Multi-Directional Biological Tissue Strain Sensing via Electrical Impedance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring strain in tendons and ligaments are invasive, costly, or lack the ability to acquire in situ measurements effectively, limiting their practicality and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A biological tissue strain sensing apparatus with sensing electrodes that contact the tissue to measure electrical properties along multiple directions, including a sensing module, logging module, and strain estimation module, enabling multi-directional strain measurement and transmission for analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If transducer based methods are used to measure strain, then measurement capability is provided, but the methods require physical attachment to tissue which increases invasiveness and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical transducers and displacement sensors with electrical impedance sensing. Instead of physically attaching mechanical devices to measure tissue deformation, the system uses electrodes to detect changes in electrical impedance caused by strain-induced alterations in tissue microstructure and fluid distribution. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical attachment while providing strain measurement capability.
2Measurement precision
If medical imaging methods are used for non-invasive strain measurement, then in vivo strain can be measured, but the cost burden on researchers is significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a low-cost electrical impedance sensing system using simple electrodes and basic electronic components instead of expensive medical imaging equipment like ultrasound or MRI machines. The system uses affordable impedance measurement circuits and processing algorithms to achieve strain measurement capability at a fraction of the cost of medical imaging methods, making it accessible to researchers without significant financial burden.
3Ease of operation
If marker-tracking techniques are used, then strain computation is simplified with automatic image digitization, but the methods still rely on external markers which increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and measures the electrical property (impedance) that inherently changes with tissue strain, eliminating the need for external markers. Instead of tracking markers attached to tissue or requiring complex image processing, the system directly senses electrical impedance variations that occur naturally during tissue deformation. This extraction of the inherent electrical signal simplifies the measurement approach while reducing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate, non-invasive, and cost-effective in situ measurement of longitudinal and transverse strain in biological tissues, improving measurement precision and reducing the burden on researchers.
Implementation Method 1
sensing electrodes that contact biological tissue and enable measurement of an electrical property of the biological tissue along two or more directions
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for in-situ sensing of longitudinal and transverse strain in biological tissue (e.g. tendons and ligaments) includes a set of sensing electrodes that contact biological tissue and enable measurement of an electrical property of the biological tissue along two or more directions. The apparatus may also include a sensing module that senses the electrical property of the biological tissue along the two or more directions to provide multi-directional measurements that are captured by a logging module. The apparatus may also include a transmission module that transmits the captured measurements to a data analysis workstation or the like. The data analysis workstation may include a strain estimation module that receives the multi-directional measurement and estimates a longitudinal strain and a transverse strain therefrom. A corresponding system and method for in-situ sensing of longitudinal and transverse strain in biological tissue is also presented.