Biomechanical Evaluation of Transpedicular Nucleotomy With Intact Annulus Fibrosus

STUDY DESIGN

Biomechanical testing of partially nucleotomized ovine cadaveric spines.

OBJECTIVE

To explore how the nucleus pulposus (NP) affects the biomechanical behavior of the intervertebral disc (IVD) by performing a partial nucleotomy via the transpedicular approach.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Mechanical loading represents a crucial part of IVD homeostasis. However, traditional regenerative strategies require violation of the annulus fibrosus (AF) resulting in significant alteration of joint mechanics. The transpedicular nucleotomy represents a suitable method to create a cavity into the NP, as a model to study IVD regeneration with intact AF.

METHODS

A total of 30 ovine-lumbar- functional spinal units (FSUs) (L1-L6) randomly assigned to 5 groups: control; transpedicular tunnel (TT); TT + polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) to repair the bone tunnel; nucleotomy; nucleotomy + PMMA. Flexion/extension, lateral-bending, and axial-rotation were evaluated under adaptive displacement control. Axial compression was applied for 15 cycles of preconditioning followed by 1 hour of constant compression. Viscoelastic behavior was modeled and parameterized.

RESULTS

TT has minimal effects on rotational biomechanics. The nucleotomy increases ROM and neutral zone (NZ) displacement width whereas decreasing NZ stiffness. TT + PMMA has small effects in terms of ROM. Nucleotomy + PMMA brings ROM back to the control, increases NZ stiffness, and decreases NZ displacement width. The nucleotomy tends to increase the rate of early creep. TT reduces early and late damping. The use of PMMA increased late elastic stiffness (S2) and reduced viscous damping (η2) culminating in faster resolution of creep.

CONCLUSION

Biomechanical properties of NP are crucial for IVD repair. This study demonstrated that TT does not affect rotational stability whereas partial nucleotomy with intact AF induce rotational instability, highlighting the central role of NP in early stages of IDD. Therefore, this model represents a successful platform to validate and optimize disc regeneration strategies.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

N/A.

Influence of size and CCD-angle of a short stem hip arthroplasty on strain patterns of the proximal femur - an experimental study

PURPOSE

The number of primary total hip arthroplasties (THA) is steadily increasing. Over the last decade numerous so-called short stem hip arthroplasties were introduced on the market. The aim of these implants with a predominantly metaphyseal anchorage is to reduce stress shielding and thereby the risk of aseptic loosening. One of the short stem arthroplasties with predominant metaphyseal fixation is the METHA® short stem (Aesculap, Tuttlingen, Germany). In order to reconstruct the biomechanics the METHA stem is available in different sizes with different centrum-collum-diaphysis-angles (CCD-angle). In this study, we want to address the research question of how the size of the implant and different CCD-angles influence the strain patterns of the proximal femur.

METHODS

Three different stem sizes (size 2, 3 and 4 - CCD-angle 130°) and three stems with different CCD-angles (size 3 - 120°, 130° and 135° CCD-angle) were successively implanted in a synthetic femur. Eight strain gauges monitored the corresponding strain patterns of the proximal femur.

RESULTS

Independent of stem size and CCD-angle only small changes in the strains were recorded around the distal part of the METHA stem when compared to the intact femur. However, all stems increased the strains in the region of the calcar. This was most pronounced by smaller CCD-angles and major sizes.

CONCLUSION

The stem size and CCD-angle primarily influence the region of the calcar. Greater sizes and smaller CCD-angles lead to increased strains at the calcar. The other regions are hardly influenced by the stem size and CCDangle of the femoral component.

The influence of the cumulated deformation energy in the measurement by the DSI method on the selected mechanical properties of bone tissues

PURPOSE

The goal of the study was to determine the influence of DSI test conditions, i.e., loading/unloading rates, hold time, and the value of the maximum loading force on selected mechanical properties of trabecular bone tissue.

METHODS

The test samples were resected from a femoral head of a patient qualified for a hip replacement surgery. During the DSI tests hardness (HV, HM, HIT) and elastic modulus (EIT) of trabecular bone tissue were measured using the Micro Hardness Tester (MHT, CSEM).

RESULTS

The analysis of the results of measurements and the calculations of total energy, i.e., elastic and inelastic (Wtotal, Welastic, Winelastic) and those of hardness and elasticity made it possible to assess the impact of the process parameters (loading velocity, force and hold time) on mechanical properties of bone structures at a microscopic level.

