Patent ID: 6234976
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A hand held instrument for use by a health care examiner in test evaluation of the threshold of cutaneous sensory perception of a body surface of a human patient comprised of:a) an instrument handle having a forward end and a rearward end, said handle provided with an elongated channel along its lower surface;b) a pivot head member having a forward end and a rearward end, said head member being rotatably affixed proximate its rearward end to the forward end of said handle for rotational positioning of said head member alternatively between a test evaluation position and a non-test position; andc) a monofilament element of selected standard length and bending force rating affixed to and projecting from the rearward end of said pivot head member for application to a body surface area of a patient for evaluating the sensory perception thereof,said pivot head member and the forward end of said instrument handle having cooperative means for positioning said head member with its projecting monofilament in said test evaluation position whereby said monofilament element extends downwardly from said handle at an angle of about 90 degrees therefrom and for alternatively positioning said head member with its projecting monofilament in said non-test position with said monofilament element extending in a filament protected position along the length of said handle within said elongated channel.