Nowadays the biotribology of the human articu- lations is a challenging topic in the framework of the biomechanics research. A human synovial joint is a complex tribological system able to minimize friction and wear of the articulated car- tilage surfaces, thanks to the mix of particular natural lubrication regimes which are established within the synovial membrane. In the last years, the number of artificial hip joints, as well as the amount of necessary eco- nomic resources, are constantly growing [1]. This surgical procedure, thanks to the excellent clini- cal results obtained in the last decades, has evolved rapidly to solve degenerative diseases on the hip synovial joints. Hip arthroplasty is recog- nized as one of the most successful orthopedic surgical procedures, even if it involves chal- lenges to overcome, such that lately, younger and more active patients are in need of total arthro- plasty. After total or partial joint replacements, the articular functions are fully restored and the patients return to a pain-free condition [2]. In this framework it becomes necessary to guarantee that new prosthetic designs, in terms of geometry and adopted materials, have to be deeply ana- lyzed and tested. Wear is still one of the main is- sues affecting joint prostheses endurance, and of- ten causes loosening accompanied by implant failures. An accurate preclinical validation of these medical devices is necessary in order to es- tablish their tribological performances and re- wear resistance. Actual in vitro wear tests were executed by me- chanical simulators and they have a long dura- tion, are very expensive, and do not take into ac- count all the possible daily activities of the pa- tients. The challenge to obtain a complete in sil- ico tribological and dynamical model of (bio) tribo-systems could give the possibility to over- come the actual testing procedures and could contribute as a tool for a more accurate tribolog- ical design of human prostheses [3,4,5,6]. This speech is intended to underline actual research trends toward the challenge of having accurate numerical algorithms to be used both in preclini- cal testing and in the optimizations of the pros- theses design. With this aim was depicted the possible in silico approach in artificial joints’ wear assessment over time, accounting for contact mechanics, numerical stress–strain anal- ysis, musculoskeletal multibodym, and synovial lubrication modelling (boundary/mixed, hydro- dynamic, and elastohydrodynamic).

KEYNOTE SPEECH: Recent in-silico models for wear calculation in total hip replacements

Alessandro Ruggiero
2022-01-01

Abstract

Nowadays the biotribology of the human articu- lations is a challenging topic in the framework of the biomechanics research. A human synovial joint is a complex tribological system able to minimize friction and wear of the articulated car- tilage surfaces, thanks to the mix of particular natural lubrication regimes which are established within the synovial membrane. In the last years, the number of artificial hip joints, as well as the amount of necessary eco- nomic resources, are constantly growing [1]. This surgical procedure, thanks to the excellent clini- cal results obtained in the last decades, has evolved rapidly to solve degenerative diseases on the hip synovial joints. Hip arthroplasty is recog- nized as one of the most successful orthopedic surgical procedures, even if it involves chal- lenges to overcome, such that lately, younger and more active patients are in need of total arthro- plasty. After total or partial joint replacements, the articular functions are fully restored and the patients return to a pain-free condition [2]. In this framework it becomes necessary to guarantee that new prosthetic designs, in terms of geometry and adopted materials, have to be deeply ana- lyzed and tested. Wear is still one of the main is- sues affecting joint prostheses endurance, and of- ten causes loosening accompanied by implant failures. An accurate preclinical validation of these medical devices is necessary in order to es- tablish their tribological performances and re- wear resistance. Actual in vitro wear tests were executed by me- chanical simulators and they have a long dura- tion, are very expensive, and do not take into ac- count all the possible daily activities of the pa- tients. The challenge to obtain a complete in sil- ico tribological and dynamical model of (bio) tribo-systems could give the possibility to over- come the actual testing procedures and could contribute as a tool for a more accurate tribolog- ical design of human prostheses [3,4,5,6]. This speech is intended to underline actual research trends toward the challenge of having accurate numerical algorithms to be used both in preclini- cal testing and in the optimizations of the pros- theses design. With this aim was depicted the possible in silico approach in artificial joints’ wear assessment over time, accounting for contact mechanics, numerical stress–strain anal- ysis, musculoskeletal multibodym, and synovial lubrication modelling (boundary/mixed, hydro- dynamic, and elastohydrodynamic).
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11386/4783883
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