Borehole depth measuring device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for measuring the length of a through-bore in an object, comprising a main part which has a longitudinal axis and in which a needle sleeve is received in a slidable manner, wherein the needle sleeve has a joint with a joint axis at a free end, to which at least one hook element is hinged that can be moved about the joint axis between a first and a second position and extends outwards beyond the outer circumference of the needle sleeve in the second position. The invention is characterized in that the joint axis is aligned perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the needle sleeve.

Description

[0001] Borehole™ Depth Gauge

[0002] The present invention relates to a device for

[0003] Measuring the length of a through-hole in an object, with a base body which has a longitudinal axis and in which a needle sleeve is slidably received, wherein the needle sleeve has a joint with a joint axis at a free end to which at least one hook element is articulated, which can move between a first and a second position about the joint axis and in the second position can be seen via a

[0004] Outer circumference of the needle sleeve extends outwards.

[0005] Such a device is known, for example, from US 10,188,406 B2. Two hook elements are provided on one end face, each of which rotates about an axis running parallel to the longitudinal axis of a sleeve. In other embodiments, an eccentric

[0006] Order of discs that can move outwards like a hook. In all embodiments it is necessary that the user has a mechanical

[0007] Force parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device in the direction of the object to cause the radial expansion of the hook elements. The application of a

[0008] The design associated with the rotatability of the individual hook elements around a rotational axis leads in the prior art to a "blunt", angular design of the needle's front side. This blunt design of the front side is already hooked when inserted into the bore and when passed through it and is not conducive to good sliding through the bore. Due to the pressure load on the needle, as already mentioned above, there is therefore an increased risk that the sharp edges of the front side can become jammed on the not entirely smooth bore edges. In addition, the direction of rotation predetermined by the rotational axis also leads to a torque in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. The needle sleeve therefore tends to pivot about its longitudinal axis when the hook elements are released due to contact with the outlet opening of the

[0009] Drilling of surrounding tissue.

[0010] For very precise drilling in sensitive material, e.g. in a human bone, such movement

[0011] Undesirable situations. A measurement should be carried out precisely and smoothly, without disrupting the movement during the measurement.

[0012] The object of the present invention is therefore a

[0013] The object of the invention is to develop a device of the type mentioned above in such a way that a movement sequence when measuring a

[0014] borehole depth can be carried out largely without disruption.

[0015] The object is achieved according to the invention in that the joint axis is aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the needle sleeve.

[0016] Due to the alignment being changed by 90° compared to the state of the art, the direction of the

[0017] Force effect when extending the hooks. The torque generated thereby stabilizes only with two or more

[0018] Hook elements by contact with the surrounding tissue, the spatial position of the needle sleeve at least in a first section of the rotational movement, so that the spatial position of the needle sleeve is not adversely affected by the triggering of the rotational movement over a first rotational range.

[0019] The movement sequence is more harmonious than in the state of the art and the user can concentrate on his actual work and not have to compensate for any necessary movement with the hand when triggering.

[0020] A further advantage of the present invention is that the at least one hook element in the first

[0021] Position is pre-tensioned for movement into the second position. This makes it possible to extend the

[0022] Hook elements without the user exerting pressure, which is disruptive to precise work. Instead, the user only needs to release the tension on the hook elements, e.g., by means of a pressure release. In practice, the user's thumb exerts pressure on the hook elements, which pre-tensions them in the first position.

[0023] Removing the thumb then causes the relaxation of the Kaken elements, so that they move into the second

[0024] Position. It is also an advantage of the present invention that the at least one hook element has a first circular arc section, which forms the free end of the needle sleeve in the first position of the hook element. As a result of this measure, the end face of the needle sleeve is given a rounded shape by the hook element, so that it can be more easily inserted into the bore of the object and then pushed smoothly through the bore of the object without jamming on the inner wall of the bore.

