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Modelling external fixators in mouse defect loading studies
During our bone fracture healing experiments, we implant an external fixator. Understanding this fixators behavior and incorporating its implant geometries into our boundary conditions is a key step in understanding the strain in the mechanical environment during healing.
Keywords: bone, fracture healing, external fixation, finite element analysis
An essential element in the understanding of mechano-regulation in the fracture healing process is the understanding of the strain and deformation experienced in the fracture callous during the healing process. These variables affect many aspects of the fracture healing process, from what material is laid down to healing time. Currently, in the Laboratory of Bone Biomechanics, we make use of two types of external fixators for our animal experiments. Even though they appear as a simple device, their mechanical behaviour is essential for the research into fracture healing.
As part of our ongoing work into understanding how these fixators affect the mechanical environment, this project investigates how implanting the fixator affects the force transmission through the fracture region.
An essential element in the understanding of mechano-regulation in the fracture healing process is the understanding of the strain and deformation experienced in the fracture callous during the healing process. These variables affect many aspects of the fracture healing process, from what material is laid down to healing time. Currently, in the Laboratory of Bone Biomechanics, we make use of two types of external fixators for our animal experiments. Even though they appear as a simple device, their mechanical behaviour is essential for the research into fracture healing.
As part of our ongoing work into understanding how these fixators affect the mechanical environment, this project investigates how implanting the fixator affects the force transmission through the fracture region.
The aim of this project is to construct an appropriate geometric model of mouse femurs that can be aligned to the cortical end caps seen in our bone defect healing micro CT scans. From this geometric model a virtual fixator can be created and inserted in the bone, varying the angle slightly based on the microCT scans. Finite element analysis will then be applied to determine the strain distribution throughout the system.
The aim of this project is to construct an appropriate geometric model of mouse femurs that can be aligned to the cortical end caps seen in our bone defect healing micro CT scans. From this geometric model a virtual fixator can be created and inserted in the bone, varying the angle slightly based on the microCT scans. Finite element analysis will then be applied to determine the strain distribution throughout the system.
Graeme Paul
Email: graeme.paul@hest.ethz.ch
Telephone: +41 44 633 2162
Graeme Paul Email: graeme.paul@hest.ethz.ch Telephone: +41 44 633 2162