CONCLUSIONS

The coefficient k dependent on the EIT/HIT ratio and on the stored energy (ΔW = Wtotal - Welastic) is a measure of the material reaction to the loading and the deformation of tissue.

Digital image correlation techniques for strain measurement in a variety of biomechanical test models

PURPOSE

Previous biomechanical studies have estimated the strains of bone and bone substitutes using strain gages. However, applying strain gages to biological samples can be difficult, and data collection is limited to a small area under the strain gage. The purpose of this study was to compare digital image correlation (DIC) strain measurements to those obtained from strain gages in order to assess the applicability of DIC technology to common biomechanical testing scenarios.

METHODS

Compression and bending tests were conducted on aluminum alloy, polyurethane foam, and laminated polyurethane foam specimens. Simplified single-legged stance loads were applied to composite and cadaveric femurs.

RESULTS

Results showed no significant differences in principal strain values (or variances) between strain gage and DIC measurements on the aluminum alloy and laminated polyurethane foam specimens. There were significant differences between the principal strain measurements of the non-laminated polyurethane foam specimens, but the deviation from theoretical results was similar for both measurement techniques. DIC and strain gage data matched well in 83.3% of all measurements in composite femur models and in 58.3% of data points in cadaveric specimens. Increased variation in cadaveric data was expected, and is associated with the well-documented variability of strain gage analysis on hard tissues as a function of bone temperature, hydration, gage protection, and other factors specific to cadaveric biomechanical testing.

CONCLUSIONS

DIC techniques provide similar results to those obtained from strain gages across standard and anatomical specimens while providing the advantages of reduced specimen preparation time and full-field data analysis.

Optimal selection of dental implant for different bone conditions based on the mechanical response

PURPOSE

Bone quality varies from one patient to another extensively. Young's modulus may deviate up to 40% of normal bone quality, which results into alteration of bone stiffness immensely. The prime goal of this study is to design the optimum dental implant considering the mechanical response at bone implant interfaces for a patient with specific bone quality.

METHOD

3D models of mandible and natural molar tooth were prepared from CT scan data, while dental implants were modelled using different diameter, length and porosity and FE analysis was carried out. Based on the variation in bone density, five different bone qualities were considered. First, failure analysis of implants, under maximum biting force of 250 N had been performed. Next, the implants that remained were selected for observation of mechanical response at bone implant interfaces under common chewing load of 120 N.

RESULT

Maximum Von Mises stress did not surpass the yield strength of the implant material (TiAl4V). However, factor of safety of 1.5 was considered and all but two dental implants survived the design stress or allowable stress. Under 120 N load, distribution of Von Mises stress and strain at the boneimplant interface corresponding to the rest of the implants for five bone conditions were obtained and enlisted.

CONCLUSION

Implants exhibiting interface strain within 1500-3000 microstrain range show the best bone remodelling and osseointegration. So, implant models having this range of interface strains were selected corresponding to the particular bone quality. A set of optimum dental implants for each of the bone qualities were predicted.

Experimental testing and constitutive modeling of the mechanical properties of the swine skin tissue

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was an estimation of the possibility of using hyperelastic material models to fit experimental data obtained in the tensile test for the swine skin tissue.

METHODS

The uniaxial tensile tests of samples taken from the abdomen and back of a pig was carried out. The mechanical properties of the skin such as the mean Young's modulus, the mean maximum stress and the mean maximum elongation were calculated. The experimental data have been used to identify the parameters in specific strain-energy functions given in seven constitutive models of hyperelastic materials: neo-Hookean, Mooney-Rivlin, Ogden, Yeoh, Martins, Humphrey and Veronda-Westmann. An analysis of errors in fitting of theoretical and experimental data was done.

RESULTS

Comparison of load -displacement curves for the back and abdomen regions of skin taken showed a different scope of both the mean maximum loading forces and the mean maximum elongation. Samples which have been prepared from the abdominal area had lower values of the mean maximum load compared to samples from the spine area. The reverse trend was observed during the analysis of the values of elongation. An analysis of the accuracy of model fitting to the experimental data showed that, the least accurate were the model of neo- -Hookean, model of Mooney-Rivlin for the abdominal region and model of Veronda-Westmann for the spine region.