[0025] Position, the length of the hole can be measured on a measuring display

[0026] In addition, it is an advantage of the present invention that the needle sleeve can slide precisely in the base body between the first position and the second position.

[0027] A further advantage of the present invention is that the base body comprises a plug-in sleeve, in which the needle sleeve is locked in place during operation. This measure allows the opening of the base body to be adapted to the circumference of the plug-in sleeve, which is independent of the needle sleeve and can therefore be selected to be larger. The precise fit of the plug-in sleeve with the opening of the base body thus leads to a precise sliding of the needle sleeve in the base body.

[0028] It is also an advantage of the present invention that the base body comprises an actuating device which is connected to an end opposite the free end of the needle sleeve. 1 The user can use the actuating device to operate the needle sleeve and move the hook elements from the first to the second position or vice versa.

[0029] A further advantage of the present invention is that the base body is connected to the actuating device via a spring device having an end opposite the first end of the needle sleeve. The spring device ensures the pretension of the needle sleeve or the hook elements in the first position so that pressure relief at the actuating device leads to the relaxation of the hook elements and allows them to extend into the second position.

[0030] A further advantage of the present invention is that the joint device has a holding force with respect to the at least one hook element which is smaller than a predetermined force acting on the at least one hook element from the outside, wherein the at least one hook element moves when the predetermined

[0031] Force back to the first position. This ensures that the force can be determined, for example, depending on the object, where the length of a

[0032] The perforation is to be measured. This ensures that when the device is retracted, a further advantage of the present invention is that the spring device has a spring force that is smaller than the predetermined force. This allows the strength of the holding force to be determined in a simple manner.

[0033] Further advantages of the present invention emerge from the further features of the subclaims.

[0034] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0035] Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of the device according to the invention with swiveled-out hook elements;

[0036] Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the device according to the invention with the hook elements pivoted in; Fig. 3 is a schematic representation in longitudinal section along the line AA in Fig. 2;

[0037] Fig. 3a an enlarged detail from Fig. 3 ,-

[0038] Fig. 4 is a schematic, enlarged front view of a hook element according to the present invention;

[0039] Fig. 5 is a schematic, enlarged rear view of the hook element of Fig. 4 according to the present invention;

[0040] Fig. 6 is a schematic side view of a needle sleeve according to the present invention; Fig. 7 is a schematic representation in longitudinal section through the needle sleeve along the line AA in Fig. 6;

[0041] Fig. 8 is a schematic detailed view of the needle sleeve from Fig. 6; from Fig. 7; Fig. 11 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of the

[0042] Actuating device along the line AA in Fig . 10 .

[0043] Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a device 1 for measuring the length of a through-hole in an object. Such a device 1 can be used in a wide variety of applications. Therefore, in the context of this invention, the term "object" does not refer to a specific object. However, a preferred field of application is medical technology, so that in this case the "object" represents a bone. f in which the depth of the hole or the length of the through-hole is to be determined. This application is also explained in more detail in the description. However, the present invention is in no way limited to this application. Thus, the invention can also be used in other precision mechanical applications. fwhere high precision is required during work and a measurement of the depth of a bore is to be carried out with little technical effort. The device 1 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a base body 3 in which a needle 5 is slidably received. In the present embodiment, the needle 5 is or forms a needle sleeve 5.1 in which a needle-shaped actuator 5.2 is slidably arranged or guided. In other embodiments, however, the needle 5 can also be non-hollow, i.e., made of solid material. Both variants are expressly encompassed by the invention. For the sake of better understanding of the text, reference will be made primarily to the "needle sleeve" 5.1 of the embodiment shown in the figures. The needle sleeve 5.1 can move in the base body 3 between a first position and a second position in the direction of a longitudinal axis L, wherein the needle 5 is at a free end 5.3 has a joint 7 with a joint axis 7.1, to which at least one hook element 9.1, 9.2 is articulated, which, in the second position of the needle sleeve 5.1, extends outward over an outer circumference of the needle sleeve 5.1. The joint axis 7.1 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the needle.

