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Piezoelectric Biomaterial for Implants
Current work is focusing on the development of an orthopedic biomaterial designed to stimulate bone growth. This development entails not only the creation of a new material, but also understanding its potential impact on future implants, and creating new designs to incorporate these changes. The initial effort is on using the implant to increase the clinical success rate of lumbar spinal fusion, which is currently lower than 80% for over half a million patients. The lab collaborates on this project with Dr. Paul Arnold, a neurosurgeon from the University of Kansas Medical Center. This project is supported by the Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institute of Health.
Dr. Lisa Friis, Dr. Paul Arnold, Ember Krech, Eileen Cadel, Kelly Tong, Kyle Coates
Alumni: John Domann, MS; Nick Tobaben, MS; Nathan Goetzinger, MS; Eric Tobaben, MS; Benjamin Wong, MS; Brandon Neal, MS; Hadley Sis; Saskia Biesinger
Cadaveric Thoracic Spine Study
Using the FS20 Biomechanical Spine Test System (Applied Test Systems, Butler, PA), we conducted a biomechanical study of the entire thoracic spine with varying experimental conditions, including intact rib cage, rib cage stiffening, implantation of a rod construct for scoliosis, removal of floating ribs, and removal of full rib cage. Range of motion and stiffness was analyzed during all of the tests, and pressure data was gathered from the intervertebral discs. The purpose of this study was to better characterize the motion of the full thoracic spine. The lab collaborated on this project with Drs. Mary Bouxsein and Dennis Anderson of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
Dr. Lisa Friis, Dr. Dennis Anderson, Dr. Mary Bouxsein, Dr. Erin Mannen, Hadley Sis, Benjamin Wong, Eileen Cadel, Nikki Galvis, Josh Arnold
Ponte Osteotomy Study
Severe cases of scoliosis (lateral spine curvature) and kyphosis (hunchback) are treated surgically through fusion. To increase the flexibility of stiff spines, surgeons sometimes perform Ponte osteotomies in order to achieve more desirable aesthetic outcomes. The procedures result in increased OR time, blood loss, and risk of damage to the spinal cord. It is more important to thoroughly understand the mechanical benefits of Ponte osteotomies so that surgeons can weigh the risks and rewards of performing the procedures. This research works to quantify the additional flexibility achieved through Ponte osteotomies through mechanical testing of human cadaveric thoracic specimens with attached ribcages. The lab collaborated with Dr. John Anderson at Children’s Mercy Hospital and Dr. Paul Arnold from University of Kansas Medical Center. This project was funded by the Self Graduate Fellowship.
Dr. Lisa Friis, Dr. John Anderson, Dr. Paul Arnold, Erin Mannen
Adolescent Spine Motion Study
Although Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is a fairly common deformity, very little is known about how the deformity affects the mechanics of the spine itself. Additionally, very little is known about the spine and trunk mechanics of the typical adolescent population. Understanding the typical mechanics of the adolescent spine as well as the altered mechanics of an AIS spine are important for improving both non-surgical and surgical treatments of AIS. This research investigates the altered mechanics of the AIS spine and characterizes the typical spine motion for both the typical adolescent and AIS populations. This study is an in vivo study, allowing for the collected motion data to be as accurate as possible. The lab collaborated with Drs. John Anderson, Rick Schwend, and Nigel Price at Children’s Mercy Hospital and Dr. Doug Burton from KUMC. This project was funded by the Self Graduate Fellowship and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
Dr. Lisa Friis, Dr. John Anderson, Dr. Doug Burton, Dr. Rick Schwend, Dr. Nigel Price, Dr. Sara Wilson, Nikki Galvis