Surgical depth instrument

Abstract

An instrument that measures the depth of an open or closed hole in a bone or other tissue electronically, provides a rotatable display of information relating to the depth. The surgical depth gauge comprises a probe insertable into the hole that measures a depth that is communicated to the rotatable display. The display may be rotatable in one, two, or three dimensions, and may be implemented as a wired or wireless display. A locking mechanism may be provided to lock the display in a particular orientation best suited for a particular situation.

1 . A generally elongated instrument for measuring the depth of a hole with a first edge and a second edge, the instrument having a longitudinal axis, the instrument comprising:
 a first generally elongated member substantially oriented along the longitudinal axis and which is insertable in the hole, the first member comprising a portion positionable against a first surface in which the first edge of the hole is formed;   a second generally elongated member substantially oriented along the longitudinal axis and which is slidably connected to the first member, the second member comprising a portion positionable against a second surface in which the second edge of the hole is formed and a sensor that generates an electronic signal that varies in relation to the distance between the first member and the second member; and   a rotatable electronic display for displaying information representative of the distance measured by the sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The instrument as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable electronic display rotates about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The instrument as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable electronic display rotates about a lateral axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The instrument as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable electronic display rotates about both the longitudinal axis and the lateral axis. 
     
     
         5 . A depth measurement gage for measuring a hole depth, comprising:
 a measurement tool that converts an extension length of a measuring element into a representative electronic signal;   a display assembly connected to the depth measurement gage, the display assembly comprising:
 a rotatable display that comprises:
 a display screen for displaying a numeric representation corresponding to the extension length based on the electronic signal received from the measuring tool; 
 display electronics that receive the electronic signal, converts it into a displayable value, and drives the display to display the value; and 
 a locking mechanism that holds the display at a particular orientation; 
 wherein the rotatable display is rotatable about an axis normal to a surface of the display screen; 
 
   the display assembly further comprising:
 a housing that connects with and supports the rotatable display; 
   the depth measurement gage further comprising:
 a rotation element that allows the rotatable display to rotate about an axis parallel to a surface of the display screen. 
   
     
     
         6 . The gage as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the rotation element comprises:
 a pivot arm having a proximal end connected to the measurement tool; and   a distal end connected to the display assembly and having a pivot assembly that permits the rotatable display to rotate about the axis parallel to the display screen.   
     
     
         7 . The gage as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the rotation element comprises a cylindrical rotatable body section rotatably mounted to a main body of the gage. 
     
     
         8 . The gage as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the housing comprises upper and lower portions, and the display rests on the lower portion. 
     
     
         9 . The gage as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one of: a) a pin and hole, and b) a groove and ridge/protrusion element. 
     
     
         10 . The gage as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a biasing spring that forces at least one of the pin into the hole and the groove into the ridge/protrusion. 
     
     
         11 . The gage as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a slider with biasing mechanism for engaging and disengaging the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The gage as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the slider comprises a lever affixed to the slider that seals a hole that houses a portion of the slider. 
     
     
         13 . The gage as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the rotation element comprises a pin and a hole into which the pin is inserted, the parallel axis defined by a longitudinal axis of the pin. 
     
     
         14 . The gage as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the rotation element comprises a ball and socket that further allows the rotatable display to rotate about a central point defined by a center of the ball. 
     
     
         15 . A depth measurement gage for measuring a hole depth, comprising:
 a measurement tool that converts an extension length of a measuring element into a representative electronic signal;   an elongated housing extending along a longitudinal axis of the measurement tool;   a rotatable rectangular display that, when in an initial position, has a side that is parallel to the longitudinal axis, the display comprising:
 a display screen for displaying a numeric representation corresponding to the extension length based on the electronic signal received from the measuring tool; 
 display electronics that receive the electronic signal, converts it into a displayable value, and drives the display to display the value; and 
 a locking mechanism that holds the display at a particular orientation; 
 wherein the rotatable display is rotatable about an axis normal to a surface of the display screen. 
   
     
     
         16 . The gage as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the rotatable display comprises at least one of a pin and a hole that mates with a respective hole or pin either directly or indirectly attached to the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The gage as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the at least one of the pin and hole is located at a center of the display. 
     
     
         18 . The gage as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the at least one of the pin and hold is located near an edge of the display. 
     
     
         19 . The gage as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising electronics for rotating characters relative to the display based on a detected angle of the display to the body or other fixed reference angle. 
     
     
         20 . A depth measurement gage for measuring a depth of a hole, comprising:
 a measurement tool that converts an extension length of a measuring element into a representative electronic signal that is wirelessly transmitted;   a display assembly connected to the depth measurement gage, the display assembly comprising:
 a wireless rotatable display that comprises:
 a display screen for displaying a numeric representation corresponding to the extension length based on the electronic signal received from the measuring tool; 
 a wireless antenna and signal receiver that receives the wirelessly transmitted electronic signal; and 
 display electronics that receive the electronic signal, converts it into a displayable value, and drives the display to display the value; 
 
   the display assembly further comprising:
 a housing that connects with and supports the rotatable display. 
   
     
     
         21 . The gage as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising a locking mechanism that holds the display at a particular orientation. 
     
     
         22 . The gage as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising:
 an element permitting rotation of the display about an axis normal to a surface of the display screen; and   a further rotation element that allows the rotatable display to rotate about an axis parallel to the surface of the display screen.   
     
     
         23 . A generally elongated instrument for measuring the depth of a hole with a first edge and a second edge, the instrument having a longitudinal axis, the instrument comprising:
 a first generally elongated member substantially oriented along the longitudinal axis and which is insertable in the hole, the first member comprising a portion positionable against a first surface in which the first edge of the hole is formed;   a second generally elongated member substantially oriented along the longitudinal axis and which is slidably connected to the first member, the second member comprising a portion positionable against a second surface in which the second edge or a base of the hole is formed and a sensor that generates an electronic signal that varies in relation to the distance between the first member and the second member; and   audio electronics that audibly conveys information representative of the distance measured by the sensor to a user of the instrument.