Analysis of Forces and Temperatures in Conventional and Ultrasonically-Assisted Cutting of Bone

Abstract

Bone cutting is a frequently used procedure in orthopaedic and neuro surgeries. Current research on bone cutting is concerned with the efforts to decrease the forces generated during cutting the bone as well as temperature to avoid mechanical and thermal damage (bone necrosis) induced by surgical tools. The paper presents results of finite-element simulations of conventional cutting (CC) and ultrasonically-assisted cutting (UAC) of bone in order to understand thermomechanics of the process. The study was aimed at investigating the levels of tool-penetration force and temperatures induced in the bone when a hard cutting tool penetrates into it in both types of cutting. The models allow the quantitative analysis of forces and temperatures produced during the cutting process. The use of UAC reduces the tool penetration force and temperature in the cutting region