The design of a spine simulator able to accurately test both cervical and lumbar total intervertebral disc replacements (TDRs hereafter) presents significant challenges, as the two TDRs are exposed to very different axial loads, by more than a factor of 10.
The Spine Wear Simulator
The Prosim Spine Wear Simulator was designed and developed with the following key objectives in mind:
- Design and build a simulator that fully meets the requirements of ISO 18192-1 (2011) Capable of going well beyond existing ISO requirements for adverse wear testing
- Each station with fully independent axial loading
- Capable of replicating activities of daily living
We have recently introduced the Peltier Heater/Cooler system (section 2.8) which automatically maintains the test fluid media (serum) temperature at 37°C ±2°C, replacing the old heater and pump system circulating the test fluid media externally. As a result, we help the customer to achieve a huge saving on the cost of serum, as only 1/3 of the serum volume is required on a self-contained Peltier heater unit in contrast to the pump + heater system.
The Prosim Spine Wear Simulator is a multi-station machine designed for the reliable and repeatable testing of TDR implants, providing TDR implant researchers and manufacturers with a cost-effective and accurate means of generating wear and friction data under realistic in-vivo simulated conditions.
All controlled axes of the Prosim Spine Wear Simulator are electromechanically driven, using a combination of motors, drives and gearboxes. This enables Prosim Spine wear simulator to closely follow any loading and displacement demand waveform however demanding it may be.
Empirical data generated by Prosim’s range of simulators over the last 25 years supports the assertion that the wear patterns of implants tested in our simulators accurately mirror that of the wear of implants extracted from humans after years of use.
The Prosim Spine Wear Simulator includes numerous features and benefits:
- Design and build a simulator that fully meets the requirements of ISO 18192-1 (2011) Capable of going well beyond existing ISO requirements for adverse wear testing
- Each station with fully independent axial loading
- Capable of replicating activities of daily living
Custom simulators.
Prosim also offers customisation of simulators to meet the client’s specific testing requirements, including additional stations and different configurations, i.e. single bank of six stations, two banks of three stations etc.
Hope for people with severe spine fractures
Leeds University is at the forefront of research into implant technology and that research is just about to take a big leap forward in the
ISO Electro-Mechanical Wear Simulators – The New Focus for Prosim
Feb 11, 2009 Following the successful introduction of the spinal implant wear simulator, their first fully electro-mechanical simulator, Prosim have now committed to a development
Prosim Appoints A Chinese Distributor
Feb 11, 2009 In order to capitalise on the potential of the Chinese orthopaedic market and its growing requirement for testing equipment to ensure that
Contact us.
If you have any specific requirements not fully addressed by the above range of mechanical wear testing simulators, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We are always happy to look at the customisation of existing equipment or design and build projects to a customer’s specifications.