Device For Ascertaining A Force-Displacement Characteristic Curve Of One Or More Ligaments, And Method Of Doing The Same

An appliance for tensioning articular or other ligaments of a human or animal body, said appliance comprising:

• at least one handle;
• a tensioning element associated with said at least one handle, the handle being in operative engagement with the tensioning element;
• a force indicator associated with said at least one handle and configured to indicate a force exerted on the tensioning element upon tensioning of one or more ligaments;
• a displacement indicator associated with said at least one handle configured to indicate the displacement of the tensioning element from a reference position;
• and
• at least one marker associated with at least one of the force indicator and the displacement indicator, said at least one marker configured to be detected without contact by a measurement value ascertainment system associated with the appliance.

A system for ascertaining a force-displacement relationship or a force-displacement characteristic curve of one or more animal or human articular or other ligaments, the system comprising:

• an appliance configured for tensioning ligaments;
• a marker detector configured for detecting at least one marker associated with the appliance;
• and
• a data evaluator configured for evaluating data ascertained from said detection of the at least one marker.

A method of ascertaining a force-displacement relationship or a force-displacement characteristic curve of one or more animal or human articular or other ligaments, the method comprising:

• determining a force acting on a tensioning element;
• and
• determining at least one of a displacement difference and an excursion from a reference position associated with the tensioning element,
• wherein at least one of said determination of the force and determination of the displacement difference or excursion being carried out without contact with the device used to exert the force on the tensioning element.