Development of a realistic analogue bone

本项目旨在生产机械性能与真实的骨匹配的合成骨，以支持骨科植入物设计的测试和确认阶段。这将使设备测试更容易获得，具有成本效益，并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，目标是创建具有与真实的骨相似的孔隙率、特性和细胞几何形状的骨;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验证，这些结构以与真实的松质骨相似的方式变形。为了实现这一点，从生物工程科学研究组的现有CT库中提取动物松质骨的图像，并用于创建松质骨的数字模型。将使用文献中的特性进行模拟压缩试验，以确定骨模拟物的目标响应。将实施设计检索方法，以系统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。具有所得多孔结构设计的锚定骨材料应进行增材制造，并接受力学测试，以比较/验证计算结果。最后，经验证的模拟骨材料将作为植入骨科医疗器械（即部分或全膝关节置换）的测试平台。该项目有可能显著改善骨科医疗器械的设计、开发和认证，并将通过向制定测试和认证政策和标准的器械制造商和行业组织传播成果来实现这一影响。

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.