Patent ID: 7488173
Filing Date: 2009-02-10
Classification: A61B,A61C

Abstract:
1. A hand held instrument comprising: a handpiece having a distal end, and a chamber at the distal end of the handpiece; a housing extending within the chamber; a working element to be applied to an object, the working element being carried by the housing and extending along a longitudinal axis; a power source for actuating the working element; a pressure sensor arrangement within the chamber between the housing and the handpiece in place for sensing pressure between the working element and the handpiece, the pressure sensor arrangement being arranged relative to the housing and the working element for sensing pressure between the working element and the handpiece in axial directions along the longitudinal axis and in radial directions transverse to the longitudinal axis; and a controller for activating the power source to actuate the working element, the controller being responsive to the pressure sensor arrangement for activating the power source to actuate the working element in response to forces upon the working element in the axial directions along the longitudinal axis and in the radial directions transverse to the longitudinal axis such that forces exerted upon the working element in either one of an axial direction along the longitudinal axis and a radial direction transverse to the longitudinal axis will activate the power source to actuate the working element, and will continuously activate the power source to actuate the working element while such forces are exerted upon the working element.