Development of a realistic analogue bone

该项目旨在生产具有与真骨相匹配的机械性能的合成骨，以支持骨科植入物设计的测试和验证阶段。这将使器械测试更容易获得，成本更低，并有可能提高植入成功率。这一目标将分几个阶段实现：从长远来看，目标是创造出具有孔隙度、特性和细胞几何形状与真骨相似的骨；目前，我们的目标是使用简化的3D打印多孔结构来证明概念的证明，该结构以类似于真实松质骨的方式变形。为了实现这一目标，从生物工程科学研究小组现有的CT库中提取了动物松质骨的图像，并用于创建松质骨的数字模型。模拟压缩试验将使用文献中导出的特性来确定骨模拟物的目标响应。设计搜索方法将用于系统地评估多孔模拟骨结构数据库（按关键结构特征分类），并获得与骨的整体特性相匹配的结构。模拟骨材料与由此产生的多孔结构设计将被增材制造，并进行力学测试，以比较/验证计算结果。最后，经过验证的模拟骨材料将作为植入骨科医疗设备（即部分或全膝关节置换术）的测试平台。该项目有潜力显著改善骨科医疗器械的设计、开发和认证，并将通过向设备制造商和制定测试和认证政策和标准的行业组织传播结果，寻求实现这一影响。

This project aims to produce synthetic bone with mechanical properties matching that of real bone to support the testing and validation stages of orthopaedic implant design. This would make device testing more accessible, cost-effective and potentially improve implant success rates. This aim will be achieved in several stages: In the long-term, the aim is to create bone with porosities, properties and cell geometries similar that of real bone; at present, we aim to demonstrate the proof of concept using simplified 3D printed porous structures that deform in a similar manner to real cancellous bone. To accomplish this, images of animal cancellous bone with be extracted from an existing CT library in the Bioengineering Sciences Research Group and used to create a digital model of cancellous bone. Simulated compression tests will be performed using properties derived from literature to determine the target response of the bone analogue. Design-search methods will be implemented to systematically assess a database of porous analogue bone structures (classified by key structural features), and to obtain structures that match the global properties of bone. Analogue bone materials with the resulting porous structure design with be additively manufactured and subjected to mechanical tests to compare/verify computational results. Finally, verified analogue bone materials will be implemented as a test platform for implanted orthopaedic medical devices (i.e. partial or total knee joint replacements). The project has the potential to significantly improve the design, development, and certification of orthopaedic medical devices, and will seek to realise this impact by disseminating outcomes to device manufacturers and industry organisations that set policies and standards for testing and certification.