Imaging tools to quantitatively assess artificial hip joint tribological performance

随着时间的推移，由于生物医学材料的进步，人工髋关节的耐用性和寿命得到了提高。然而，这些材料的磨损和腐蚀是如何发生的，为什么个体对种植体磨损碎片的存在可能有不同的反应，以及严重的种植体磨损和组织反应发生的频率仍然存在悬而未决的问题。致力于解决这些问题的研究人员需要额外的工具来实现更好的理解。我提出的研究计划的长期目标是开发增强的光学（摄影）和射线（x射线）成像工具，并使用它们来评估人工髋关节的磨损性能。这些知识将用于下一代人工关节设计和材料的开发，以提高其使用寿命和功能。在这个研究项目中，直接目标是：(1)开发软件，从因故障而被拔出的人工髋关节部件的照片中执行自动损伤评分；(2)将这种自动损伤评分方法与光学坐标测量机相结合，直接将损伤评分与磨损量测量相关联；(3)开发一种使用数字断层合成的放射照相技术，以评估人工髋关节组件的模块化头颈连接处的完整性。这些新的光学和放射成像工具将使研究人员能够更好地研究人工髋关节植入物的磨损性能。从照片中执行自动损伤评分的软件可以共享，促进实验室之间的合作，并最终释放所有外植设备的潜力，通过注册表进行分析和组合。自动损伤评分与光学三坐标测量机的集成将建立一个严格的、高通量的分析管道，以彻底评估植入物的损伤和磨损量。增加使用这些工具评估的检索设备的数量，将能够深入分析影响植入物性能和早期失效的因素的复杂相互作用。最后，将断层合成添加到成像方法的武器库中，将产生关于模块化连接的体内条件和性能的丰富数据。从这次直接观察中学到的东西将使临床前测试更加现实，并改进未来的植入物设计。

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.