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

Claim 0:
1. An improved tocodynamometer transducer comprising:
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 axes 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.