Measurement element position determination

Abstract

An apparatus for determining measurement element positions, comprising a plurality of measurement elements; at least one trigger element corresponding to each element of the plurality of measurement elements; a positional encoder configured to register a position of each of the measurement elements when the trigger element is activated; and a controller, wherein the controller constructs a surface geometry model from the registered measurement element positions.

1 . An apparatus for determining measurement element positions, comprising: 
 a plurality of measurement elements;    at least one trigger element corresponding to each element of the plurality of measurement elements;    a positional encoder configured to register a position of each of said measurement elements when said trigger element is activated; and    a controller, wherein said controller constructs a surface geometry model from said registered measurement element positions.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said trigger element is a mechanical fuse whereupon trigger activation, said trigger element allows passage of the measurement element therethrough.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said trigger element is an electrical fuse, said trigger element indicating when position measurement of a measurement element should be performed upon electrical fuse activation.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said trigger element is a mechanical and an electrical fuse.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said trigger element is composed of a conductive rubber.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said trigger element indicates when an exerted force by said measurement element exceeds a pre-determined threshold.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said exerted force is measured by a strain gauge.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said trigger element is composed of a thin wire bond.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said trigger element is composed of a conductive adhesive.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said trigger element is composed of a perforated flex-printed circuit board.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the measurement element is disposed to penetrate a first substance but not a second substance.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said trigger element is disposed to activate at a pre-determined threshold.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of trigger elements corresponds to said each element of a plurality of measurement elements.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein each of said plurality of trigger elements activates in response to a different pre-determined threshold.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said controller superimposes said surface geometry model onto a previously-acquired scan.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said controller compares said surface geometry model to a second surface geometry model.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said controller further analyzes said surface geometry model for the proper locations for insertion of a plurality of aligned pedicle screws.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said measurement elements serially trigger a plurality of triggering elements associated with each of said measurement elements.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein measurement elements are activated by hydraulics.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein measurement elements are activated by pneumatics.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein measurement elements are activated by wire.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein measurement elements are activated by screw.  
   
   
       23 . A method for determining measurement element positions, comprising: 
 (a) instigating the movement of a plurality of measurement elements;    (b) signaling at least one measurement element triggering a sensory device; and    (c) measuring at least one measurement element position at time of sensory device triggering.    
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the sensory device is composed of a conductive rubber.  
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the sensory device is composed of a wire bond.  
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the sensory device is composed of a conductive adhesive.  
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the sensory device is composed of a perforated flex-printed circuit board.  
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 23 , where the measurement element is disposed to penetrate a first substance but not a second substance.  
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising constructing a surface geometry model from said measurement of measurement element positions.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said surface geometry model is used to accurately place a plurality of pedicle screws in alignment.  
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein said surface geometry model is used to create an object fitted to said model.  
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein said object is a knee meniscus.  
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein said surface geometry model is compared to a second surface geometry model.  
   
   
       34 . An apparatus for scanning, comprising: 
 a plurality of measurement elements;    a trigger element corresponding to each element of the plurality of measurement elements;    a positional encoder configured to register a position of each of said measurement elements when said trigger element is activated; and    a controller, wherein said controller constructs a surface geometry model from said registered measurement element positions.    
   
   
       35 . A method of measuring the surface geometry of a jawbone, comprising: 
 (a) instigating the movement of a plurality of measurement elements into a soft tissue surrounding said jawbone;    (b) signaling at least one measurement element triggering a sensory device upon contact with said jawbone; and    (c) measuring at least one measurement element position at time of sensory device triggering.    
   
   
       36 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the sensory device is composed of a conductive rubber.  
   
   
       37 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the sensory device is composed of a wire bond.  
   
   
       38 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the sensory device is composed of a conductive adhesive.  
   
   
       39 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the sensory device is composed of a perforated flex-printed circuit board.  
   
   
       40 . The method according to  claim 35 , further comprising constructing a surface geometry model from said measurement of measurement element positions.  
   
   
       41 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein said surface geometry model is used to create an object fitted to said surface geometry model.  
   
   
       42 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein said surface geometry model is used for locating a host device on said jawbone.