CONCLUSIONS

An analysis of seven hyperelastic material models showed good correlations between the experimental and the theoretical data for five models.

Relationship between the mineral content of human trabecular bone and selected parameters determined from fatigue test at stepwise-increasing amplitude

PURPOSE

The study aimed to investigate a relationship between the mineral content of human trabecular bone and parameters determined from compression fatigue tests at stepwise-increasing amplitude.

METHODS

Mineral content of trabecular bone was estimated comparing density and bone mineral density values. The relationship between the ash density, bone mineral density and factors obtained from fatigue test: fatigue life, cumulative elastic energy and cumulative energy of dissipation was determined.

RESULTS

The results from the measurements of ash density and bone mineral density show good correlation with the fatigue test results. The relationship was estimated based on the correlation coefficient R within 0.74-0.79 for the particular pairs of factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The study shows that the ash density and the bone mineral density are good predictors to estimate the fatigue life of trabecular bone. The study also validates the applicability of the tests at stepwise-increasing amplitude in determining the mechanical properties of trabecular bone.

Experimental study and modelling the evolution of viscoelastic hysteresis loop at different frequencies in myocardial tissue

Our work involved experimental study of the influence of actomyosin complexes and the main structural components of the myocardial tissue - connective tissue collagen framework and cardiomyocytes - on the characteristics of viscoelastic hysteresis at different frequencies. In this paper a new method was introduced for the analysis of the viscoelastic characteristics of the force hysteresis in the isolated myocardial preparation for the assessment of mechanical energy expenditure in the tension-compression cycle. We established that basic myocardial structures have an impact on the to the characteristics of the viscoelastic hysteresis in many ways. It was shown that in rat's myocardium cardiomyocytes one main factor that define the stiffness and viscosity of the myocardium in the physiological range of deformations, while binding of calcium ions with EGTA and calcium removal of sarcoplasmic reticulum with caffeine reduces viscoelasticity by ~30% and collagen framework is responsible for about 10% of viscoelasticity. It was revealed that in the physiological range of the hysteresis frequencies (3 to 7 Hz) expenditure of mechanical energy per unit of time increases linearly with increasing frequency. We proposed the structural and functional model that adequately describes the characteristics of the viscoelastic hysteresis in myocardial preparation in the range of strains and frequencies being under study.

Hydrostatic Compress Force Enhances the Viability and Decreases the Apoptosis of Condylar Chondrocytes through Integrin-FAK-ERK/PI3K Pathway

Reduced mechanical stimuli in many pathological cases, such as hemimastication and limited masticatory movements, can significantly affect the metabolic activity of mandibular condylar chondrocytes and the growth of mandibles. However, the molecular mechanisms for these phenomena remain unclear. In this study, we hypothesized that integrin-focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase)/PI3K (phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase) signaling pathway mediated the cellular response of condylar chondrocytes to mechanical loading. Primary condylar chondrocytes were exposed to hydrostatic compressive forces (HCFs) of different magnitudes (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 kPa) for 2 h. We measured the viability, morphology, and apoptosis of the chondrocytes with different treatments as well as the gene, protein expression, and phosphorylation of mechanosensitivity-related molecules, such as integrin α2, integrin α5, integrin β1, FAK, ERK, and PI3K. HCFs could significantly increase the viability and surface area of condylar chondrocytes and decrease their apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. HCF of 250 kPa resulted in a 1.51 ± 0.02-fold increase of cell viability and reduced the ratio of apoptotic cells from 18.10% ± 0.56% to 7.30% ± 1.43%. HCFs could significantly enhance the mRNA and protein expression of integrin α2, integrin α5, and integrin β1 in a dose-dependent manner, but not ERK1, ERK2, or PI3K. Instead, HCF could significantly increase phosphorylation levels of FAK, ERK1/2, and PI3K in a dose-dependent manner. Cilengitide, the potent integrin inhibitor, could dose-dependently block such effects of HCFs. HCFs enhances the viability and decreases the apoptosis of condylar chondrocytes through the integrin-FAK-ERK/PI3K pathway.

