Patent ID: 6729037
Filing Date: 2004-05-04
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
A measurement instrument for measuring blind holes in bone, the instrument comprising:an elongated probe made of a super-elastic alloy, having opposed proximal and distal ends; a scale located adjacent the proximal end of the probe, defining an axis and presenting indicia extending along the axis; an abutment on the distal end of the probe; a housing slidably mounted to the scale; and a shaft having a proximal and a distal end and at least surrounding the proximal end of the probe, the proximal end of the shaft attached to the housing and having a bone-engaging tip attached to the distal end of the shaft, the tip supporting a portion of the probe enclosed within it so as to guide the probe out of the tip at a predefined angle with respect to the distal end of the shaft, wherein relative movement between the housing and the scale causes the abutment on the distal end of the probe to extend out from the tip along a straight path a selected distance reflected by the indicia and along a predefined angle until it abuts against an obstacle such as an end of a hole to be measured.