regions of said sample surface which are detected as being in physical contact with said body part, and wherein said processor is configured to detect said location of said test area on the basis of said pressure map.