In Vitro Fatigue Testing of Prosthetic Ligaments: A New Concept

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Drouin, Gilbert | Masson, Martin | Yahia, L'Hocine

Affiliations: Biomedical Engineering Institute, École Polytechnique, P.O. Box 6079, Station “A”, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3A7, Canada

Abstract: A cruciate ligament fatigue/wear testing system TTF600 was developed at École Polytechnique in order to reproduce a little better the loading conditions and environment in which they perform. This machine was designed to subject the ligaments to simultaneous tension, bending and torsion. The amplitude of each loading can be adjusted separately. This allows to better define the effect of each loading mode on the viability of a prosthetic device. Six devices can be tested simultaneously in a liquid environment at 37°C. The loading conditions and the behaviour of the prosthesis are monitored by computer.

Keywords: ligament prosthesis, fatigue testing, wear, evaluation

DOI: 10.3233/BME-1991-1304

Journal: Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering, vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 159-165, 1991