Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine
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Proc Inst Mech Eng H · Aug 2013
The use of muscle dynamometer for correction of muscle imbalances in the area of deep stabilising spine system.
Dorsal pain caused by spine dysfunctions belongs to most frequent chronic illnesses. The muscles of the deep stabilising spine system work as a single functional unit where a dysfunction of only one muscle causes dysfunction of the whole system. Non-invasive, objective and statistically measurable evaluation of the condition of deep stabilising spine system has been made possible by the construction of muscular dynamometer. ⋯ With the muscular dynamometer, activation of deep stabilising spine system can be objectively measured. Changes between the initial condition of a subject and the difference after some exercise or rehabilitation are especially noticeable. Also, the effect of given therapy or correct performance of the exercise can be followed and observed.
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Proc Inst Mech Eng H · Jul 2013
Towards a realistic in vitro experience of epidural Tuohy needle insertion.
The amount of pressure exerted on the syringe and the depth of needle insertion are the two key factors for successfully carrying out epidural procedure. The force feedback from the syringe plunger is helpful in judging the loss of pressure, and the depth of the needle insertion is crucial in identifying when the needle is precisely placed in the epidural space. ⋯ A pilot trial has been conducted to collect depth and pressure data with the devices on a porcine cadaver. These measurements are then combined to accurately configure a haptic device for creating a realistic in vitro experience of epidural needle insertion.
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Proc Inst Mech Eng H · Jun 2013
A meta-model analysis of a finite element simulation for defining poroelastic properties of intervertebral discs.
Finite element analysis is an effective tool to evaluate the material properties of living tissue. For an interactive optimization procedure, the finite element analysis usually needs many simulations to reach a reasonable solution. The meta-model analysis of finite element simulation can be used to reduce the computation of a structure with complex geometry or a material with composite constitutive equations. ⋯ The results showed that the in vitro disc experimental deformations were well fitted with limited finite element simulations and a quadratic response surface regression. The comparison of material properties of intact and degenerated discs showed that the hydraulic permeability significantly decreased but Poisson's ratio significantly increased for the degenerated discs. This study shows that the developed protocol is efficient and effective in defining material properties of a complex structure such as the intervertebral disc.
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The wear of a model metal-on-metal ball-and-socket total disc arthroplasty was measured in a simulator. The ball had a radius of 10 mm, and there was a radial clearance between ball and socket of 0.015 mm. The model was subjected to simultaneous flexion-extension, lateral bending, axial rotation (frequency: 1 Hz) and compression (frequency: 2 Hz, maximum load: 2 kN). ⋯ Wear occurred in two stages. In the first stage (duration about 1 million cycles), there was a linear wear rate of 2.01 ± 0.04 mm(3) per million cycles; in the second stage, there was a linear wear rate of 0.76 ± 0.02 mm(3) per million cycles. Surface roughness increased linearly in the first million cycles and then continued to increase linearly but more slowly.
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Proc Inst Mech Eng H · Mar 2013
Biomechanical comparison of supplemental posterior fixations for two-level anterior lumbar interbody fusion.
Posterior instrumentations have been used to supplement anterior lumbar interbody fusion with cages. Biomechanical studies on single-level anterior lumbar interbody fusion show that stand-alone cages supplemented with posterior translaminar facet or transfacet screw fixation exhibit comparable stability to those supplemented with pedicle screw/rod fixation, while stability of multilevel anterior lumbar interbody fusion remains mostly unknown. The objectives of this study are to compare the stabilization of three supplemental posterior fixations to two-level anterior lumbar interbody fusion, including translaminar facet fixation, transfacet screw fixation, and pedicle screw/rod fixation. ⋯ Supplemental posterior fixation significantly improved stability of two-level anterior lumbar interbody fusion when compared to the stand-alone cages. Pedicle screw/rod system is still the "gold standard" in providing supplemental stability. However, both translaminar facet screws and transfacet screws are good alternatives to provide adequate fixation.