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Centre for Bio-Medical Engineering StaffHead: Professor Gordon BlunnAlphabetical list of all Staff
Above: Digitising x-ray of hip joint. By comparing x-rays taken just after surgery and six months later, researchers can see if the implant has become loose and assess the rate of movement. Once an implant has loosened, it is likely that the patient will need further surgery. Head of Department: Professor Allen E GoodshipStaff/Centres - Bio-Medical EngineeringProfessor
Gordon Blunn Jia
Hua, Dr Melanie
Coathup, Dr
Stephen
Taylor, Dr Michelle
Korda, Miss Catherine
Pendegrass, Dr Louisa
Collins, Ms Research Technicians: Mark
Harrison, Mr Keith
Rayner, Mr Bob
Skinner, Mr Graduate Students: Joseph
Aderinto, Mr (studying MD) Jonathan
Caruana, Mr (studying PhD) Jay
Meswania, Mr (studying PhD) Sorousheh
Samizadeh, Miss (studying PhD)
Secretarial Staff: Annie
Bartram, Miss Jarmilla
Dodd, Mrs Josie
Marshall, Mrs Stanmore Implants Worldwide:Paul
Unwin, Dr Neil
Lattimer, Mr Alan
Bates, Mr Mark
Whitham, Mr Neil
Balmer, Mr Julie
Campbell, Miss Catherine
Coakley Harry
Benham, Mr Graham
Collins, Mr Michael
Conley, Mr Nick
Johnson Michael
O'Brien Kirti
Patel Priya
Parmar Eugene
Roberts Stuart
Roberts Meliny
Koen, Ms Paul
Tibbles Vincent
Hobbs, Mr Raymond
Rigg, Mr Maurice
Jay Christopher
Whitcombe Sarah
Woods, Ms John
Wray, Mr Centre
for Bio-Medical Engineering Units and Achievements
Back to top Joint
replacement
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Image of the award from left to right, Mr John Reid, Mr Jay Meswania, Prof Sally Davies, Mr Tim Briggs and Ms Carol Smillie. |
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Development of bone tumour implants
This includes both design and clinical follow-up. The most important has been the development of extendible prostheses to treat young patients where their epiphyseal growth plates have been resected due to tumour. Currently these implants are extended by minimally invasive surgery but a non-invasive implant will be inserted into a patient next year.
Of considerable importance is the way that these implants interact with the skeleton and the Centre has investigated different ways of fixing these implants to the bone. Over the last 5 years, all of these have been investigated experimentally and these new methods of fixation are being used in clinical practice.
Advances in the fixation of standard total joint arthroplasty
Fixation of standard joint replacements still remains a problem in certain cases, such as for patients requiring revision operations and where implants are inserted into young patients.
The major strength of the Institute has been related to the biomedical engineering research in relation to joint replacement prostheses. This expertise originated in development of synthetic prosthetic components for standard, custom and massive joint replacements. The requirements for improved design and osseomechanical integration of these implants was and is driven by increases in longevity, age related skeletal degeneration and the improved management of skeletal neoplasia.
The research programme in this area has expanded in relation to the requirements in expertise in different disciplines. For example biomaterials, telemetry and implantable motors for "growing prostheses use in children, cell biology (including use of stem cells), specialised morphometry and histopathology.
Computer modelling, in vivo models and clinical trials.
This area of research will incorporate all these disciplines in a comprehensive approach toward biological replacement or regeneration of synovial joints and integration of implants with skeletal structures. Assessment of functionality of the improved implants will be linked to the recent inclusion of the comparative biomechanics of movement unit in the Centre for Human Performance.
Telemetry of forces in vivo from joint replacement implants
Data on forces applied across joints in the body are needed to know how to better design and test implants, define rehabilitation regimes, and provide basic data for other biomechanics studies. Forces can be measured directly during a variety of activities using instrumented implants, in which subjects are supplied with implants modified to enclose strain gauges and signal conditioning circuitry. Power is supplied to, and data are telemetered from, the implants by inductive coupling and a radio link. In previous studies to discover how forces applied to implants are distributed to the supporting bone, 4 subjects requiring large femoral implants for bone tumour replacement were supplied with instrumented implants, and each followed up over 2 years to monitor load transmission.
A typical data sample from one subject, at 1 year post-op, is shown.
The axial forces at the shaft and stem tip, in blue and green, are plotted against the left-hand axis. The bending moments and axial torque are plotted against the right-hand axis. In this example the stem is still well fixed since little of the shaft force is being transmitted to the tip of the stem.
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The same technology is now being applied to enable measurement of the forces and moments carried by total knee and shoulder prostheses, in vivo. A calibration rig has been designed (see photo) to enable pre-set combinations of load to be applied to either compartment of an instrumented knee replacement, to develop calibration algorithms. Forces and positions are applied according to a program controlled by LabViewTM. |
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Stanmore Implants Worldwide
The research activity in Biomedical Engineering combined with input from orthopaedic surgeons both within the Institute and RNOHT led to the development of a commercial company to exploit and commercialise research and also to provide resource to develop research outcome into viable products for management of musculo-skeletal conditions. This unique association between the academic unit, health care providers and commerce is a valuable resource for the Institute with exciting opportunities for the Professor of Clinical Orthopaedics to develop and assess new implant designs and surgical strategies.
Stanmore Implants supplies custom-made implants for complex primary and revision joint and limb salvage surgery. Each case undertaken is analysed by implant experts with experience in specialised and complex replacement problems and each solution is unique, individually tailored to the needs of the patient. Formed in 1996, SIW is a part of the Centre for Biomedical Engineering. The Centre, here at Stanmore is staffed by scientists and engineers from various disciplines who focus on improving treatments for the pathological conditions of joints and it is our synergistic relationship with the centre which has enabled Stanmore to become one of the world's leading specialist companies in the design and fabrication of custom-made implants.
"Our mission is to become the world's leading producer of custom-made implants for complex primary, revision arthroplasty and limb-salvage surgery. Our experience combined with expert design and manufacturing teams enables us to provide you with first class custom-made implants unified with a reliable, fast and efficient service irrespective of where you are in the world and providing a quality service which is reliable, cost effective and designed to meet your surgical needs is one of our main objectives."
This page last modified 12 June, 2009 by Jacalyn Buckland
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