Objective To establish the three-dimensional (3D) finite element model of the knee joint including posterolateral complex (PLC), and to simulate the reconstruction biomechanical analysis in this model. Methods The knee of a 26-year-old healthy man was scanned by MRI to obtain the image data of the knee in the coronal, sagittal, and axial position. First, Mimics10.01 and Hyperworks 8.0 softwares were used to extract each slice profile data of the knee joint in a two-dimensional image data respectively and to establish 3D geometric model of bone, meniscus, articular cartilage, and ligament. Second, Unigraphics software NX 4.0 was used to establish a 3D finite element model of knee joint, which had the functions of Mesh, material properties, component connection, and contact definition. Third, displacement measurement on the model and reconstructing biomechanical analysis for PLC simulation were performed. Results The 3D finite element model of the knee joint including PLC was established successfully. Under 134 N forward force, the tibia forward displacement was 4.83 mm. PLC simulation reconstruction biomechanical analysis of the 3D finite element model of the knee joint showed that under 10 N·m varus and external rotation torque conditions, the knee varus and external rotation angles of simulation reconstruction were greater than those of the intact knee, and less than those of PLC missing. Conclusion The 3D finite element model of the knee joint including PLC can be established by the reverse engineering, and it is valid and can be used as the basis for the biomechanical properties to analog reconstruction of PLC.
We developed a three-dimensional finite element model of the shoulder glenohumeral joint after shoulder arthroplasty including humerus shaft, scapular, scapular cartilage and eight muscles, while each of the muscles was simulated with 50 spring elements. To reduce the element number and improve the analytical precision, we used mixed tetrahedral and hexahedral elements in the model. We then used the model to calculate the biomechanics of the shoulder glenohumeral joint after hemiarthroplasty during humeral external rotation. Results showed that the maximum joint reaction force was 374.72 N and the maximum contact stress was 6.573 MPa together with the contact areas at 40° external rotation. These might be one of the reasons for prosthetic disarticulation, and would provide theoretical bases to prosthetic design.
In order to check the neck response and injury during motor vehicle accidents, we developed a detailed finite element model for human cervical spine C4-C6. This model consisted of cortical bone, cancellous bone, annulus, nucleus, ligaments and articular facet, and it also set up contact in the contacting parts for simulating the movement perfectly under frontal impact. This model could be used for stress and strain distribution after the frontal impact load was applied on this model. During the process of frontal impact, the most displacement simulated data were in the interval range of experimental data. The experimental results showed that this model for the human cervical spine C4-C6 simulated the movement under the frontal impact with fidelity, and reflected the impact dynamics response on the whole.
Aiming at the problem of scaffold degradation in bone tissue engineering, we studied the feasibility that controlls bone defect repair effect with the inhomogeneous structure of scaffold. The prediction model of bone defect repair which contains governing equations for bone formation and scaffold degradation was constructed on the basis of analyzing the process and main influence factors of bone repair in bone tissue engineering. The process of bone defect repair and bone structure after repairing can be predicted by combining the model with finite element method (FEM). Bone defect repair effects with homogenous and inhomogeneous scaffold were simulated respectively by using the above method. The simulation results illustrated that repair effect could be impacted by scaffold structure obviously and it can also be controlled via the inhomogeneous structure of scaffold with some feasibility.
In the present study, a finite element model of L4-5 lumbar motion segment was established based on the CT images and a combination with image processing software, and the analysis of lumbar biomechanical characteristics was conducted on the proposed model according to different cases of flexion, extension, lateral bending and axial rotation. Firstly, the CT images of lumbar segment L4 to L5 from a healthy volunteer were selected for a three dimensional model establishment which was consisted of cortical bone, cancellous bone, posterior structure, annulus, nucleus pulposus, cartilage endplate, ligament and facet joint. The biomechanical analysis was then conducted according to different cases of flexion, extension, lateral bending and axial rotation. The results showed that the established finite element model of L4-5 lumbar segment was realistic and effective. The axial displacement of the proposed model was 0.23, 0.47, 0.76 and 1.02 mm, respectively under the pressure of 500, 1 000, 1 500 and 2 000 N, which was similar to the previous studies in vitro experiments and finite element analysis of other people under the same condition. The stress distribution of the lumbar spine and intervertebral disc accorded with the biomechanical properties of the lumbar spine under various conditions. The established finite element model has been proved to be effective in simulating the biomechanical properties of lumbar spine, and therefore laid a good foundation for the research of the implants of biomechanical properties of lumbar spine.