Coordination of signaling and tissue mechanics during morphogenesis of murine intestinal villi: a role for mitotic cell rounding

Efficient digestion and absorption of nutrients by the intestine requires a very large apical surface area, a feature that is enhanced by the presence of villi, fingerlike epithelial projections that extend into the lumen. Prior to villus formation, the epithelium is a thick pseudostratified layer. In mice, villus formation begins at embryonic day (E)14.5, when clusters of mesenchymal cells form just beneath the thick epithelium. At this time, analysis of the flat lumenal surface reveals a regular pattern of short apical membrane invaginations that form in regions of the epithelium that lie in between the mesenchymal clusters. Apical invaginations begin in the proximal intestine and spread distally, deepening with time. Interestingly, mitotically rounded cells are frequently associated with these invaginations. These mitotic cells are located at the tips of the invaginating membrane (internalized within the epithelium), rather than adjacent to the apical surface. Further investigation of epithelial changes during membrane invagination reveals that epithelial cells located between mesenchymal clusters experience a circumferential compression, as epithelial cells above each cluster shorten and widen. Using a computational model, we examined whether such forces are sufficient to cause apical invaginations. Simulations and in vivo data reveal that proper apical membrane invagination involves intraepithelial compressive forces, mitotic cell rounding in the compressed regions and apico-basal contraction of the dividing cell. Together, these data establish a new model that explains how signaling events intersect with tissue forces to pattern apical membrane invaginations that define the villus boundaries.

Abrupt out-of-plane edge folding of a circular thin plate: Implication for a mature Victoria regia leaf

Inspired by the observation of the configurations of Victoria regia leaves, we establish a phenomenological buckling model for the abrupt out-of-plane edge folding of a circular thin sheet. A reduced model is first developed, and further refined by a more sophisticated growth strain field so that the resulting buckling morphology resembles that of a mature Victoria regia leaf. Parametric studies are carried out to investigate the effects of geometric, material, and strain field parameters on the buckling morphology. Several main characteristics discovered through numerical studies are verified by theoretical analysis of a simple geometry-based model. Besides, the roles of the thickness variation and cracks are examined. This work may not only shed some light on the morphogenesis of certain plants, but also provide some useful insights on three-dimensional fabrications using mechanical self-assembly.

Biomechanical Evaluation of a New Composite Bioresorbable Screw

A new bioresorbable composite cannulated screw has been developed for small bone fracture fixation. The LG (“Little Grafter”) screw is manufactured from Biosteon™, which is a composite of poly l-lactic acid and hydroxyapatite. This study aimed to compare interfragmentary compression generated by this new screw with conventional metal screws commonly used in scaphoid fracture fixation. Four small metallic screws were compared with the LG screw, using a bone model produced from rigid polyurethane foam. The screws included the Acutrak, Asnis III, Herbert and Herbert–Whipple screws. The mean maximum compression forces for the LG screw, the Asnis and the Acutrak were comparable (LG 32.3 N, Asnis 32.8 N, Acutrak 38.3 N), whereas those using the Herbert and the Herbert–Whipple screw were significantly lower (Herbert 21.8 N, Herbert–Whipple 19.9 N). The bioresorbable LG screw has been shown to have good compressive properties compared to commonly used small bone fragment compression screws.

A Characteristic-Based Constitutive Law for Dispersed Fibers

Biological tissues are typically constituted of dispersed fibers. Modeling the constitutive laws of such tissues remains a challenge. Direct integration over all fibers is considered to be accurate but requires very expensive numerical integration. A general structure tensor (GST) model was previously developed to bypass this costly numerical integration step, but there are concerns about the model's accuracy. Here we estimate the approximation error of the GST model. We further reveal that the GST model ignores strain energy induced by shearing motions. Subsequently, we propose a new characteristic-based constitutive law to better approximate the direct integration model. The new model is very cost-effective and closely approximates the "true" strain energy as calculated by the direct integration when stress-strain nonlinearity or fiber dispersion angle is small.

Age-related changes in pancreatic elasticity: When should we be concerned about their effect on strain elastography?

BACKGROUND

Ultrasound strain elastography is one of the useful methods for evaluating pancreatic lesions. During aging, several pancreatic parenchymal changes occur that may interfere with the interpretation of the ultrasound images. We studied age-related changes in pancreatic elasticity using transabdominal ultrasound strain elastography in subjects without known pancreatic disease.

