Fusing and damping osseointegrated implants
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Bioengineering
Abstract
Background
Despite the unknown long-term wound care and infection issues, osseointegrated (OI) implants for the lower limb are, in many ways, an ideal solution for socket fitting problems. There remain, however, significant mechanical issues that are currently totally unaddressed. The long-term mechanical effects are also not known. These mechanical effects are mainly related to mechanical failure (bone fracture, implant loosening, or connector failure) and, potentially,pain or accelerated osteoarthritis (including bone pain, joint pain, lower back pain) likely due to shock loading transmitted from the floor through therigid prosthesis and rigid OI implant directlyto the bone. There are currently no bespoke engineered solutions.
Research Problem
Can 'standard' prostheses be used with OI implants and provide damping and shock protection for user comfort, physiological overload protection, and OI implant failure and bone fracture?
PhD aims
The aim of the PhD is to develop a design toolbox to optimise the complex set of, sometimes conflicting, constraints on the fixation between an osseointegrated implant and the external prosthesis for an above knee amputee. One of the detailed objectives of this PhD is to thoroughly investigate the interaction between the OI implant and the residual bone as most mechanical issues arise from this area.
Despite the unknown long-term wound care and infection issues, osseointegrated (OI) implants for the lower limb are, in many ways, an ideal solution for socket fitting problems. There remain, however, significant mechanical issues that are currently totally unaddressed. The long-term mechanical effects are also not known. These mechanical effects are mainly related to mechanical failure (bone fracture, implant loosening, or connector failure) and, potentially,pain or accelerated osteoarthritis (including bone pain, joint pain, lower back pain) likely due to shock loading transmitted from the floor through therigid prosthesis and rigid OI implant directlyto the bone. There are currently no bespoke engineered solutions.
Research Problem
Can 'standard' prostheses be used with OI implants and provide damping and shock protection for user comfort, physiological overload protection, and OI implant failure and bone fracture?
PhD aims
The aim of the PhD is to develop a design toolbox to optimise the complex set of, sometimes conflicting, constraints on the fixation between an osseointegrated implant and the external prosthesis for an above knee amputee. One of the detailed objectives of this PhD is to thoroughly investigate the interaction between the OI implant and the residual bone as most mechanical issues arise from this area.