Patent ID: 7607238

Claim:
A digital depth gauge apparatus for measuring a depth of a hole in an object that is within a deep surgical field, the apparatus comprising: an elongated reader shaft that includes a distal end and a proximal end; a user interface portion configured at the proximal end of the elongated reader shaft, the user interface portion including a display and at least one actuator that controls operation of at least one of the display and the apparatus; a probe that couples with and extends from the distal end of the reader shaft, the probe including a tip configured to locate a distal surface of the object; a sleeve member that includes a distal end configured to abut a proximal surface of the object, the sleeve member being coupled with the elongated reader shaft for relative translational and rotational movement with respect to a longitudinal axis through the elongated reader shaft; and a sensor interposed between the elongated reader shaft and the sleeve member for measuring relative translational movement between the elongated reader shaft and the sleeve member.