DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A SPRING FORCE EXERTED ON A SENSOR FOR OBTAINING BIO-CONDUCTANCE READINGS USING A LINEAR ACTUATOR

1 . A device for measuring bio-conductance comprising:

an actuator having an output shaft;

an electrode tip;

a mechanical linkage interconnecting the output shaft and the electrode tip; and

the mechanical linkage comprising a resilient member biased against the electrode tip;

wherein the resilient member exerts a variable force on the electrode tip responsive to a position of the output shaft.

2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a force sensor in communication with the electrode tip.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the force sensor comprises a sensor pad interposed in the mechanical linkage between the electrode tip and the output shaft.

4 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the force sensor comprises one of a force sensitive resistor or a force sensitive capacitor or a force sensitive load cell.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member is one of a spring, a coil spring, and a deformable material.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a linear actuator.

7 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a hood, wherein the electrode tip is operable between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the hood.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical linkage is responsive to movement of the output shaft of the actuator to control a force applied at the electrode tip.

9 . The device of claim 1 ,

wherein the mechanical linkage further comprises a hollow cylindrical tube extending between a closed end and an open end;

wherein the resilient member is disposed within the hollow cylindrical tube;

wherein the output shaft of the actuator is connected to the closed end of the hollow cylindrical tube.

10 . The device of claim 9 ,

wherein the mechanical linkage further comprises a control shaft and a pin;

wherein the control shaft is interposed between the electrode tip and the resilient member;

wherein the control shaft comprises a rotation control groove;

wherein the pin connects the control shaft and the hollow cylindrical tube;

wherein the pin extends through a bore in a sidewall of the hollow cylindrical tube and the rotation control groove of the control shaft.

11 . The device of claim 10 , further comprising a force sensor having a sensing pad;

wherein the sensing pad of the force sensor is interposed between the control shaft and the resilient member.

12 . The device of claim 11 ,

wherein the mechanical linkage further comprises a force sensor backer;

the force sensor backer having a top surface and a plug extending rearwardly from the top surface;

wherein the force sensor backer is disposed within the hollow cylindrical tube;

wherein the resilient member comprises an inner passage;

wherein the plug of the force sensor backer extends into the inner passage of the resilient member;

wherein the sensing pad of the force sensor is disposed between the control shaft and the top surface of the force sensor backer.

13 . A system for measuring bio-conductance comprising:

an actuator having an output shaft;

an electrode tip;

a mechanical linkage interconnecting the output shaft and the electrode tip, the mechanical linkage comprising a resilient member biased against the electrode tip; and

a processor and a memory, the memory having computer-executable instructions stored therein that, when executed, cause the processor to vary a position of the output shaft of the actuator responsive to conductance data obtained from the electrode tip to thereby vary a compression of the resilient member and a force applied by the resilient member to the electrode tip.

14 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising a force sensor in communication with the electrode tip and the processor, wherein the force sensor provides force data to the processor regarding the force applied to the electrode tip.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the force sensor comprises a pad interposed between the electrode tip and the output shaft.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the force sensor comprises a force sensitive resistor or a force sensitive capacitor or a force sensitive load cell.

17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the actuator is a linear actuator.

18 . The system of claim 13 ,

wherein the mechanical linkage further comprises a hollow cylindrical tube extending between a closed end and an open end;

wherein the resilient member is disposed within the hollow cylindrical tube;

wherein the output shaft of the actuator is connected to the closed end of the hollow cylindrical tube.

19 . The system of claim 18 ,

wherein the mechanical linkage further comprises a control shaft and a pin;

wherein the control shaft is interposed between the electrode tip and the resilient member;

wherein the control shaft comprises a rotation control groove;

wherein the pin connects the control shaft and hollow cylindrical tube;

wherein the pin extends through a bore in a sidewall of the hollow cylindrical tube and the rotation control groove of the control shaft.

20 . A method of measuring conductance of an object comprising:

providing a probe device having (i) an actuator having an output shaft, (ii) an electrode tip, and (iii) a mechanical linkage interconnecting the output shaft and the electrode tip, the mechanical linkage comprising a resilient member that exerts a force at the electrode tip responsive to a position of the output shaft;

placing the electrode tip of the probe device against the object; and

controlling the force the resilient member exerts against the electrode tip by signaling the actuator to vary a position of the output shaft.