PERIODONTAL FORCE PROBE
An apparatus for material characterization including a probe for applying a force to a defined section of biologic tissue. The apparatus also includes a sensor to record the force applied onto the biologic tissue by the probe. And, the apparatus includes a data transmission interface to transmit the recorded force to a data processor.
1 . An apparatus for material characterization comprising:
a contact member for applying a force to a defined section of material;
a sensor to record the force applied onto the material by the contact member; and
a data communicator to communicate the recorded force.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the data communicator comprises an analog display manipulated by the applied force of the contact member.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the data communicator is in electronic communication with the sensor.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the data communicator comprises a transmission interface to transmit recorded data to a data processor.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the transmission interface transmits data through wireless communication.
6 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the transmission interface detachably connects to a data recorder.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the contact member comprises a probe.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the probe is adapted to characterize the tissue in the region surrounding a periodontal element.
9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the probe comprises a wire-form periodontal probe.
10 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the probe is removably secured with respect to a handle.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the contact member comprises a region having predictable flexibility.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the predictable flexibility comprises flexibility in a uni-axial direction.
13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the predictable flexibility comprises flexibility in a lateral direction.
14 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises a dynamic electrical component adapted to flex in correspondence with a surface of the region having predictable flexibility.
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the dynamic electrical component is secured with respect to the surface of the region having predictable flexibility.
16 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein a flex of the dynamic electrical component produces a variable voltage output.
17 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the dynamic electrical component comprises one of a group comprising a strain gauge, a piezoelectric conductor and a transducer.
18 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a displacement instrument secured with respect to the contact member, wherein the displacement member recognizes the physical displacement of the contact member with respect to a fixed geometry secured within the defined section of material to be characterized.
19 . The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a means for indicating the instantaneous value of recorded force and physical displacement.
20 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the displacement instrument comprises a flexible member influenced by a resistive force applied by the fixed geometry.
21 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the resistive force is mechanical.
22 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the displacement instrument comprises a sensor to communicate the resistive force applied by the fixed geometry.
23 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the sensor comprises a dynamic electrical component adapted to flex in correspondence with the displacement member flexible member.
24 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the contact member comprises a lever arm.
25 . The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the lever arm is pivotally secured on a fulcrum.
26 . The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the fulcrum comprises a pivot pin.
27 . The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the sensor comprises a pressure transducer that records force data upon being contacted by the pivotally secured lever arm.
28 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the contact member is displosably in communication with respect to a data communicator.
29 . An apparatus for material characterization comprising:
a predictably flexible member for applying a force to a defined section of material;
a sensor secured with respect to the flexible member, wherein the sensor records strain data generated by the flexible member upon application of the predictably flexible force to the material; and
a communication interface in communication with the sensor, wherein the communication interface relays the strain data.
30 . The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the sensor is a strain gage.
31 . An apparatus for material characterization comprising:
a force-application member that physically reacts to a resistive force generated by the material upon which a force is applied;
a sensor that measures the physical reaction of the force-application member in the form of data; and
a data communicator that communicates the data recorded by the sensor.
32 . The apparatus of claim 31 , wherein the sensor is a load cell.
33 . A system for characterizing material comprising:
a contact member for applying a force to a defined section of material;
a sensor to record the force applied onto the material by the contact member;
a data communicator to communicate the recorded force; and
a data receiver to receive the communicated recorded force.
34 . The system of claim 33 , further comprising a display that displays the recorded force received by the data receiver.
35 . A method for characterizing material comprising the steps of:
applying a force to a material with a contact member comprising predictable flexibility;
recording a material resistive force with a sensor in flexible communication with respect to the contact member; and
communicating the recorded resistive force through a data communicator.
36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the material upon which the force is applied comprises biologic material.
37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the material resistive force comprises the compliance of the biologic material.
38 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the material upon which the force is applied comprises gingival tissue.
38 . The method of claim 38 , further comprising relating the resistive force to a physical condition of the gingival tissue.
39 . An apparatus for material characterization comprising:
a contact member for applying a force to a defined section of material;
a sensor to record the force applied onto the material by the contact member; and
a displacement instrument secured with respect to the contact member, wherein the displacement member recognizes the physical displacement of the contact member with respect to a fixed geometry secured within the defined section of material to be characterized.