Patent ID: 11892326
Assignee: ARONIX LLC
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  G | IPC A  G

Claim 19:
20. A method of using an improved tocodynamometer transducer comprising the steps of:
providing an improved tocodynamometer transducer, the improved tocodynamometer transducer comprising an electric circuit, a bottom enclosure having a bottom internal side, a skin-contacting side, and a diaphragm opening therethrough, a top enclosure having a top exterior surface and a top internal surface, a diaphragm is circular in shape, the diaphragm comprises a flexible relief channel integrally formed in the diaphragm proximate to perimeter of the diaphragm defining a diaphragm deflection area, the diaphragm is secured within the diaphragm opening, a plunger comprises a shaft having a shaft hole along length of the shaft that is threaded, and a deflection surface having a plunger top side and a plunger bottom side, a ferrite core is threaded around outer circumference and solid in composition, the ferrite core is screwed into the shaft hole, a transformer housing comprises a housing bottom having a housing hole centrally located therethrough, an outer circumference surface, and a housing interior region, a linear variable differential transformer having a circular air core, a magnetic shield enclosure comprises a top shield having a top shield hole, and a bottom shield having a shield interior region, the linear variable differential transformer is fitted into the shield interior region, the shaft of the plunger is placed through the housing hole, the bottom shield hole, the circular air core, and the top shield hole, the magnetic shield enclosure is fastened in the housing interior region, the plunger bottom side is placed in contact with the diaphragm deflection area, a flat spring is formed from single contiguous piece of metal, the flat spring comprises an outer ring, an inner ring, and four of a spring rib, the outer ring having more than one of a spring mounting hole, each of the spring rib is symmetrical, curvilinear in shape, identical in path length, separated by an air gap, and equally spaced between the outer ring, the inner ring, and the spring rib that are adjacent, each of the spring rib is connected, in integrally formed manner, at a first end to the outer ring and a second end to the inner ring, wherein spring constant of the flat spring is predetermined by thickness of the flat spring and identical along two or more axis with respect to the inner ring, and a spring washer comprises a threaded raised inner collar that is sized, fitted through the inner ring, and adhered to the flat spring, the shaft screws into and protrudes from the spring washer, the flat spring is fastened to the transformer housing, the top enclosure and the bottom enclosure are joined and secured together;
placing a weight on the diaphragm;
recording a toco count from a display device, the linear variable differential transformer generates a linear voltage output that is proportional to the weight on the diaphragm, the linear voltage output is converted to a conditioned linear voltage output signal by the electric circuit, and the conditioned linear voltage output signal is communicated by way of a wire cable to the display device, the display device converts the conditioned linear voltage output signal to the toco count;
plotting on a graph the weight on a first axis and the toco count or selectively the conditioned linear voltage output signal on a second axis;
increasing incrementally amount of the weight and returning to the step of placing until amount of the weight reached is at least 470 grams; and
determining if the graph is linear indicating the improved tocodynamometer transducer has a linear operating diaphragm force range of up to at least 470 grams.