Instrument comprising a contact force sensor device

Abstract

A contact force sensor device () comprises a gas-inflatable balloon ()arranged to switch from a deflated state (D) to an inflated state (J) in which it protrudes out of a support member (); a valve assembly () to inflate/deflate the gas-inflatable balloon () with a gas; a detector () of a force-related value related to a force acting on the inflated gas-inflatable balloon () including a membrane () due to a contact with a wall ()outside of support member (); a processing unit () configured to receive a detection signal () and to consequently calculate a contact force signal () according to a predetermined function; and a notification device () configured to receive the contact force signal () and to notify it to a user. The value detected can be an excess pressure ΔP in gas-inflatable balloon, or a deformation parameter of gas-inflatable ballooncaused by the contact, or a strain or stress modification in membrane, all these effect being caused by the contact with wall. Due to its simple structure and small size, the contact force sensor device (), can be advantageously used in an diagnostic or surgical instrument since,deflated, it can be easily inserted into a patient's body through a very small entry site, possibly along with a surgical or diagnostic tool to perform a mini-invasive surgical or diagnostic operation.