# US 7,610,080 B1 · Method and device for determining tension in ligaments and tendons > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,080 B1 - Document ID: US7610080B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 10/703,436 - Filed: 2003-11-10 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2002-11-08 - Assignees: Wintec Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Leonard W. Winchester, Jr.; Nee-Yin Chou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610080B1 ## CPC - A61B 5/0059: {using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence (photoacoustic A61B5/0093; optical measurement of heart rate A61B5/02416; optical measurement of blood flow A61B5/0261; optical measurement of analytes A61B5/1455)} - A61B 5/1107: {Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ or muscle} - A61B 5/4523: {Tendons} - A61B 5/4533: {Ligaments} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Infrared and Raman spectroscopy methods are used to assess the tension of ligaments, tendons and other tissue. The device includes an electromagnetic radiation source for directing radiation energy onto a sample, either directly or using a probe. Between the radiation source and the sample, emitted electromagnetic energies pass through a filtering device and are directed to the sample using optical components such as mirrors, lenses and optical fibers. After impacting the tissue, scattered emissions are collected by a collecting lens at a predetermined geometry. The scattered emissions are collected by a collection means such as lens and optical fibers directed to another filtering device and a spectrum-analyzing device, and detected with a photon-detecting device. The collected scattering signals are analyzed using a computing device such as a computer or a microprocessor. The tension in the tissue is obtained from the analysis of the scattered emissions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of determining tension in tissues comprising: providing a sample tissue for analysis, providing a photon source, providing a means of delivering an incident photon energy and a means of delivering collected photon energy, providing an optical probe for placing in optical contact with the tissue sample, passing photon source emissions through a first filter and onto a mirror, redirecting the photon source emissions off the mirror, through a focusing lens and onto the sample, collecting first and second scattered emissions from the tissue in a collecting lens, passing the first and second scattered emissions through a second filter and into a spectrometer, measuring the first and second scattered emissions with a photodetector, analyzing the first and second scattered emissions with a computing device and determining peaks, and calculating and outputting the tension in the tissue by analyzing frequency shifts in the peaks of the first and second scattered emissions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein tension is determined in fiber tissues. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein tension is determined in vivo in tissues. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein tension is determined in vitro in tissues. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein tension is determined in grafted tissue in animals and humans. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein providing the photon source comprises providing an infrared laser, with wavelengths longer than 700 nm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein providing the photon source is comprises providing a visible light laser. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the photon source is a broadband infrared source, from 1 to 10 micrometers, and further comprising using IR absorption spectroscopy to determine tension in tissues selected from a group consisting of in vivo tissues and in vitro tissues. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein passing the scattered emissions through the spectrometer comprises passing through a scanning spectrometer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein passing through the scanning spectrometer comprises passing through a point detector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein passing through the point detector comprises passing through a photomultiplier tube. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein passing through the point detector comprises passing through a photodiode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein passing the scattered emissions through the spectrometer comprises passing though a non-scanning spectrometer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein passing through the non-scanning spectrometer comprises passing through an array detector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein passing through the first filter comprises passing through a narrow bandpass filter centered at the photon source wavelength. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein passing through the first filter comprises eliminating fluorescent, plasma lines, laser lines and other undesired electromagnetic radiation from the photon source emission beam. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein passing the scattered emissions through the second filter comprises passing through a photon source blocking filter used to reduce the intensity of Raleigh-scattered light. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the computer controls the spectrometer scan speed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting comprises computer displays of the calculated tension. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising using Raman spectroscopy for examining the relation between applied stress and tension in a graft during the conditioning of the tissue prior to implantation. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the calculated tension. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising securing the tissue into bone attachment sites, wherein the tension is calculated as the tissue is secured into bone attachment sites. ### Claim 23 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. ### Claim 24 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. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the photon source is an infrared laser, with wavelengths longer than 700 nm. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the photon source is a visible light laser. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the photon source is a broadband infrared source, from 1 to 10 micrometers, and further comprising determining with IR absorption spectroscopy tension in tissues, in vivo tissue and in vitro tissue. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the spectrometer is a scanning spectrometer. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the scanning spectrometer comprises a point detector. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the point detector is a photomultiplier tube. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the point detector is a photodiode. ### Claim 32 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the spectrometer is a non-scanning spectrometer. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the non-scamming spectrometer comprises an array detector. ### Claim 34 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first filter is a narrow bandpass filter centered at the photon source wavelength. ### Claim 35 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first filter eliminates fluorescent, plasma lines, laser lines and other undesired electromagnetic radiation from the photon source emission beam. ### Claim 36 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the second filter is a photon source blocking filter used to reduce the intensity of Raleigh-scattered light. ### Claim 37 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the computer controls the spectrometer scan speed. ### Claim 38 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising computer displays of the results of Raman spectroscopy. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the results of the Raman spectroscopy provide the relation between applied stress and tension in a graft during the conditioning of the sample prior to implantation. ### Claim 40 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a display for displaying the calculated tension. ### Claim 41 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. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising a display for displaying the calculated tension.