[0044] The base body 3 also comprises a plug-in sleeve 3.1, which is connected to a measuring device 4.1 in a first passage bore 3.2 (see Fig. 3) of the caliper sleeve 4.2. An actuating device 11 engages the caliper handle 4.3 from a side of the base body 3 opposite the hook elements 9.3 and 9.2, which in the illustrated embodiment can be actuated, for example, with the thumb of one hand. The actuating device 11 is in an unactuated state in Fig. 1. Two hook elements 9.1 are attached to the free end 5.3 of the needle sleeve 5.1. f9.2 can be seen. In other embodiments, more than two hook elements 9.1, 9.2 or just a single hook element 9.1 or 9.2 can be provided. In the unactuated state of the actuating device 11, the two hook elements 9.1, 9.2 are pivoted outwards about the joint axis 7.1 beyond the circumference of the needle sleeve 5.1 and form a type of barb. In this pivoted-out position, a flat support area 9.3, 9.4 facing the base body 1 can be seen on one of the two hook elements 9.1, 9.2. In Fig. 2, the device from Fig. 1 is shown in an actuated state of the actuating device 11. In this state, the two hook elements 9.1; 9.2 and in this state form the free end 5.3 of the needle sleeve 5.1 in a rounded shape.

[0045] Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section through the device 1 from Fig. 2 along the line AA. In the present embodiment, the base body 3 forms an outer sleeve with the first through-bore 3.2. The base body 3 also comprises the plug-in sleeve 3.1, which is inserted into the end of the first through-bore 3.2 opposite the free end 5.3 of the needle sleeve 5.1 and is secured at a lower end (see detail B in Fig.

[0046] 3a) sits firmly in the first through hole 3.2.

[0047] can ,

[0048] The actuating device 11 engages in an end of the caliper handle 4.3 opposite the free end 5.3 of the needle sleeve 5.1. The actuating device 11 comprises an actuating sleeve 11.1, into which an actuating element 11.2 engages. In the present embodiment, the actuating element 11.2 is a piston-like pusher with a pusher surface 11.3, which in the present embodiment can be engaged by the thumb of a user. The actuating sleeve 11.1 sits firmly in a receiving opening 4.5 of the caliper handle 4.3. A spring device 13 is also arranged in the receiving opening 4.5. In the present embodiment, the spring device 13 is a spiral spring, but in other embodiments, it can also be another spring element or elastic element. In the present embodiment, the spring device 13 encloses the needle-shaped actuator 5.2 guided in the needle sleeve 5.1.The needle-shaped actuator 5.2 is connected to the joint 7 and is fastened with its end 5.4 opposite the joint 7 in ax* push-button opening 11.4 of the actuating element 11.2.

[0049] Fig. 3a shows an enlarged detail B from Fig. 3. The plug-in sleeve 3.1 has, on its plug-in sleeve head 3.3 sitting in the through-bore 3.2 of the base body 3, an inclined circumferential surface 3.4 and a circumferential groove 3.5 immediately adjacent to the inclined circumferential surface 3.4 in the direction of the caliper handle 4.3. When assembling the device 1, the plug-in sleeve 3.1 with the plug-in sleeve head 3.3 is inserted into the through-bore 3.2 and pushed in until a locking element 3.7 on the inner circumference of the through-bore 3.2, after passing over the inclined circumferential surface 3.4, engages in the circumferential groove 3.5 and is then firmly and permanently connected to the base body 3. Such plug connections with locking mechanisms are generally known and therefore will not be described in further detail here. In the direction of the caliper handle 4.3, the plug sleeve 3.1 has a shoulder 3 behind the circumferential groove 3.5 that reduces the circumference of the plug sleeve 3.1.5, which forms a stop surface for the caliper sleeve 4.1.

[0050] The hook element 9.1, 9.2 is shown in Fig. 4 with its front side and in Fig. 5 with a back side.

