Imaging tools to quantitatively assess artificial hip joint tribological performance

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Over time artificial hip joints have achieved improved durability and longevity due to advancements in biomedical materials. However, there are still outstanding questions about how wear and corrosion of these materials occurs, why individuals may react differently to the presence of implant wear debris, and how often severe implant wear and tissue reactions occur. Researchers working to address these issues need additional tools to achieve improved understanding. The long-term objective of my proposed research program is to develop enhanced optical (photography) and radiographic (x-ray) imaging tools and employ them to evaluate the wear performance of artificial hip joints. This knowledge will be used for the development of the next generation of artificial joint designs and materials to improve their longevity and function. Within this research program, the immediate aims are to: (1) Develop software to perform automated damage scoring from photographs of artificial hip components that have been explanted due to failure; (2) Integrate this automated damage scoring approach with an optical coordinate measurement machine to directly correlate damage scores with measurements of wear volume; and (3) Develop a radiographic technique using digital tomosynthesis to assess the integrity of the modular head-neck junction of artificial hip components. These new optical and radiographic imaging tools will enable researchers to better study the wear performance of artificial hip implants. The software to perform automated damage scoring from photographs can be shared, promoting collaboration between labs and ultimately unlock the potential for all explanted devices to be analyzed and combined through a registry. The integration of automated damage scoring with the optical CMM will establish a rigorous, high throughput analysis pipeline to thoroughly evaluate implant damage and wear volume. Increasing the number of retrieved devices assessed with these tools will enable a deep analysis of the complex interaction of factors affecting implant performance and early failure. Finally, adding tomosynthesis to the arsenal of imaging methods will yield rich data on the in vivo condition and performance of modular junctions. What is learned from this direct observation will enable more realistic pre-clinical testing and improve future implant designs.