Modelling a spinal implant
MedtechModelling spine implant with the help of mechanical finite element simulation becomes very popular in medtech and health. It allows engineers and designers to try several cases. And, they can make quick decisions regarding the design of the implant to find the right option.
Objectives from modelling spine implant
When one implants a spinal cage into human body, this one will sustain several loading conditions. Bending, compression, torsion, the medical device needs to adapt to its new environment and to allow all movements from the spine.
Hence it becomes crucial to develop the cage taking into account all these various loads. One has to predict how the spine implant will behave when subject to one or all of these loads together.
Mechanical model of the spinal implant will give directions to the manufacturer on which variable of its design has more impact.
Results from simulation and information extracted
The finite element analysis can follow guidelines from international standards, similar to international standards for experimental machines.
In this case, the spine implant model was made of the cage and a biomaterial filling the volume of the cage. One investigated separate loads and mixed load conditions, for static and dynamical cases. It showed areas of higher stress related to the thickness of the cage wall. Hence the thickness variable could be optimised for the specific scenario this implant was designed for.
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