METHODS

This study was conducted at Nagoya University Hospital, which is an academic medical center, and included 102 subjects (66 women and 39 men) aged 20-85years (mean 58.6±17.5) who underwent transabdominal ultrasonography for screening and follow-up for non-pancreatic diseases. Strain elastography of the pancreas was performed, and the results were subjected to quantitative strain histogram analysis. The correlations of age with four elastographic parameters (Mean, Standard deviation, Skewness, and Kurtosis) and other findings, including hyperechoic pancreas, hyperechoic liver, and diabetes, were evaluated.

RESULTS

There was a significant correlation between increasing age and elastographic parameters such as the Mean (P=0.004), Skewness (P=0.007), and Kurtosis (P=0.03), and these differences became significant after the age of 40. The prevalence of hyperechoic pancreas increased with age (P<0.001), and the Means were lower in those with hyperechoic pancreas (P=0.004) and a higher body mass index (BMI, P=0.008). No significant correlations with diabetes, hyperechoic liver, or elastographic parameters were demonstrated.

CONCLUSION

Strain elastography demonstrated elastographic changes in the pancreas with aging that included a decreasing Mean and increasing Skewness and Kurtosis after the age of 40. The prevalence of pancreatic hyperechogenicity increased, and the pancreatic hyperechogenicity was significantly negatively correlated with the Mean.

Can a continuous mineral foam explain the stiffening of aged bone tissue? A micromechanical approach to mineral fusion in musculoskeletal tissues

Recent experimental data revealed a stiffening of aged cortical bone tissue, which could not be explained by common multiscale elastic material models. We explain this data by incorporating the role of mineral fusion via a new hierarchical modeling approach exploiting the asymptotic (periodic) homogenization (AH) technique for three-dimensional linear elastic composites. We quantify for the first time the stiffening that is obtained by considering a fused mineral structure in a softer matrix in comparison with a composite having non-fused cubic mineral inclusions. We integrate the AH approach in the Eshelby-based hierarchical mineralized turkey leg tendon model (Tiburtius et al 2014 Biomech.

MODEL

Mechanobiol. 13 1003-23), which can be considered as a base for musculoskeletal mineralized tissue modeling. We model the finest scale compartments, i.e. the extrafibrillar space and the mineralized collagen fibril, by replacing the self-consistent scheme with our AH approach. This way, we perform a parametric analysis at increasing mineral volume fraction, by varying the amount of mineral that is fusing in the axial and transverse tissue directions in both compartments. Our effective stiffness results are in good agreement with those reported for aged human radius and support the argument that the axial stiffening in aged bone tissue is caused by the formation of a continuous mineral foam. Moreover, the proposed theoretical and computational approach supports the design of biomimetic materials which require an overall composite stiffening without increasing the amount of the reinforcing material.

Are bone turnover markers associated with volumetric bone density, size, and strength in older men and women? The AGES-Reykjavik study

Association between serum bone formation and resorption markers and bone mineral, structural, and strength variables derived from quantitative computed tomography (QCT) in a population-based cohort of 1745 older adults was assessed. The association was weak for lumbar spine and femoral neck areal and volumetric bone mineral density.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between levels of bone turnover markers (BTMs; osteocalcin (OC), C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), and procollagen type 1N propeptide (P1NP)) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT)-derived bone density, geometry, and strength indices in the lumbar spine and femoral neck (FN).

METHODS

A total of 1745 older individuals (773 men and 972 women, aged 66-92 years) from the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility (AGES)-Reykjavik cohort were studied. QCT was performed in the lumbar spine and hip to estimate volumetric trabecular, cortical, and integral bone mineral density (BMD), areal BMD, bone geometry, and bone strength indices. Association between BTMs and QCT variables were explored using multivariable linear regression.

RESULTS

Major findings showed that all BMD measures, FN cortical index, and compressive strength had a low negative correlation with the BTM levels in both men and women. Correlations between BTMs and bone size parameters were minimal or not significant. No associations were found between BTMs and vertebral cross-sectional area in women. BTMs alone accounted for only a relatively small percentage of the bone parameter variance (1-10 %).

CONCLUSION

Serum CTX, OC, and P1NP were weakly correlated with lumbar spine and FN areal and volumetric BMD and strength measures. Most of the bone size indices were not associated with BTMs; thus, the selected bone remodeling markers do not reflect periosteal bone formation. These results confirmed the limited ability of the most sensitive established BTMs to predict bone structural integrity in older adults.