[0051] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the two hook elements 9.1 and 9.2 of the device 1 are arranged with their respective backs facing each other (Fig. 5). The front sides of the two hook elements 9.1 and 9.2 each face outward.

[0052] The hook element 9.1 f 9.2 sits on the joint axis 7.1 of the joint 7 and is pivotable about the joint axis 7.1 between the pivoted-out position in Fig. 1 and the pivoted-in position in Fig. 2. In Figures 4 and 5, the hook element 9.1, 9.2 is shown in an orientation that corresponds to the pivoted-in position.

[0053] In Figures 4 and 5, “top” is the free end

[0054] 5.3 of the needle sleeve 5.1 or needle 5. The free end 5.3 of the needle sleeve 5.1 is thus held by at least one hook element 9.1 f 9.2. For this purpose, this “top” has a first, upper circular arc section

[0055] 9.3, which extends over an angle a of approximately 140°. In other embodiments, the angle can also be greater or smaller than 140°. Due to the mirror-inverted arrangement of the two hook elements 9.1, 9.2 on the joint axis 7.1, the two first, upper circular arc sections 9.3 complement each other to form a circular arc extending over ISO®. The diameter of the first, upper circular arc sections 9.3 is selected such that, in the present embodiment, it essentially corresponds to the outer diameter of the needle sleeve 5.1 and, in other embodiments, to the outer diameter of the needle sleeve 5, so that in the alignment shown in Figs. 4 and 5,

[0056] 9.2 and the needle sleeve 5.1 or its outer circumference, a smooth transition occurs. A first side of angle a is essentially horizontal in the orientation shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 and forms a connection between the first, upper circular arc section 9.3 and a truncated cone-shaped section 9.4, which is in the orientation shown in Fig. 4 and

[0057] Fig. 5 extends downwards to a second, lower circular arc section 9.5. A second leg of angle a forms a hook surface 9.6, which in the second position of the hook element 9.1, 9.2 is aligned essentially perpendicular to the needle sleeve 5.1. The hook element thus rotates in the direction shown in Fig.

[0058] 4 and Fig. 5 shown first position by about 40® into the second position, in Fig. 4 to the left and in Fig.

[0059] 5 to the right .

[0060] The second circular arc section 9.5, the lower one in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, encloses the joint axis 7.1, which also forms the Dx'eh axis for the hook elements 9.1, 9.2.

[0061] Needle sleeve 5.1 in a section along the line AA in

[0062] Fig. 8 shows an enlarged detail B from Fig. 6. In

[0063] Fig. 9 shows a detail C from Fig. 7. The two details B and C show a narrowing of the end 5.4, which provides a plug connection for the correspondingly adapted

[0064] Needle sleeve cap 5.5 at the end 5.4 of the needle sleeve 5.1 enables . tigt is.

[0065] The device 1 is used as follows. After a

[0066] object fe.g. a bone, has been pierced, the device 1 is taken in the hand and the actuating element 11.2 is pressed with the thumb of the hand so that the hook elements swing in against the force of the spring. The caliper sleeve is in the

[0067] Base body 3 until it stops. the shoulder 3.8 of the

[0068] Insert the plug sleeve 3.1. Then the needle sleeve

[0069] 5.1 with the swivelled hooks 9.1, 9.2 are inserted into the hole in the bone to be measured and pushed through it. After leaving the opposite end of the hole, the thumb is removed from the actuating element 11.2, so that the

[0070] Release the tension on the hook elements 9.1 and 9.2 using the force of the spring elements and extend them outward. The device is then retracted until the hook surfaces 9.6 rest against the area of ​​the bone adjacent to the bore to be measured. When this is the case, the base body with the plug-in sleeve 3..1 is pushed to the beginning of the bore to be measured, and the caliper handle 4.3 is held in place.

