Method and device for determining tension in ligaments and tendons

A method of measuring tension in ligaments or tendons comprising:

• illuminating a ligament or tendon with electromagnetic radiation thereby reflecting and scattering electromagnetic radiation from the ligament or tendon,
• collecting the scattered electromagnetic radiation with a collecting means,
• detecting Raman scattered electromagnetic radiation,
• receiving the Raman scattered electromagnetic radiation from the collecting means in a spectrometer,
• analyzing the Raman scattered electromagnetic radiation,
• computing the effects of Raman scattering induced by tension in the ligament or tendon by determining peaks and
• calculating the tension in the tissue from analysis of two or more frequency shifted peaks.

An apparatus for determining tension in tissues comprising:

• a photon source for directing energy onto a sample, wherein photons are emitted and passed through a first filter and onto a mirror, the photons are then redirected by the mirror through a focusing lens and onto the sample,
• a means of delivering an incident photon energy and a means of delivering collected photon energy,
• a collecting lens for collecting scattered emissions from the sample,
• a second filter for receiving the scattered emission from the collecting lens,
• a spectrometer for receiving the scattered emissions from the second filter,
• a photodetector for measuring the scattered emissions,
• a computer programmed for measuring and analyzing tension in the tissue by calculations from analyses of two or more frequency shifts using Raman spectroscopy, and
• a display showing tension in the sample.

An apparatus for determining tension in ligaments and tendons, comprising:

• a source for supplying an electromagnetic incident beam on a sample ligament or tendon,
• a receiver for collecting and receiving reflected and first and second Raman scattered electromagnetic emissions from the sample ligament or tendon,
• a spectrometer and a photodetector connected to the receiver for detecting and analyzing the first and second Raman scattered electromagnetic emissions,
• a computer or microprocessor programmed for evaluating the first and second Raman scattered electromagnetic emissions to determine peaks and calculating an output corresponding to tension in the ligament or tendon from an analysis of a frequency shift of the peaks, and
• a display for displaying the output.