METHOD AND SYSTEM TO DETERMINE AN OPTIMAL TISSUE COMPRESSION TIME TO IMPLANT A SURGICAL ELEMENT Abstract A method for determining an optimal compression of tissue (30, 32) to apply a 5 surgical element (100) has the steps of applying a load to the tissue (30, 32). The method has the step of determining a reactive load applied by the tissue (30, 32) in response to the load. The method also has the step of determining the reactive load per unit time for a predetermined time period and determining a slope of the reactive load per unit time. The method further has the steps of evaluating the slope relative to a predetermined threshold, 10 and signalling when the slope exceeds the predetermined threshold.
