Patent ID: 6761726
Filing Date: 2004-07-13
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An apparatus for penetrating a hard shell of material covered by a layer of soft material and for positioning an object a predetermined distance below said hard shell of material, comprising:(a) a housing assembly operative to receive a force directly applied by a user and to continuously transfer a substantial portion of said force to said object throughout application of said force, said housing assembly including: (i) a coupler operative to couple said force to said object such that said force directly applied by said user drives said object through said hard shell of material; (ii) a bone probe assembly operative to penetrate said layer of soft material and to contact a surface of said hard shell of material; and (iii) a release mechanism operative to remove substantially all of said force applied directly by said user from said object once said object reaches said predetermined distance below said hard shell of material.