Orthopedic Implants for Limb Reconstruction

Faculty Mentor

Dustin Crouch

Department (e.g. History, Chemistry, Finance, etc.)

Engineering

College (e.g. College of Engineering, College of Arts & Sciences, Haslam College of Business, etc.)

Tickle College of Engineering

Year

2018

Abstract

Problem: Amputation causes loss of function and an overall decline in quality of life. Prosthetic limbs provide a solution, but many have restrictions on full range of restored ability. Most prosthetic designs have limited direct interface with the musculoskeletal system. They must be connected through a system of pulleys, electroencephalography (EEG), or electromyography (EMG).

Proposed Solution: Orthopedic implants offer new limb replacement methods to address the limitations in common prosthetics. An implantable design will act to fully reconstruct or imitate a missing appendage from underlying bone structure to outer skin layer.

Goals/Objective: Our goal was a preliminary implant design. We created designs for two different animal models: a prosthetic to replace a rat forelimb and test an osseointegrated attachment method and a rabbit hindlimb with a silicone sleeve to test tendon attachment methods.

Methods: Computer-aided design (CAD) modeling in SolidWorks was used to design our prototypes. Designs were 3D printed using PLA filament.

Discussion/Conclusions: Our next steps are to print the final model in titanium and begin an experimental tendon reconnection method to further investigate restoration of missing muscle.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 

Orthopedic Implants for Limb Reconstruction

Problem: Amputation causes loss of function and an overall decline in quality of life. Prosthetic limbs provide a solution, but many have restrictions on full range of restored ability. Most prosthetic designs have limited direct interface with the musculoskeletal system. They must be connected through a system of pulleys, electroencephalography (EEG), or electromyography (EMG).

Proposed Solution: Orthopedic implants offer new limb replacement methods to address the limitations in common prosthetics. An implantable design will act to fully reconstruct or imitate a missing appendage from underlying bone structure to outer skin layer.

Goals/Objective: Our goal was a preliminary implant design. We created designs for two different animal models: a prosthetic to replace a rat forelimb and test an osseointegrated attachment method and a rabbit hindlimb with a silicone sleeve to test tendon attachment methods.

Methods: Computer-aided design (CAD) modeling in SolidWorks was used to design our prototypes. Designs were 3D printed using PLA filament.

Discussion/Conclusions: Our next steps are to print the final model in titanium and begin an experimental tendon reconnection method to further investigate restoration of missing muscle.