Probe position sensing system and method of employment of same
AssigneeAdvanced Sensor Technology Limited
InventorFrank Bucholtz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A probe position sensing system for accurately determining a spatial location in a coordinate system of a distal end of a probe assembly. The probe assembly includes an articulated arm having a pair of sections interconnected by a flexible joint and at least one element. The element extends through the joint and is positioned to be subjected to a degree of flexure due to relative displacement of the sections. A flexure of the element induces a change in a physical property associated with the element. An instrument monitors the physical property and derives an angle between adjacent sections from variations of the physical property.
Claims38
A probe position sensing system comprising:
- an articulated arm including a plurality of sections, a flexible joint extending between and connecting adjacent sections, and at least one sensor assembly extending into said joint and positioned to be subjected to a degree of flexure due to relative displacement of said sections, wherein flexure in said sensor assembly induces a variation in a physical property associated with said sensor assembly, and said variation in said physical property is used to derive an angle between adjacent sections.
An articulated arm comprising:
- a plurality of sections;
- a flexible joint extending between and connecting said sections;
- a sensor assembly passing through said flexible joint and positioned to be subjected to a degree of flexure due to relative displacement of said sections, said sensor assembly having a first longitudinal axis;
- and a sensor element having a second longitudinal axis and contained in said sensor assembly, said second longitudinal axis in a spaced apart radial relationship with respect to said first longitudinal axis;
- wherein flexure of said sensor element inducing a variation in a physical property associated with said sensor element, said variation used to derive an angle between adjacent sections.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.