1. A measuring instrument comprising an operating part that is operated by a finger of a user, wherein
the operating part is provided with a haptic notification mechanism that notifies, through a haptic sense of the finger, that a predetermined measuring pressure has been reached, by generating a resistance with respect to the finger by moving in association with the operation of the finger and by causing the resistance to change at a predetermined movement position.
2. The measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein
the haptic notification mechanism provides a sense of clicking to the finger by abruptly changing the resistance between immediately prior to the operating part reaching the predetermined movement position and the operating part reaching the predetermined movement position.
3. The measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein
the haptic notification mechanism is configured such that the haptic notification mechanism is capable of notifying that different measuring pressures, corresponding to the respective movement position, have been reached by changing the resistance at a plurality of movement positions of the operating part.
4. The measuring instrument according to claim 1, wherein
the measuring instrument is a vernier caliper comprising a main scale having one jaw, a slider that is slidably provided on the main scale and that has the other jaw which is to be abutted against an object to be measured together with the one jaw, and the operating part that is provided on the slider and for sliding the slider.
5. The measuring instrument according to claim 4, wherein
the haptic notification mechanism is configured by: a movement member that has a part for the user to put the finger thereon and that is movably provided on the slider; a biasing part that generates the resistance, in association with the movement of the movement member, by biasing the movement member;
and a resistance change part that changes the resistance by making contact with the movement member.
6. The measuring instrument according to claim 5, wherein
the resistance change part is configured by a sliding contact spring that makes sliding-contact with the movement member, and
one of the movement member and the sliding contact spring is formed with a projection that projects to the other one of the movement member and the sliding contact spring, the other one of the movement member and the sliding contact spring being formed with an abutting part which abut against the projection, a sense of clicking being provided to the finger by the abutting part going over the projection to abruptly change the resistance.
7. The measuring instrument according to claim 5, wherein
the movement member is provided such that the movement member is capable of moving in a first direction and a second direction corresponding to directions in which the slider slides along the main scale,
the biasing part has a first biasing part that biases the movement member moving in the first direction and a second biasing part that biases the movement member in the second direction, and
the resistance change part is configured such that the resistance change part is capable of changing the resistance by making contact with the movement member moving in the respective directions of the first direction and the second direction.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A device for adjusting when implanted at least one of the shape and size of an anatomic orifice or lumen, comprising:
an implant body comprising an annuloplasty ring having at least one of an adjustable size or shape comprising a ring including an interface location having a rotatable adjustable member, the implant body having a diametral axis and configured to have a variable length circumference over an operative range upon rotation of the adjustable member, the implant body configured to be attached to tissue adjacent the anatomic orifice or lumen, wherein a surface of the implant body when in contact with the anatomic orifice or lumen and said surface substantially defines a plane; and
an adjustment tool including a distal end having a longitudinal axis, the distal end configured to be removably coupled to the adjustable member at the interface location of the implant body, wherein the adjustment tool is configured to adjust upon rotation of the adjustable member by rotation of the distal end of the adjustment tool at least one of the shape and size of the ring by varying the length of the circumference of the ring over the operative range;
wherein when the distal end of the adjustment tool is operatively coupled to the interface location of the implant body, the diametrical axis of the implant body is in collinear longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the distal end of the adjustment tool.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the annuloplasty ring comprises an outer layer through which sutures are placed to attach the annuloplasty ring to the tissue adjacent the anatomic orifice or lumen.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the annuloplasty ring is rigid.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the annuloplasty ring is flexible.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the implant body includes barbs for attaching it to the tissue adjacent the anatomic orifice or lumen.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the implant body comprises a tube formed into an annular shape adapted to be attached directly or indirectly to the tissue adjacent the anatomic orifice or lumen.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the implant body can be introduced to a site adjacent the anatomic orifice or lumen using a minimally invasive procedure.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the implant body can be introduced to a site adjacent the anatomic orifice or lumen using a catheter.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment tool further includes a proximal end, the distal end being removably coupled to the interface location of the implant body and the adjustment tool extending therefrom such that adjustments to the anatomic orifice or lumen can be made remotely using the proximal end.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment tool can be introduced to the interface location of the implant body using a minimally invasive procedure.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment tool can be used to adjust at least one of the shape and size of the anatomic orifice or lumen after resumption of physiologic flow in the anatomic orifice or lumen.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment tool can be used to uniformly adjust at least one of the shape and size of the anatomic orifice or lumen.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment tool can be used to non-uniformly adjust at least one of the shape and size of the anatomic orifice or lumen.
14. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment tool can be used to adjust at least one of the shape and size of the anatomic orifice or lumen on a beating heart.
15. An adjustable prosthetic anatomical device for adjusting when implanted at least one of the shape and size of an anatomic orifice or lumen, comprising:
an implant body comprising an annuloplasty ring having at least one of an adjustable size or shape comprising a ring configured to be attached to tissue adjacent the anatomic orifice or lumen, the ring including an interface location having a rotatable adjustable member, the implant body having a diametrical axis and configured to have a variable length circumference over an operative range upon rotation of the adjustable member;
an adjustment tool including a distal end having a longitudinal axis, the distal end configured to be removably coupled to an adjustment tool having a rotational distal end about a rotational longitudinal axis, the distal end configured to be removably coupled to the adjustable member at the interface location of the implant body, whereby rotation of the distal end of the adjustment tool about the rotational longitudinal axis is adapted to rotate the adjustable member to adjust at least one of the shape and size of the ring by varying the length of the circumference of the ring over the operative range;
wherein when the adjustment tool is operatively coupled to the interface location, the rotational longitudinal axis of the distal end of the adjustment tool is arranged in collinear longitudinal alignment with the diametrical axis of the ring.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein the annuloplasty ring comprises an outer layer through which sutures are placed to attach the annuloplasty ring to the tissue adjacent the anatomic orifice or lumen.
17. An adjustable prosthetic anatomical device for adjusting when implanted at least one of the shape and size of an anatomic orifice or lumen, comprising:
an implantable adjustable ring comprising an annuloplasty ring having a diametrical axis and configured to have a variable length circumference over an operative range, the ring configured to be attached to tissue adjacent the anatomic orifice or lumen;
an interface location on the ring having a rotatable adjustable member adapted to be removably coupled to an adjustment tool; and
an adjustment tool having a rotational distal end configured to be removably coupled to the adjustable member at the interface location of the ring for adjusting at least one of the shape and size of the ring by rotating the adjustable member for varying the length of the circumference of the ring over the operative range, the distal end having a rotational longitudinal axis;
wherein the rotational longitudinal axis, when the distal end of the adjustment tool is operatively coupled to the adjustable member, is arranged in collinear longitudinal alignment with the diametrical axis of the ring.
18. An adjustable prosthetic anatomical device having at least one of an adjustable size or shape, comprising:
a prosthetic implant device having at least one of an adjustable size or shape comprising an adjustable annuloplasty ring including an interface location having a rotatable adjustable member, the ring having a diametrical axis and configured to have a variable length circumference over an operative range, the ring configured to have at least one of an adjustable size or shape for adjusting at least one of a size or shape of an anatomic orifice or lumen when attached thereto, the adjustable member adapted to be removably attached to an adjustment tool; and
an adjustment tool having a rotational distal end configured to be removably coupled to the adjustable member at the interface location for adjusting at least one of the size or shape of the ring by rotating the adjustable member for varying the length of the circumference of the ring over the operative range, the distal end having a rotational longitudinal axis;
wherein when the distal end is attached to the interface location, the rotational longitudinal axis is arranged in collinear longitudinal alignment with the diametrical axis of the ring during rotation of the distal end of the adjustment tool.
19. An adjustable prosthetic anatomical device having at least one of an adjustable size or shape, comprising:
a prosthetic implantable annuloplasty ring configured to be implanted into a patient, the ring including an interface location having a rotatable adjustable member and a diametrial axis, the ring configured to have a variable length circumference adjustable over an operative range by rotation of the adjustable member by a removable adjustment tool for adjusting at least one of the size or shape of the ring; and
an adjustment tool having a distal end configured to be removably attached to the adjustable member at the interface location of the ring, wherein the length of the circumference of the ring can be varied, while the ring is implanted in the patient over the operative range by the rotation of the adjustable member by the distal end of the adjustment tool, the distal end of the adjustment tool having a rotational axis aligned with the diametrial axis of the ring;
wherein, while the ring is implanted in the patient, the adjustment tool can be reattached to the adjustable member after being detached therefrom.