Breast Forces on the Spine

OBJECTIVE

It is a well-established fact that women who have large, heavy breasts suffer from spine pain. The objective of this study is to assess the forces that the breast exerts on the spine. It is important that such women understand the stresses that the spine is forced to sustain because of heavy breasts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted using finite element analyses (FEA) of a human spine under different loads, loads being defined as incremental weights being sustained by the spine. The goal was to assess the influence of female breast size and weight on the forces and stresses sustained by the spine.

RESULTS

The magnitude of forces generated by the breast to the thoracic spine ranged between 8.5 pounds of force for underwire size 30 to 110 pounds of force for underwire size 60. All increments in between were assessed in Newton of force and pounds of force.

CONCLUSION

The magnification factor of forces generated by breast weight is 10X. Using the American bra sizing system a woman with a breast size of 36H would expect 52 pounds of force on the spine (for both breasts) while with weight loss she might reduce her breast size to 36D, with a corresponding reduction of force to 28 pounds of both breasts; that is, a total stress reduction of 24 pounds to the spine. On the other hand, surgical enlargement of size 34B breasts (18.4 pounds) to 34F (32.1 pounds) leads to an increase of ~14 pounds of force on the spine.

[The great apophyses: Functional strain and relevance]

BACKGROUND

The structure of apophyses and apophyseal growth plates is not substantially different from those of epiphyses and epiphyseal growth plates. In contrast to epiphyseal growth plates, apophyses and apophyseal growth plates do not contribute to the longitudinal growth of the extremity. They are associated with their adjacent joints, triggering the lengths of their lever arms and influencing their external shape and internal architecture. The formative stimulus on apophyses is given by muscles and tendons inserting at the apophysis or canopying the apophsis.

APOPHYSIS OF THE GREATER TROCHANTER

The apophysis of the greater trochanter significantly contributes to the lever arm length of the hip joint. Its growth activity triggers the neck-shaft angle and finally the centration of the hip joint.

TIBIAL APOPHYSIS

The tibial apophysis interacts with the slope of the proximal tibia and hereby influences the sagittal stability of the knee joint. A damage to the growth plate of the tibial tubercle leads to an anteverted tibial slope and a genu recurvatum difficult to treat.

CALCANEAL APOPHYSIS

The calcaneal apophysis determines the length and position of the calcaneus and herewith influences the torque of the ankle joint. In a nutshell you may regard the apophyses as adjusting screws acting on their adjacent joints and influencing their growth, form and structure.

Buckling prevention strategies in nature as inspiration for improving percutaneous instruments: a review

A typical mechanical failure mode observed in slender percutaneous instruments, such as needles and guidewires, is buckling. Buckling is observed when the axial compressive force that is required to penetrate certain tissue types exceeds the critical load of the instrument and manifests itself by sudden lateral deflection of the instrument. In nature, several organisms are able to penetrate substrates without buckling while using apparatuses with diameters smaller than those of off-the-shelf available percutaneous needles and guidewires. In this study we reviewed the apparatuses and buckling prevention strategies employed by biological organisms to penetrate substrates such as wood and skin. A subdivision is made between buckling prevention strategies that focus on increasing the critical load of the penetration tool and strategies that focus on decreasing the penetration load of the substrate. In total, 28 buckling prevention strategies were identified and categorized. Most organisms appear to be using a combination of buckling prevention strategies simultaneously. Integration and combination of these biological buckling prevention strategies in percutaneous instruments may contribute to increasing the success rate of percutaneous interventions.

[EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON EFFECT OF THREE DIFFERENT OPERATIVE WAYS OF ANNULUS FIBROSUS INCISION ON INTERVERTEBRAL DISC BIOMECHANICAL STRENGTH]

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the effect of three different ways of annulus fibrosus incision on the biomechanical strength of intervertebral disc.

METHODS

A total of 30 goats underwent intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus extraction at L3,4 and 45 by the working channel in group A (n=10), by circular incision in group B (n=10), and by square incision in group C (n=10). The body weight, male and female ratio, age, intraoperative blood loss, and wound healing time were recorded and compared among 3 groups. The survival rate and wound healing situation were observed after operation. At 24 weeks after operation, the goats were sacrificed, MRI images were taken to observe the signal intensity of nucleus pulposus. The disc height of L(3,4) and L(4,5) was measured to calculate the loss of disc height; biomechanical test was used to assess the strength of the disc and anulus. Histological staining was also conducted to observe the repair effect at L(4,5).

