News & Events / BME Seminar Series / Past Seminar Speakers / 2017-18Matthew McCullough, PhD
BME Seminar Series Spring 2018
Thursday, June 7, 2018 at 4-5 pm
Tech L361
Host: Professor Robert Linsenmeier
Assistant Professor of Chemical, Biological, and Bioengineering, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Improving Degradable Orthopaedic Devices Using Finite Element Analysis
Orthopaedic devices often experience complications due to poor biocompatibility and permanence. Degradable Magnesium-based orthopedic devices are promising due to higher strength when compared to degradable polymers as well as improved biocompatibility and degradability when compared to traditional metals. Many applications for such technology exist, however, we have used anterior cruciate ligament interference screws as one of a limited number of initial testbeds to explore the material’s performance. During ACL replacement surgery, interference screws serve as a wedge to compress the graft to the host bone wall of a tunnel. Success of these grafts often depends on the construct’s ability to holds the graft in place while allowing boney ingrowth. These factors make smart materials like degradable Magnesium good candidates for materials. This presentation will highlight preliminary investigations into the impact of design on performance as well as the impact of Magnesium-based screws on surrounding bone, via finite element analysis. Strong associations were seen between screw design and behavior. Other work also suggests that Magnesium will allow for level of stress/load transfer conducive for bone growth.
Learn more about Professor Matthew McCullough and their research here.