[0071] This releases the caliper sleeve 4.1 from the

[0072] Shoulder 3.6 of the socket 3.1 and moves relative to the outer sleeve of the base body 3. This creates a gap between the caliper handle 4.3 and the outer sleeve of the

[0073] Base body 3 a readable part of the caliper sleeve

[0074] 4.1 is exposed. A measuring scale is attached to the caliper sleeve 4.1, which can then be read and indicates the length of the through hole. This entire

[0075] The device 1 can be used with one or both hands.

[0076] For safety reasons, in the device 1, at least in a medical application, the joint device (7) is designed with respect to the at least one hook element (9*1; 9,2) in such a way that it has a holding force which is smaller than a predetermined force acting on the at least one hook element (9.1; 9*2) from the outside, wherein the at least one locking element (9.1; 9.2) moves back into the first position when the predetermined force is reached.

[0077] Prevents overloading of the hook elements and their holders when exposed to extreme forces.

[0078] List of reference symbols

[0079] 1 device

[0080] 3 basic bodies

[0081] 3 .1 Plug-in sleeve

[0082] 3.2 Through hole

[0083] 3.3 Receptacle head

[0084] 3.4 inclined circumferential surface

[0085] 3.5 Circumferential groove

[0086] 3.6 Shoulder / Aaschlag

[0087] 3.7 Locking element

[0088] 4 calipers

[0089] 4.1 Caliper sleeve

[0090] 4.2 Caliper cap

[0091] 4.3 Mess chi ebergr iff

[0092] 4.4 peripheral edge

[0093] 4.5 Receiving opening

[0094] 5 needle

[0095] 5 .1 Needle sleeve

[0096] 5.2 needle-shaped actuator

[0097] 5.3 free end

[0098] 5.4 opposite end

[0099] 5.5 Needle sleeve cap

[0100] 7 joints . 1 joint axis

[0101] 11 Actuating device

[0102] 11. 1 actuating sleeve

[0103] 11.2 Actuating element

[0104] 11.3 Actuating surface

[0105] 11.4 Handle opening / blind hole

[0106] 11.5 Handle end

[0107] 13 Spring device

Claims

Patent claims 1. Device (1) for measuring the length of a through-bore in an object, comprising a base body (3) which has a longitudinal axis (L) and in which a needle sleeve (5; 5.1) is slidably received, the needle sleeve (5; 5.1) having at a free end (5.3) a joint (7) with a joint axis (7.1), to which at least one hook element (9.1; 9.2) is articulated, which can move between a first and a second position about the joint axis (7.1) and in the second position extends outwards over an outer circumference of the needle sleeve (5; 5.1), characterized in that the joint axis (7.1) is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) of the needle sleeve (5.1).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one hook element (9.1; 9.2) is pretensioned in the first position for movement into the second position.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one hook element (9.1; 9.2) has a substantially straight hook surface (9.3) g which in the second position runs perpendicular to the needle sleeve (5.1) and forms a contact area for contact with the object. 5 . Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (3) comprises a plug-in sleeve (3.1) in which the needle sleeve (5.1) is locked in place during operation.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the base body (3) has an actuating device (11) which is connected to another end (5.4) opposite the free end (5.3) of the needle sleeve (5.1).

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the base body (3) with the actuating device (11) is connected to the other end (5.4) (5.3) via a spring device (13).

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the spring device (13) pretensions the at least one hook element (9.1; 9.2) in the first position. 9 , Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the joint device (7) has a holding force with respect to the at least one hook element (9.1; 9.2) which is smaller than a force acting on the at least one Hook element. (9.1; 9.2) is a predetermined force acting from the outside, wherein the at least one Hook element (9.1; 9.2) is moved back to the first position when the predetermined force is reached.

10. Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the spring device (13) has a spring force that is smaller than the predetermined force.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the needle sleeve (5; 5.1) is a needle sleeve in which a needle-shaped actuator (5.2) for the at least one hook element (9.1; 9.2) is movably guided.

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