This paper is to report our study in which the differences between prosthetic restoration and surgical reconstruction using traditional clasp retention technology were analyzed based on three-dimensional finite element methods in our laboratory. Firstly, the maxillary unilateral defect model was developed using medical image processing software MIMICS. Secondly, the prosthesis was generated by mirroring technology. The clasp was designed according to the methods raised by Aramany. Then, the stress distribution of maxilla was calculated by simulating occlusion. According to the results, after osseointegration of surgical reconstruction, stresses of unaffected abutments were reduced significantly, and less stress of junction occurred near zygoma of affected side, which were all less than stresses of prosthesis restoration. Thus, removing the clasp of surgical reconstruction increased the stresses of unaffected abutments. The stress trends of maxillary components were different between prosthetic restoration and surgical reconstruction. Surgical reconstruction is better than prosthesis restoration in protection of the abutments. Clasp can alleviate the occlusal burden of maxilla. Varieties of retentive technologies can be considered in prosthesis restoration. The surgical reconstruction is more conducive to rehabilitate unilateral maxilla biomechanically in clinic.
Based on the CT data and the structure characteristics of the femoral fractures during different healing stages, medical FE models of fractured femur treated with locking compression plate (LCP)were built.Under the physiological load of a standard body weight (70 kg) and the constraint condition,the stress distributions of LCP and fractured femur during healing were calculated by means of three-dimensional finite element analysis (3D-FEA).The results showed that the stress distribution in the LCP and the fractured femur was similar,during the initial stage which there was no newly formed bone or soft tissue in fracture site.The maximum von Mises stress (371.23,272.76 MPa) in the fractured femur was much higher than that in natural femur,and the intensive stress was concentrated mainly in the proximal area of the fractured femur.With the growth of bony callus bone in fracture site,the intensity of stress in proximal femur decreased.Contrasted to the two cases mentioned above,the value of the maximum von Mises stress (68.17 MPa) in bony callus bone stage decreased significantly,and was lower than the safe strength of natural bone.Therefore,appropriate training which is benefitial for the growth to new bone could be arranged for the better rehabilitation.
This study was aimed to estimate the effect of different ProDisc-C arthroplasty designs after it was implanted to C5-C6 cervicalspine. Finite element (FE) model of intact C5-C6 segments including the vertebrae and disc was developed and validated. Ball-and-socket artificial disc prosthesis model (ProDisc-C, Synthes) was implanted into the validated FE model and the curvature of the ProDisc-C prosthesis was varied. All models were loaded with compressed force 74 N and the pure moment of 1.8 Nm along flexion-extension and bilateral bending and axial torsion separately. The results indicated that the variation in the curvature of ball and socket configuration would influence the range of motion in flexion/extension, while there were not apparently differences under other conditions of loads. The method increasing the curvature will solve the stress concentration of the polyethylene, but it will also bring adverse outcomes, such as facet joint force increasing and ligament tension increasing. Therefore, the design of artificial discs should be considered comprehensively to reserve the range of motion as well as to avoid the adverse problems, so as not to affect the long-term clinical results.
A comprehensive, geometrically accurate, nonlinear C0-T1 three-dimensional finite element (FE) model was developed for the biomechanical study of human cervical spine and related disorders. The model was developed with anatomic detail from the computed tomography (CT) images of a 46-year old female healthy volunteer, and applied the finite element model processing softwares such as MIMICS13.1, Hypermesh11.0, Abaqus 6.12-1, etc., for developing, preprocessing, calculating and analysing sequentially. The stress concentration region and the range of motion (ROM) of each vertebral level under axial rotation, flexion, extension, and lateral bending under physiologic static loadings were observed and recorded. The model was proven reliable, which was validated with the range of motion in previous published literatures. The model predicted the front and side parts of the foramen magnum and contralateral pedicle and facet was the stress concentration region under physiological loads of the upper spine and the lower spine, respectively. The development of this comprehensive, geometrically accurate, nonlinear cervical spine FE model could provide an ideal platform for theoretical biomechanical study of human cervical spine and related disorders.
We studied the influence of electrode array parameters on temperature distribution to the retina during the use of retinal prosthesis in order to avoid thermal damage to retina caused by long-term electrical stimulation. Based on real epiretinal prosthesis, a three-dimensional model of electrical stimulation for retina with 4×4 microelectrode array had been established using the finite element software (COMSOL Multiphysics). The steady-state temperature field of electrical stimulation of the retina was calculated, and the effects of the electrode parameters such as the distance between the electrode contacts, the materials and area of the electrode contact on temperature field were considered. The maximum increase in the retina steady temperature was about 0.004℃ with practical stimulation current. When the distance between the electrode contacts was changed from 130 μm to 520 μm, the temperature was reduced by about 0.006℃. When the contact radius was doubled from 130 μm to 260 μm, the temperature decrease was about 0.005℃. It was shown that there were little temperature changes in the retina with a 4×4 epiretinal microelectrode array, reflecting the safety of electrical stimulation. It was also shown that the maximum temperature in the retina decreased with increasing the distance between the electrode contacts, as well as increasing the area of electrode contact. However, the change of the maximum temperature was very small when the distance became larger than the diameter of electrode contact. There was no significant difference in the effects of temperature increase among the different electrode materials. Rational selection of the distance between the electrode contacts and their area in electrode design can reduce the temperature rise induced by electrical stimulation.