| 摘要 |
A laparoscopic instrument which permits distance measurements to be taken internal of a body includes a wheel rotatably mounted at a distal end of an elongated barrel portion. The wheel is placed in contact with an internal body part to be measured and rotation is imparted to the wheel, either by self-induced rotational components housed in the instrument which cause the wheel to be propelled along the surface with which it is in contact, or by friction-induced sympathetic rotation caused by advancing a freely mounted wheel while in engaged contact with the organ surface. The wheel is rolled along a measurement path, and rotation thereof sensed and converted into data output representative of a distance traversed by the wheel. In a preferred embodiment, the radial positioning of the wheel relative the barrel portion is user selectable, facilitating its use in directionally restricted internal regions. A hood is advantageously provided at the distal end of the barrel portion for covering approximately one half of the peripheral contact arc of the wheel, thereby prevent interference with opposed organ surfaces while a measurement is being taken.
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