Depth gauge
OwnerRalph S. Wilson, Charles E. Albrightinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A depth gauge includes a number of alternating sections of material which are X-ray transparent and X-ray opaque, respectively. The sections are carried in an elongated cylinder, and are each of a predetermined known length. The depth gauge is insertable into a hole or cavity to be measured, and viewed with X-ray techniques, from any angle. The number of sections of X-ray transparent and opaque material being within the hole, as seen by the X-ray techniques, indicate the depth into the hole which the pin is inserted. In one embodiment, a drill point is included on the end of the elongated cylinder to enable the depth gauge to be used additionally as a drill, so that depth to which the drill has cut can be monitored during the drilling process, if desired.
Claims9
A gauge for measuring the depth of a hole, comprising:
- a plurality of elongated sections of material opaque to X-rays, each of known length dimension, and
- a plurality of elongated sections of material transparent to X-rays, each of known length dimension,
- said X-ray transparent sections being alternatingly carried with respect to said X-ray opaque sections, whereby when the depth gauge is inserted into the hole, the depth of which is to be measured, it can be viewed with X-ray techniques from any angle, the dimensions of the X-ray opaque sections and the X-ray transparent sections presenting an indication of the depth to which it is inserted by said X-ray opaque and transparent sections and further comprising an elongated sleeve into the interior of which said X-ray opaque sections and said X-ray transparent sections are implaced.
A depth gauge for measuring distances of holes formed into bones in surgical operations, comprising:
- an elongated sleeve having an interior cavity formed axially therewithin;
- a plurality of sections of X-ray opaque material, and a plurality of sections of X-ray transparent material, alternatingly implaced within said interior cavity;
- first means for enclosing said interior cavity at one end thereof;
- second means for enclosing said interior cavity at another end;
- and
- resilient spring means within said interior cavity adjacent an end thereof to facilitate thermal expansion of said X-ray opaque and said X-ray transparent sections without deformation of said sleeve;
- said first enclosing means, said X-ray opaque sections, and said X-ray transparent sections all being of predetermined length, whereby when the pin is inserted into a hole preformed in a bone, and X-rayed from any angle, the distance which said gauge extends into the bone can be determined by the number of X-ray opaque and X-ray transparent sections disclosed by said X-ray to be within said bone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.