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in body weight, male to female ratio, age, intraoperative blood loss, and wound healing time among groups (P>0.05). All goats survived to the end of the experiment. MRI examination showed decreased signal intensity in 3 groups, indicating intervertebral disc degeneration. According to modified Thompson classification method, the degree of intervertebral disc degeneration of group A was significantly higher than that of groups B and C (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between groups B and C (P>0.05). Difference was not significant in intervertebral space height before operation among 3 groups (P>0.05). But after 24 weeks, the intervertebral space height in group A was significantly higher than that in groups B and C (P<0.05), and the intervertebral space height loss in group A was significantly lower than that in groups B and C (P<0.05). The biomechanical strength in group A was also significantly higher than that in groups B and C (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between group B and group C (P>0.05). HE and Masson staining showed good continuity of annulus fibrosus and clear layers in group A; poor continuity of annulus fibrosus and obvious scar tissues were observed in groups B and C.

CONCLUSION

Application of working channel may have less destruction of annulus fibrosus, it plays a positive role in the maintenance of biomechanical strength and repair of annulus fibrosus.

Biomechanical analysis of asymmetric mesio-distal molar positions loaded by a symmetric cervical headgear

PURPOSE

The plane 2D model and 3d finite element model of the headgear attached to two molars with different mesio-distal location are studied to show the asymmetric mechanical effects produced by symmetrically loaded headgear. In daily dental practice the asymmetrical location of molars is usually ignored.

METHODS

Six 3D finite element models of a symmetric cervical headgear were designed in SolidWorks 2011. The models showed symmetric molar position (model 1), 0.5 to 2 mm of anterior-posterior molar difference (models 2-5) and a significant asymmetry with 10 mm of difference in the locations (model 6). The head gear was loaded with 3N of force applied at the cervical headgear. The forces and moments produced on terminal molars are assessed.

RESULTS

It is shown the difference between the forces acting at the longer and shorter outer arms of the headgear increases with increase in the distance. The significant numeric difference in the forces has been found: from 0.0082 N (model 1) to 0.0324 N (model 5) and 0.146 N (model 6). These small forces may produce unplanned distal tipping and rotation of the molars around their vertical axes. The most important funding was found as a clockwise yaw moment in the system when is viewed superio-inferiorly. The yaw moment has been computed between -0.646 Nmm (model 1) and -1.945 N mm (model 5).

CONCLUSIONS

Therefore even small asymmetry in location of molars loaded by a symmetric cervical headgear will produce undesirable movement and rotation of the teeth that must be taken into account before applying the treatment.

Buckling failures in insect exoskeletons

Thin walled tubes are often used for load-bearing structures, in nature and in engineering, because they offer good resistance to bending and torsion at relatively low weight. However, when loaded in bending they are prone to failure by buckling. It is difficult to predict the loading conditions which cause buckling, especially for tubes whose cross sections are not simple shapes. Insights into buckling prevention might be gained by studying this phenomenon in the exoskeletons of insects and other arthropods. We investigated the leg segments (tibiae) of five different insects: the locust (Schistocerca gergaria), American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), death's head cockroach (Blaberus discoidalis), stick insect (Parapachymorpha zomproi) and bumblebee (Bombus terrestris audax). These were tested to failure in cantilever bending and modelled using finite element analysis (FEA). The tibiae of the locust and the cockroaches were found to be approximately circular in shape. Their buckling loads were well predicted by linear elastic FEA, and also by one of the analytical solutions available in the literature for elastic buckling. The legs of the stick insect are also circular in cross section but have several prominent longitudinal ridges. We hypothesised that these ridges might protect the legs against buckling but we found that this was not the case: the loads necessary for elastic buckling were not reached in practice because yield occurred in the material, causing plastic buckling. The legs of bees have a non-circular cross section due to a pollen-carrying feature (the corbicula). We found that this did not significantly affect their resistance to buckling. Our results imply that buckling is the dominant failure mode in the tibia of insects; it likely to be a significant consideration for other arthropods and any organisms with stiff exoskeletons. The interactions displayed here between material properties and cross sectional geometry may provide insights for the biomimetic design of engineering structures using thin walled tubes.

