The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 02, 1999
Filed:
May. 20, 1996
Applicant:
Inventors:
James Ralph Case, Brackney, PA (US);
Joseph Duane Kulesza, Binghamton, NY (US);
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
A61B / ; A61C / ; A61C / ; G01B / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
600587 ; 600590 ; 600595 ; 433214 ; 33514 ; 33551 ;
Abstract
Back-to back hydraulically linked pistons are mechanically coupled to contact probes and measurement sensors. The pistons are hydraulically linked by small diameter flexible conduits which enable the contact probes and the measurement sensors to be mounted and moved independently of each other without affecting the ability of the measurement instrument to simultaneously measure a plurality of points on a selected predefined surface, such as a human tooth. The present invention overcomes the problems associated with the complex mechanical linkages heretofore required in such instruments.