20. A device for adjusting when implanted at least one of the shape and size of an anatomic orifice or lumen, comprising:
an implant body having at least one of an adjustable size or shape comprising a ring including an interface location having a rotatable adjustable member, the implant body having a diametral axis and configured to have a variable length circumference over an operative range upon rotation of the adjustable member, the implant body including barbs for attaching the implant body to tissue adjacent the anatomic orifice or lumen, wherein a surface of the implant body when in contact with the anatomic orifice or lumen and said surface substantially defines a plane; and
an adjustment tool including a distal end having a longitudinal axis, the distal end configured to be removably coupled to the adjustable member at the interface location of the implant body, wherein the adjustment tool is configured to adjust upon rotation of the adjustable member by rotation of the distal end of the adjustment tool at least one of the shape and size of the ring by varying the length of the circumference of the ring over the operative range;
wherein when the distal end of the adjustment tool is operatively coupled to the interface location of the implant body, the diametrical axis of the implant body is in collinear longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the distal end of the adjustment tool.
21. A device for adjusting when implanted at least one of the shape and size of an anatomic orifice or lumen, comprising:
an implant body having at least one of an adjustable size or shape comprising a ring including an interface location having a rotatable adjustable member, the implant body having a diametral axis and configured to have a variable length circumference over an operative range upon rotation of the adjustable member, the implant body configured to be attached to tissue adjacent the anatomic orifice or lumen, wherein a surface of the implant body when in contact with the anatomic orifice or lumen and said surface substantially defines a plane, wherein the implant body comprises a tube formed into an annular shape adapted to be attached directly or indirectly to the tissue adjacent the anatomic orifice or lumen; and
an adjustment tool including a distal end having a longitudinal axis, the distal end configured to be removably coupled to the adjustable member at the interface location of the implant body, wherein the adjustment tool is configured to adjust upon rotation of the adjustable member by rotation of the distal end of the adjustment tool at least one of the shape and size of the ring by varying the length of the circumference of the ring over the operative range;
wherein when the distal end of the adjustment tool is operatively coupled to the interface location of the implant body, the diametrical axis of the implant body is in collinear longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the distal end of the adjustment tool.
22. A device for adjusting when implanted at least one of the shape and size of an anatomic orifice or lumen, comprising:
an implant body having at least one of an adjustable size or shape comprising a ring including an interface location having a rotatable adjustable member, the implant body having a diametral axis and configured to have a variable length circumference over an operative range upon rotation of the adjustable member, the implant body configured to be attached to tissue adjacent the anatomic orifice or lumen, wherein a surface of the implant body when in contact with the anatomic orifice or lumen and said surface substantially defines a plane, wherein the implant body is adapted to be introduced to a site adjacent the anatomic orifice or lumen using a minimally invasive procedure; and
an adjustment tool including a distal end having a longitudinal axis, the distal end configured to be removably coupled to the adjustable member at the interface location of the implant body, wherein the adjustment tool is configured to adjust upon rotation of the adjustable member by rotation of the distal end of the adjustment tool at least one of the shape and size of the ring by varying the length of the circumference of the ring over the operative range;
wherein when the distal end of the adjustment tool is operatively coupled to the interface location of the implant body, the diametrical axis of the implant body is in collinear longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the distal end of the adjustment tool.
23. A device for adjusting when implanted at least one of the shape and size of an anatomic orifice or lumen, comprising:
an implant body having at least one of an adjustable size or shape comprising a ring including an interface location having a rotatable adjustable member, the implant body having a diametral axis and configured to have a variable length circumference over an operative range upon rotation of the adjustable member, the implant body configured to be attached to tissue adjacent the anatomic orifice or lumen, wherein a surface of the implant body when in contact with the anatomic orifice or lumen and said surface substantially defines a plane, wherein the implant body is adapted to be introduced to a site adjacent the anatomic orifice or lumen using a catheter; and
an adjustment tool including a distal end having a longitudinal axis, the distal end configured to be removably coupled to the adjustable member at the interface location of the implant body, wherein the adjustment tool is configured to adjust upon rotation of the adjustable member by rotation of the distal end of the adjustment tool at least one of the shape and size of the ring by varying the length of the circumference of the ring over the operative range;
wherein when the distal end of the adjustment tool is operatively coupled to the interface location of the implant body, the diametrical axis of the implant body is in collinear longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the distal end of the adjustment tool.