• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2012

The treatments for spinal canal stenosis are radicular cyst removal, spine fusion, and implantation of an artificial intervertebral disc. Artificial intervertebral discs have been most widely used since the mid-2000s. The study of artificial intervertebral discs has been focused on the analysis of the axial rotation, lateral bending, the degrees of freedom of the disc, and flexion-extension of the vertebral body. The issue of fatigue failure years after the surgery has arisen as a new problem. Hence, study of artificial intervertebral discs must be focused on the fatigue failure properties and increased durability of the sliding core. A finite element model based on an in the artificial intervertebral disc (SB Charit$\acute{e}$ III) was produced, and the influence of the radius of curvature and the change in the coefficient of friction of the sliding core on the von-Mises stress and contact pressure was evaluated. Based on the results, new artificial intervertebral disc models (Models-I, -II, and -III) were proposed, and the fatigue failure behavior of the sliding core after a certain period of time was compared with the results for SB Charit$\acute{e}$ III.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.637-644
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• 2009

We have analyzed the biomechanical characteristics of cervical spine after total disc replacement using finite element analysis. A finite element model of C2-C7 spinal motion segment was developed and validated by other experimental studies. Two types of artificial discs, semi-constraint and un-constraint, were inserted at C6-C7 segments. Inferior plane of C7 vertebra was fixed and 1Nm of moment were applied on superior plane of C2 vertebra with 50N of compressive load along follower load direction. Mobility of the cervical spine in which each artificial disc inserted was higher than that of intact one in all loading conditions. Also, high mobility at the surgical level after total disc replacement could lead higher facet joint force and ligaments axial stresses. The results of present study could be used to evaluate surgical option and validate the biomechanical characteristics of the implant in total disc replacement in cervical spine.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.234-242
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• 2002

A shape optimal design of synthetic intervertebral disc prosthesis is performed using a three-dimensional finite element method. Geometric parameters are introduced to model the cross-sectional geometry of the intervertebral disc. It is assumed that the total strain energy in the intact intervertebral disc is minimized under the normal load conditions, as often cited in other references. To calculate the stain energy density, both the nonlinear material properties and the large deformations are taken into account. The design variables of the annulus fiber angle and the area ratio of the nucleus pulposus are calculated as 31°and 30%, respectively, which complies well with the intact disc. Thus, the same optimization procedure is applied to the design of the synthetic intervertebral disc prosthesis whose material properties are different from the intact disc. For the given synthetic material properties, the values of 67°and 24% for the fiber angle and the area ratio are obtained.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.515-516
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• 2006

The goal of total disc replacement is to restore pain-free mobility to a diseased functional spinal unit, by replacing the degenerated disc with a mobile bearing prosthesis. SB Charite III is named commercial product as the Artificial Intervertebral Disc (AID). SB Charite III consists of sliding core and endplate made by Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) and cobalt chrome alloy, respectively. To evaluate the effect of von-Mises stress in AID, and three-dimensional finite element model of AID analysis was preformed for four different loading types of sliding core. Consequently, endplate was compared with a compressive preload at 400N and flexion moment at $3{\sim}9Nm4. Therefore, this research has obtained result that von-Mises stress of sliding core in AID disc by radius curvature.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.24 no.8 s.197
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• pp.122-129
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• 2007

To evaluate the effect of artificial disc implantation and fusion on the biomechanics of adjacent motion segment, a nonlinear three-dimensional finite element model of whole lumbar spine (L1-S1) was developed. Biomechanical analysis was performed for two different types of artificial disc, ProDisc and SB $Charit{\acute{e}}$ III model, inserted at L4-L5 level and these results were also compared with fusion case. Angular motion of vertebral body, forces on the spinal ligaments and facet joint under sagittal plane loading with a compressive preload of 150 N at a nonlinear three-dimensional finite element model of Ll-S1 were compared. The implant did not significantly alter the kinematics of the motion segment adjacent to the instrumented level. However, $Charit{\acute{e}}$ III model tend to decrease its motion on the adjacent levels, especially in extension motion. Contrast to motion and ligament force changes, facet contact forces were increased in the adjacent levels as well as implanted level for constrained instantaneous center of rotation model, i.e. ProDisc model.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.123-124
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• 2006

