Altair > Case Studies > Leveraging Altair SimSolid for Bone Biomechanics at Roth McFarlane

Leveraging Altair SimSolid for Bone Biomechanics at Roth McFarlane

Technology Category

Sensors - Torque Sensors
Wearables - Implants

Applicable Industries

Education

Applicable Functions

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Experimentation Automation
Onsite Human Safety Management

Services

Testing & Certification

About The Customer

Roth McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre (HULC) is a respected, world-renowned center of excellence in education, research, and the diagnosis, care, and treatment of patients with complex conditions affecting hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders. In addition to these, the center also specializes in breast reconstruction, complex wound care, and numerous other conditions requiring specialized care. Located in London, Ontario, the center is under the direction of Dr. Louis Ferreira, PhD, and uses advanced technology and methods to provide the best possible care for its patients.

The Challenge

Roth McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre (HULC) in London, Ontario, faced a significant challenge in evaluating the biomechanics of bone stresses. The center, under the direction of Dr. Louis Ferreira, PhD, was using human bone specimens that were CT scanned with a high-resolution scanner. This process preserved much of the internal trabecular bone’s microstructure geometry. However, the challenge lay in the fact that many measurements from the experimental models were either prohibitive or impossible to measure directly on the specimen. This was particularly relevant in the case of patients with shoulder arthritis who were often treated surgically by replacing the diseased joint with implants. The center needed a way to simulate how different implant types influence bone stresses, which can influence the longevity of the surgical procedure.

The Solution

The solution came in the form of Altair SimSolid™, a simulation software that allowed for simulated mechanical testing that matches the physical model. The models of human bone specimens were imported into SimSolid for this testing. This software allowed HULC to augment measurements from their experimental models that would otherwise be prohibitive or impossible to measure directly on the specimen. For instance, in the case of shoulder joint implants, SimSolid allowed for the testing of high-resolution bone models from a 60-micron resolution CT scan. Similarly, for the human skull, an experimental model used 3D printed piston mounts to recreate muscle lines of action on a cadaveric human head. This experiment was recreated in SimSolid in order to measure bone strains in areas where strain gauges could not be placed on the specimen.

Operational Impact

The use of Altair SimSolid™ has significantly improved the operational efficiency at HULC. The software has enabled the center to simulate mechanical testing that matches the physical model, thereby overcoming the challenge of measurements that were previously prohibitive or impossible to measure directly on the specimen. This has been particularly beneficial in the case of shoulder joint implants and human skull studies. The ability to simulate different implant types and their influence on bone stresses has provided valuable insights that can influence the longevity of the surgical procedure. Similarly, the ability to recreate experiments in SimSolid to measure bone strains in areas where strain gauges could not be placed on the specimen has allowed for a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of injury and surgical implants like fracture repair plates and dental appliances.