A device includes a clamp and a sensor. The sensor can be attached to the clamp and tissue by the force exerted by the clamp. The clamp includes a first jaw member having a jaw face and a second jaw member having a complementary face. The first and second jaw members are held in alignment by a joint. The joint has an elastic member configured to exert a compressive force. The joint allows movement of the jaw face relative to the complementary face in directions corresponding to pitch, roll, yaw, and heave. The compressive force is distributed over a surface of the jaw face. The sensor is coupled to the jaw face or held in place by the compressive force of the jaw face. The sensor is configured to generate a sensor signal corresponding to a physiological parameter of tissue proximate the jaw face.