| 摘要 |
A probe instrument for measuring the depth of a pocket in a variety of materials, including but not limited to human tissue, includes a handle, a probe movably mounted within a sheath that is movably mounted within the handle, a displacement sensor, and a force sensor. The probe terminates externally of the handle in a tip, and the sheath terminates externally of the handle in a front end. The tip of the probe is aligned with the front end of the sheath initially in a reference position. The front end of the sheath is rested on the edge of the pocket, and force is applied to the handle, causing the probe to emerge from the sheath and enter further into the pocket until the tip of the probe contacts the bottom of the pocket. The displacement sensor generates a first output signal indicative of the depth of the pocket, and the force sensor generates a second output signal indicative of the force of the probe against the bottom of the pocket. A comparator is used to generate a logic signal only when the second output signal is on a desired range. An indicator is provided to prompt the operator then to generate an actuation signal to cause a computer to read the first output signal indicative of the depth of the pocket. Alternatively, the depth of the pocket is read automatically when the force on the tip of the probe is on the desired range.
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