Force assessment device and method for lead extraction

1. A system, comprising:

a stylet configured to apply a traction force to a tissue-lead interface;

a force gauge coupled to the stylet and configured to measure the traction force applied by the stylet to the tissue-lead interface;

a strain gauge configured to measure a countertraction force;

an interface communicatively coupled to the force gauge and the strain gauge; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform the following:

receive the traction force from the force gauge;

receive the countertraction force from the strain gauge; and

present, via the interface, data regarding at least one of the traction force and the countertraction force.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface presents an alert that is at least one of an audible signal, a visual signal, and a tactile signal when at least one of the traction force and the countertraction force exceeds a predetermined threshold.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface presents an alert that is at least one of an audible signal, a visual signal, and a tactile signal when a ratio of the countertraction force to the traction force is outside a predetermined range.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface presents a visual signal via a display when at least one of the traction force and the countertraction force exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the visual signal comprises a literal graphic informing a user to decrease the at least one of the traction force and the countertraction force.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface presents a visual signal via a display when the traction force and the countertraction force exceed a predetermined threshold, wherein the visual signal comprises a literal graphic informing a user to decrease the traction force and the countertraction force.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface presents a visual signal via a display when the traction force and the countertraction force are below a predetermined threshold, wherein the visual signal comprises a literal graphic informing a user to maintain the traction force and the countertraction force.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface presents a visual signal via a display when a ratio of the countertraction force to the traction force is outside a predetermined range, wherein the visual signal comprises a literal graphic informing a user to decrease the greater of the traction force and the countertraction force and increase the lesser of the traction force and the countertraction force.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the force gauge is a spring.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the force gauge is a fiber optic sensor.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the force gauge is a miniature load cell.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the force gauge is a piezoelectric material.

12. A system, comprising:

a stylet configured to apply a traction force to a tissue-lead interface;

a force gauge coupled to the stylet and configured to measure the traction force applied by the stylet to the tissue-lead interface;

a strain gauge configured to measure a countertraction force;

an interface communicatively coupled to the force gauge and the strain gauge; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform the following:

receive the traction force from the force gauge;

receive the countertraction force from the strain gauge; and

present, via the interface, data regarding the traction force and the countertraction force.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the interface presents an alert that is at least one of an audible signal, a visual signal, and a tactile signal when at least one of the traction force and the countertraction force exceeds a predetermined threshold.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the interface presents an alert that is at least one of an audible signal, a visual signal, and a tactile signal when a ratio of the countertraction force to the traction force is outside a predetermined range.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the interface presents a visual signal via a display when at least one of the traction force and the countertraction force exceeds a first predetermined threshold and at least one of the traction force and the countertraction force is below a second predetermined threshold.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the interface presents a visual signal via a display when at least one of the traction force and the countertraction force exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the visual signal comprises a literal graphic informing a user to decrease the at least one of the traction force and the countertraction force.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the interface presents a visual signal via a display when the traction force and the countertraction force exceed a predetermined threshold, wherein the visual signal comprises a literal graphic informing a user to decrease the traction force and the countertraction force.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the interface presents a visual signal via a display when the traction force and the countertraction force are below a predetermined threshold, wherein the visual signal comprises a literal graphic informing a user to maintain the traction force and the countertraction force.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the interface presents a visual signal via a display when a ratio of the countertraction force to the traction force is outside a predetermined range, wherein the visual signal comprises a literal graphic informing a user to decrease the greater of the traction force and the countertraction force and increase the lesser of the traction force and the countertraction force.