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.367-368
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• 2006

Today, the Artificial Intervertebral Disc (AID) is being developed by increasing the oblique of the endplate gradually. In other words, Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) which is apply to the sliding core of the AID, does not change the shape but alters the oblique of endplate. However, the unreasonable increase of degree of freedom (DOF) can result in the aggravation of the bone fusion and the initial stability and it can also lead to the increase of the concentrated force in core. For these reasons, it is necessary to develop the advanced techniques, which choose the most adequate DOF. In this study, the new optimized modeling of the sliding core and the endplate, the fatigue characteristics, the crack propagation and the formation mechanism of wearing debris was studied and the minimizing technique will be derived from this research.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.907-910
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• 2005

Although several artificial disc designs have been developed for the treatment of discogenic low back pain, biomechanical change with its implantation was rarely studied. To evaluate the effect of artificial disc implantation on the biomechanics of functional spinal unit, nonlinear three-dimensional finite element model of L4-L5 was developed with 1-mm CT scan data. Two models implanted with artificial discs, SB $Charit\acute{e}$ or Prodisc, via anterior approach were also developed. The implanted model predictions were compared with that of intact model. Angular motion of vertebral body, force on spinal ligaments and facet joint, and the stress distribution of vertebral endplate for flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation with a compressive preload of 400 N were compared. The implanted model showed increased flexion-extension range of motion and increased force in the vertically oriented ligaments, such as ligamentum flavum, supraspinous ligament and interspinous ligament. The increase of facet contact force on extension were greater in implanted models. The incresed stress distribution on vertebral endplate for implanted cases indicated that additinal bone growth around vertebral body and this is matched well with clinical observation. With axial rotation moment, relatively less axial rotation were observed in SB $Charit\acute{e}$ model than in ProDisc model.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.23 no.4 s.181
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• pp.176-182
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• 2006

Although several artificial disc designs have been developed for the treatment of discogenic low back pain, biomechanical changes with its implantation were rarely studied. To evaluate the effect of artificial disc implantation on the biomechanics of functional spinal unit, a nonlinear three-dimensional finite element model of L4-L5 was developed with 1-mm CT scan data. Biomechanical analysis was performed for two different types of artificial disc having constrained and unconstrained instant center of rotation(ICR), ProDisc and SB Charite III model. The implanted model predictions were compared with that of intact model. Angular motion of vertebral body, forces on the spinal ligaments and facet joint, and stress distribution of vertebral endplate for flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation with a compressive preload of 400N were compared. The implanted model showed increased flexion-extension range of motion compared to that of intact model. Under 6Nm moment, the range of motion were 140%, 170% and 200% of intact in SB Charite III model and 133%, 137%, and 138% in ProDisc model. The increased stress distribution on vertebral endplate for implanted cases could be able to explain the heterotopic ossification around vertebral body in clinical observation. As a result of this study, it is obvious that implanted segment with artificial disc suffers from increased motion and stress that can result in accelerated degenerated change of surrounding structure. Unconstrained ICR model showed increased in motion but less stress in the implanted segment than constrained model.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.244-247
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• 2005

Although several artificial disc designs have been developed for the treatment of discogenic low back pain and used clinically, biomechanical change with its implantation seldom studied. To evaluate the effect of artificial disc implantation on the biomechanics of lumbar spinal unit, nonlinear three-dimensional finite element model of L1-L5, S1 was developed and strain and stress of vertebral body and surrounding spinal ligaments were predicted. Intact osteoligamentous L1-L5, S1 model was created with 1-mm CT scan of a volunteer and known material property of each element were applied. This model also includes the effect of local muscles which was modeled with pre-strained spring elements. The intact model was validated with reported biomechanical data. Two models implanted with artificial discs, SB Charite or Prodisc, at L4/5 via anterior approach were also developed. The implanted model predictions were compared with that of intact model. Angular motion of vertebral body, force on spinal ligaments, facet joint contact force with $2\sim12$ Nm flexion-extension moment.