Patent ID: 11903572
Assignee: NUVASIVE, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A surgical system comprising:
a surgical device configured for insertion to a surgical site, the surgical device comprising:
a tissue contacting component having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion is responsive to forces acting on the tissue contacting component; and
an optical fiber including a sensing portion disposed along the second portion of the tissue contacting component, wherein the optical fiber is configured to deform in response to loads acting on the tissue contacting component;

an interrogator coupled to the optical fiber, wherein the interrogator is configured to sense light reflected through the optical fiber and translate the sensed light into electrical signals; and
wherein the electrical signals are indicative of loads acting on the tissue contacting component of the surgical device; and
wherein the first portion of the tissue contacting component is constructed from a first material and the second portion of the tissue contacting component is constructed from a second material more responsive to loads acting on the tissue contacting component than the first material.