Wireless measurement of suture tension

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025387084-A1
Application number	US-202519311714-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 27, 2025
Priority date	Aug 9, 2021
Publication date	Dec 25, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

Certain examples of the disclosure concern an implantable sensor. The implantable sensor includes a sensor assembly configured to comlect to a suture. The sensor assembly also includes a substrate and a resonant circuit coupled to the substrate. The resonant circuit is configured to electrically resonate at a resonant frequency when exposed to a first electromagnetic field and to emit a second remotely detectable electromagnetic field. The substrate is configured to deform in response to a tensile force applied by the suture and to change a resonant parameter of the resonant circuit in response to the deformation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A suture retention device comprising:
one or more openings for receiving a suture; and an enclosure configured to deform in response to a tensile force applied by the suture and enclosing:
a deformable member; and
a resonant circuit comprising at least one inductor and a resistive transducer, wherein:
the resistive transducer is coupled to the deformable member;
the at least one inductor is electronically connected to the resistive transducer;
the resonant circuit is configured to electrically resonate at a resonant frequency when exposed to a first electromagnetic field and to emit a second remotely detectable electromagnetic field, the resonant circuit having a resistance that varies in response to a deformation, such that the resonant circuit has a resonant quality factor determined at least by an inductance of the at least one inductor, a capacitance, and the resistance of the resistive transducer;
deformation of the deformable member and the resistive transducer changes the resistance of the resistive transducer and the resonant quality factor of the resonant circuit; and
the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit is determined at least in part by the inductance of the at least one inductor and an inherent parasitic capacitance of the at least one inductor.

2 . The suture retention device of claim 1 , wherein the resistive transducer is a strain gauge.

3 . The suture retention device of claim 1 , wherein the suture passes through the one or more openings and the deformable member.

4 . The suture retention device of claim 1 , wherein the deformable member comprises a metal or metal alloy.

5 . The suture retention device of claim 1 , wherein the suture is attached to a graft and tightened to create a tensile force on the suture.

6 . The suture retention device of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a polymeric material.

7 . The suture retention device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional resistive transducers.

8 . The suture retention device of claim 1 , wherein the deformation of the deformable member comprises bending, elongation, compression, rotation, torsion, or flexion.

9 . A suture retention device comprising:
one or more openings for receiving a suture; an enclosure configured to deform in response to a tensile force applied by the suture and enclosing: a deformable member; and a resonant circuit comprising at least one inductor and a resistive transducer, wherein:
the resistive transducer is coupled to the deformable member;
the at least one inductor is electronically connected to the resistive transducer;
the resonant circuit is configured to electrically resonate at a resonant frequency when exposed to a first electromagnetic field and to emit a second remotely detectable electromagnetic field, the resonant circuit having a resistance that varies in response to a deformation;
deformation of the resistive transducer changes the resistance of the resistive transducer; and
the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit is determined at least in part by the inductance of the at least one inductor and an inherent parasitic capacitance of the at least one inductor.

10 . The suture retention device of claim 9 , wherein the resistive transducer is a strain gauge.

11 . The suture retention device of claim 9 , wherein the suture passes through the one or more openings and the deformable member.

12 . The suture retention device of claim 9 , wherein the deformable member comprises a metal or metal alloy.

13 . The suture retention device of claim 9 , wherein the enclosure comprises a polymeric material.

14 . The suture retention device of claim 9 , further comprising a resonant parameter having the resonant frequency, a resonant quality factor, or impedance of the resonant circuit.

15 . The suture retention device of claim 9 , wherein the deformation of the resistive transducer comprises bending, elongation, compression, rotation, torsion, or flexion.

16 . The suture retention device of claim 9 , wherein the suture is attached to a graft and tightened to create a tensile force on the suture.

17 . A suture retention device comprising:
one or more openings for receiving a suture; a deformable member; and a resonant circuit comprising at least one inductor and a resistive transducer, wherein:
the resistive transducer is coupled to the deformable member;
the at least one inductor is electronically connected to the resistive transducer;
the resonant circuit is configured to electrically resonate at a resonant frequency when exposed to a first electromagnetic field and to emit a second remotely detectable electromagnetic field, the resonant circuit having a resistance that varies in response to a deformation, such that the resonant circuit has a resonant quality factor determined at least by an inductance of the at least one inductor, a capacitance, and the resistance of the resistive transducer;
deformation of the deformable member and the resistive transducer thereby changes the resistance of the resistive transducer and the resonant quality factor of the resonant circuit; and
the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit is determined at least in part by the inductance of the at least one inductor and an inherent parasitic capacitance of the at least one inductor.

18 . The suture retention device of claim 17 , wherein the deformation of the deformable member comprises bending, elongation, compression, rotation, torsion, or flexion.

19 . The suture retention device of claim 17 , wherein the sensor assembly further comprises at least one capacitor.

20 . The suture retention device of claim 17 , wherein the deformable member comprises a metal or metal alloy.

Assignees

• Univ Oregon

Inventors

• Ong Keat Ghee
• Karipott Salil Sidharthan
• Guldberg Robert Erling
• Meyers Kaylee M

Classifications

• A61B2562/164

  the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier · CPC title

• A61B2017/00004

  (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive · CPC title

• A61B17/06166

  Sutures (suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M) · CPC title

• A61B5/486

  Biofeedback (using electroencephalography [EEG] A61B5/375) · CPC title

• A61B5/4523

  Tendons · CPC title