Electronic device for measuring sensory thresholds in humans and animals

An apparatus for measuring sensory thresholds of a skin area of a human or animal, comprising:

• a. a strain gauge having one end fixed and the other end movable;
• b. a pipette member attached to said movable end of said strain gauge;
• c. a resilient string having one end attached to said pipette member, and the other end having a tip diameter for creating a reaction when a force is exerted thereto;
• d. said strain gauge measuring the amount of deflection responsive to the force applied from said resilient string onto said pipette member with said tip diameter of said resilient string in contact with said skin area of said human or animal and generating an electrical output signal indicative of the pressure applied;
• and
• e. an electronic device electrically interconnected to said strain gauge for receiving said electrical output signal from said strain gauge, the electronic device including a readout display for displaying the pressure sensed by said strain gauge;
• f. whereby said electronic device accurately displays the pressure applied by said tip diameter of said resilient string on said skin area of said human or animal.

An apparatus for measuring sensory thresholds of a skin area of a human or animal, comprising:

• a. a resilient string having one end attached to an attachment member, and the other end having a tip diameter for creating a reaction when a force is exerted thereto;
• b. means for measuring the amount of deflection responsive to the force applied from said string onto said attachment member which is removably attached to the measuring means, with said tip diameter of said string in contact with said skin area of said human or animal and generating an electrical output signal to the measuring means indicative of the pressure applied;
• and
• c. an electronic device electrically interconnected to said measuring means for receiving said electrical output signal, the electronic device including a display for displaying the pressure sensed by said measuring means;
• d. whereby said electronic device accurately displays the pressure applied by said tip diameter of said resilient string on said skin area of said human or animal.

An apparatus for measuring sensory thresholds of a skin area of a human or animal, comprising:

• a. a hollow probe housing having a front head portion with an opening therethrough and a rear handle portion for gripping the probe housing;
• b. a strain gauge installed within said front head portion of said hollow probe housing and having one end fixed thereto and the other end movable;
• c. a rigid support member attached to the movable end of said strain gauge and extending out from said opening of said front head portion of said probe housing;
• d. a hollow pipette member removably press-fitted to said rigid support member;
• e. an elongated resilient string made of nylon material having one end attached to said hollow pipette member, and the other end extending outwardly;
• f. said strain gauge measuring the amount of deflection responsive to the force applied from said nylon string onto said rigid support member with the free end said nylon string in contact with said skin area of said human or animal and generating an electrical output signal indicative of the pressure applied;
• and
• g. an electronic device electrically interconnected to said strain gauge for receiving said electrical output signal from said strain gauge, the electronic device including a digital readout display for displaying the pressure sensed by said strain gauge;
• h. whereby said electronic device accurately displays the pressure applied by said nylon string on said skin area of said human or animal.

An apparatus for measuring sensory thresholds of a skin area of a human or animal, comprising:

• a. a strain gauge having one end fixed and the other end movable;
• b. a pipette member removably attached to said movable end of said strain gauge;
• c. a resilient string having one end attached to said pipette member, and the other end extending outwardly;
• d. said strain gauge measuring the amount of deflection responsive to the force applied from said string onto said pipette member with the free end of said string in contact with said skin area of said human or animal and generating an electrical output signal indicative of the pressure applied;
• and
• e. an electronic device electrically interconnected to said strain gauge for receiving said electrical output signal from said strain gauge, the electronic device including a readout display for displaying the pressure sensed by said strain gauge;
• f. whereby said electronic device accurately displays the pressure applied by said resilient string on said skin area of said human or animal.

An apparatus for measuring sensory thresholds of a skin area of a human or animal, comprising:

• a. a resilient string having one end attached to an attachment member and the other end free;
• b. means for measuring the amount of deflection responsive to the force applied from said string onto said attachment member with said free end of said string in contact with said skin area of said human or animal and generating an electrical output signal indicative of the pressure applied;
• and
• c. an electronic device electrically interconnected to said measuring means for receiving said electrical output signal, the electronic device including a display for displaying the pressure sensed by said measuring means;
• d. whereby said electronic device accurately displays the pressure applied by said resilient string on said skin area of said human or animal.

A pressure probe assembly used in conjunction with an electronic algometer for measuring sensory thresholds of a skin area of a human or animal, the electronic algometer having a hollow probe housing which houses a strain gauge and a support member extending through an opening on the probe housing, the pressure probe assembly comprising:

• a. an attachment member being removably press-fitted to said support member;
• and
• b. an elongated resilient string of selected standard length having one end inserted into and secured to said attachment member, and the other end free and having a uniform tip diameter for creating a uniform reaction when a force is exerted thereto;
• c. whereby said strain gauge measures the amount of deflection responsive to the force applied from said resilient string onto said support member with said uniform tip diameter of said resilient string in contact with said skin area of said human or animal and produces an electrical output signal indicative of the pressure applied.

A pressure probe assembly used in conjunction with an electronic pressure measuring device for measuring sensory thresholds of a skin area of a human or animal, the electronic device having a strain gauge, the pressure probe assembly comprising:

• a. a pipette member being attachable to a movable end of said strain gauge;
• and
• b. a resilient string having one end attached to said pipette member, and the other end having a tip for creating a uniform reaction when a force is exerted thereto;
• c. whereby said strain gauge measures the amount of deflection responsive to the force applied from said resilient string onto said pipette member with said tip of said resilient string in contact with said skin area of said human or animal and produces an electrical output signal indicative of the pressure applied.

A probe assembly used in conjunction with electronic measuring means for measuring sensory thresholds of a skin area of a human or animal, the electronic measuring means having means for measuring the amount of deflection, the probe assembly comprising:

• a. attachment means being attachable to said measuring means;
• and
• b. a resilient string having one end attached to said attachment means and the other end having a tip for creating a reaction when a force is exerted thereto;
• c. whereby said measuring means measures the amount of deflection responsive to the force applied from said resilient string onto said attachment means with said tip of said resilient string in contact with said skin area of said human or animal and produces an electrical output signal indicative of the pressure applied.