Force transducer, medical instrument, and machine implemented method
View Patent ↗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.
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.
2. An instrument according to claim 1 , in which said processor is configured to detect said location of said test area with respect to said sample surface by detecting regions of pressure of said pressure map which have a pressure greater than a threshold pressure.
3. An instrument according to claim 2 , in which said processor is configured to control said translation element so as to cause said force transducer to move to respective locations in said array of predetermined possible positions which substantially correspond to a plurality of respective test areas of said body part as determined by analysis of said pressure map.
4. An instrument according to claim 1 , comprising a vibrating element for applying vibrations to said body part as a stimulus to said body part.
5. An instrument according to claim 1 , comprising a receiver configured to receive, from a user input device associated with said patient, a signal indicating when said patient is aware of said stimulus provided by said instrument.
6. An instrument according to claim 5 , comprising a user input device associated with said patient, said user input device being configured to transmit, to said receiver in response to input by said patient, said signal indicating when said patient is aware of stimuli provided by said instrument.
7. An instrument according to claim 5 , in which said processor is configured to generate a correlation log indicating a correlation between reception of said signal and administration of said stimulus provided by said instrument.
8. An instrument according to claim 7 , in which said processor is configured to generate said correlation log with respect to correlation between stimuli administered by said instrument at a plurality of test areas of said body part and said signals received from said user input device.
9. An instrument according to claim 7 , comprising a memory configured to store said correlation log for analysis by a user.
10. An instrument according to claim 7 , comprising a transmitter configured to transmit said correlation log to an analysis server for analysis.
11. An instrument according to claim 1 , in which said body part of said patient is a foot of said patient, and said test area corresponds to a region on a plantar surface of said patient's foot.
12. A machine implemented method of detecting an increased risk of diabetic neuropathic ulceration using a force transducer operable to apply a predetermined force to a test area of a body part of a patient, said method comprising:
providing a medical instrument as set forth in claim 1 ;
detecting a location of said test area with respect to a position of said force transducer;
moving said force transducer to said location of said test area;
applying a predetermined force to said test area using said force transducer; and
recording whether a response is received from said patient regarding touch sensation at said test area.
13. A method according to claim 12 , comprising carrying out said method in respect of a plurality of selected test areas.
14. A method according to claim 12 , in which said test area or selected test areas are on plantar surfaces of said patient's feet.
15. A method according to claim 12 , in which said force transducer is configured to apply said predetermined force at a position selected from an array of predetermined possible positions and said force transducer is moved to one or more positions in said array closest to said detected location of said test area.