Development of a Novel Osseointegrated Endoprosthesis, Combing Orthopaedic and Engineering Design Principles, and Structural Health Monitoring Conc

Abstract

The structural health and long-term survival of orthopedic endoprosthetic constructs are currently limited by lack of direct monitoring capabilities and by implant design. In our previous studies, we have successfully applied Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) concepts to develop methods to monitor the progress of bone healing1,2 and the extent of osseointegration of endoprostheses, in order to predict and prevent construct failure. The objective of this project is to develop a novel osseointegration implant for transfemoral amputees. Currently available implants result in stress shielding and progressive loss of bone substance, both of which limit construct longevity and, in the event of construct failure, limit options for revision surgery. In this project, we have combined orthopedic and engineering design principles to develop a shape-optimized and stress-optimized endo-exo prosthesis, that mitigates stress shielding and progressive loss of bone substance, and incorporates sensing elements to facilitate through-life Structural Health Monitoring. The implant is designed to optimize implant longevity, employ direct structural health monitoring to prevent catastrophic construct failure, and maximize the options for revision in the event of predicted or realized failure. In this paper, we discuss the clinical and design considerations of the proposed implant, and the role of SHM in the design and monitoring processes