A simple accurate chest-compression depth gauge using magnetic coils during cardiopulmonary resuscitation

This paper describes a new method for calculating chest compression depth and a simple chest-compression gauge for validating the accuracy of the method. The chest-compression gauge has two plates incorporating two magnetic coils, a spring, and an accelerometer. The coils are located at both ends of the spring, and the accelerometer is set on the bottom plate. Waveforms obtained using the magnetic coils (hereafter, "magnetic waveforms"), which are proportional to compression-force waveforms and the acceleration waveforms were measured at the same time. The weight factor expressing the relationship between the second derivatives of the magnetic waveforms and the measured acceleration waveforms was calculated. An estimated-compression-displacement (depth) waveform was obtained by multiplying the weight factor and the magnetic waveforms. Displacements of two large springs (with similar spring constants) within a thorax and displacements of a cardiopulmonary resuscitation training manikin were measured using the gauge to validate the accuracy of the calculated waveform. A laser-displacement detection system was used to compare the real displacement waveform and the estimated waveform. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) between the real displacement using the laser system and the estimated displacement waveforms were calculated. The estimated displacement error of the compression depth was within 2 mm (<1 standard deviation). All ICCs (two springs and a manikin) were above 0.85 (0.99 in the case of one of the springs). The developed simple chest-compression gauge, based on a new calculation method, provides an accurate compression depth (estimation error < 2 mm).

An over-nonlocal implicit gradient-enhanced damage-plastic model for trabecular bone under large compressive strains

PURPOSE

Investigation of trabecular bone strength and compaction is important for fracture risk prediction. At 1-2% compressive strain, trabecular bone undergoes strain softening, which may lead to numerical instabilities and mesh dependency in classical local damage-plastic models. The aim of this work is to improve our continuum damage-plastic model of bone by reducing the influence of finite element mesh size under large compression.

METHODOLOGY

This spurious numerical phenomenon may be circumvented by incorporating the nonlocal effect of cumulated plastic strain into the constitutive law. To this end, an over-nonlocal implicit gradient model of bone is developed and implemented into the finite element software ABAQUS using a user element subroutine. The ability of the model to detect the regions of bone failure is tested against experimental stepwise loading data of 16 human trabecular bone biopsies.

FINDINGS

The numerical outcomes of the nonlocal model revealed reduction of finite element mesh dependency compared with the local damage-plastic model. Furthermore, it helped reduce the computational costs of large-strain compression simulations.

ORIGINALITY

To the best of our knowledge, the proposed model is the first to predict the failure and densification of trabecular bone up to large compression independently of finite element mesh size. The current development enables the analysis of trabecular bone compaction as in osteoporotic fractures and implant migration, where large deformation of bone plays a key role.

On the effects of leaflet microstructure and constitutive model on the closing behavior of the mitral valve

Recent long-term studies showed an unsatisfactory recurrence rate of severe mitral regurgitation 3-5 years after surgical repair, suggesting that excessive tissue stresses and the resulting strain-induced tissue failure are potential etiological factors controlling the success of surgical repair for treating mitral valve (MV) diseases. We hypothesized that restoring normal MV tissue stresses in MV repair techniques would ultimately lead to improved repair durability through the restoration of MV normal homeostatic state. Therefore, we developed a micro- and macro- anatomically accurate MV finite element model by incorporating actual fiber microstructural architecture and a realistic structure-based constitutive model. We investigated MV closing behaviors, with extensive in vitro data used for validating the proposed model. Comparative and parametric studies were conducted to identify essential model fidelity and information for achieving desirable accuracy. More importantly, for the first time, the interrelationship between the local fiber ensemble behavior and the organ-level MV closing behavior was investigated using a computational simulation. These novel results indicated not only the appropriate parameter ranges, but also the importance of the microstructural tuning (i.e., straightening and re-orientation) of the collagen/elastin fiber networks at the macroscopic tissue level for facilitating the proper coaptation and natural functioning of the MV apparatus under physiological loading at the organ level. The proposed computational model would serve as a logical first step toward our long-term modeling goal-facilitating simulation-guided design of optimal surgical repair strategies for treating diseased MVs with significantly enhanced durability.