2013-2014 Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering
Projects to be supervised by Prof. Jonathan Black
Note: These are brief descriptive titles. Full descriptions are available on request. Initial expressions of interest should include order of preference (if more than one is selected) and c.v. (one page, including undergraduate course and GPA). Teams will be selected and charged by September 6.
PROJECT 1:
Project Title:
Reproducible Assembly-Disassembly of Ceramic-Metal Modular Interfaces for Total Hip Replacements
Sponsor: CeramTec GmbH, Ger.
Contact:Dr. Robert Streicher
Problem statement:
Replacement of the hip and knee joint has become increasingly successful, with non-revision rates routinely exceeding 95% at ten years post implantation for most patient groups. A continuing process of evolutionary modification, driven by clinical and economic requirements, has transformed earlier designs that contained only a few parts, into more elaborate multi component assemblies. A common pairing is the use of a high strength ceramic femoral head on a cobalt-chromium or titanium alloy trunnion/stem. Careful design of the interface provides optimal stress distribution and protects the strong but brittle head from fracture under load. This interface is altered by deformation during assembly, which is currently done manually during surgical insertion. There is a pressing need to design an assembly-disassembly tool for this ceramic-metal interface in order to render it more durable and reusable.
This project will examine the mechanical requirements and designs utilized in such interfaces in contemporary joint replacement designs, and devise one or more design approaches to meeting assembly-disassembly requirements.
Project field: Problem and application analysis, material and process design, in vitro testing, biomaterials (orthopaedic)
Team requirements: This is a team project for 3-4 people with various engineering backgrounds. This would be a good project for a mechanical engineer and/or materials scientist with some industrial design experience. SolidWorks experience a definite plus!
PROJECT 2:
Project Title: Implantable Long Bone Segmental Replacement
Sponsor:Seraph Robotics, Ithaca, NY
Contact:Adam Tow adam@seraphrobotics.com
Problem statement:
It has long been a surgical practice to use vascularized segments of the human tibia to provide live structural supports in repair of congenital, developmental or trauma related major bone defects in the skeleton (see: Malizos KN et al., Free Vascularized Fibular Grafts for Reconstruction of Skeletal Grafts, J Am Acad Orthop Sur, 12(5):360-9, 2004). Unfortunately this procedure leaves a major critical size (= will not heal) defect in the fibular shaft and may require additional surgery to stabilize the ankle joint.
This design project will build on a prior study that defined design parameters for 3D (additively) printable materials, usable for in vitro laboratory studies, which possess the mechanical properties of cancellous and cortical bone. The result will be a thorough material redesign to render the materials usable as permanent implants as well as design of an implantable segmental long bone replacement system utilizing this new materials system.
Project field: Problem and application analysis, device design, in vitro testing, biomechanics/biomaterials (orthopaedic),
Team requirements: This is a team project for 3-5 people with various engineering and (possibly) biological backgrounds. It is essential that one or more members either have FEA experience or will be taking a course in analysis in the Fall '13 Semester. Knowledge of SolidWorks™ and any 3D printing experience would be extremely valuable; mechanical (materials) testing knowledge also useful.
PROJECT 3:
Project Title: Non-Articulating Approaches to Functional Restoration of the Temporomandibular Joint
Sponsor:TMJ Association, Milwaukee, WI
Contact: Terrie Cowley info@tmj.org
Problem statement:
Disorders of the temporomandibular joint (jaw joint or TMJ; positioned bilaterally between the maxilla and the mandible) and associated musculature and nerve processes affect 10 million US patients acutely or chronically. Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJDs) are a complex and poorly understood set of conditions characterized by pain in the jaw joint and surrounding tissues and limitation in jaw movements. Injury and other conditions that routinely affect other joints in the body, such as arthritis, also can affect the temporomandibular joint. One or both joints may be involved and, depending on the severity, can affect a person's ability to speak, eat, chew, swallow, make facial expressions, and even breathe. Also included under the heading of TMJD are conditions involving the jaw muscles. These may accompany the jaw joint problems or occur independently and are often confused with jaw joint disability because they produce similar signs and symptoms.* TMJD is frequently accompanied by a confusing array of painful and debilitating conditions (comorbidities) in other parts of the body.
Research and treatment to date have focused on pharmacological alleviation of pain and mechanical restoration of joint structure. An initial design study identified biological restoration or replacement of the TMJ disc as a promising approach to definitive treatment. However, this has proven difficult to achieve. This team's effort will take advantage of the particular mechanics of the TMJ and focus on functional replacement of the full joint using non-articulating designs that minimize particulate debris release.
Project field: Problem and application analysis, device design, in vitro testing, biomechanics/biomaterials (orthopaedic), animal studies (surgery, neurophysiology)
Team requirements: This is a team project for 3-5 people with various engineering and (possibly) biological backgrounds. It is essential that one or more members either have FEA experience or will be taking a course in analysis in the Fall '13 Semester.
- Adapted from: Sponsor's web site: http://www.tmj.org/site/content/tmjd-basics
PROJECT 4:
Project Title: "Wild Card" Design Competition
Sponsor:To be determined
Contact:Later
Problem statement:
Not all good ideas come out of Professor's heads! This is an opportunity to propose an approach to an unsolved problem in clinical application of biomaterials to problems of disability and disease in the human musculoskeletal system. If you have an idea in this area and are of an adventurous nature, prepare a submission.
Details: Prepare a write up of 200-300 words, with at least 5 references, describing the clinical problem (unmet need), contemporary (historical) approaches to the problem and some possible conceptual approaches (no details, please!) to a possible engineering solution. Please submit these to Professor Black as soon as possible but absolutely no later than August 31st, 2013. He will select the most promising submission, as quickly as possible, and select interested students to form a team suitable for achieving a design solution within the constraints of the MEng program. If the project is suitable and has commercial potential, he will also seek an industrial sponsor
Project field: Problem and application analysis, device design, in vitro testing, biomechanics/biomaterials (orthopaedic),
Team requirements: This is will be a team project for 3-5 people with various engineering and (possibly) biological backgrounds. Team members will be selected with backgrounds to suit the proposed problem.
PROFESSOR BLACK'S Contact Information:
Office: 406 Weill
Office hours: By arrangement; but no appointment required for Tuesdays 8-10am, when
Prof. Black is in Ithaca (Schedule posted outside of his office)
Email: jb2245@cornell.edu
Biographical info: http://www.bme.cornell.edu/people/profile.cfm?netid=jb2245