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News Center
Artificial Disc Duplicates the Spine's Natural Motion
A new biomedical device to surgically treat chronic back pain consists of a compliant mechanism that facilitates natural spine movement, aimed at restoring the function of a healthy spinal disc.
Researchers at Brigham Young University (BYU; Salt Lake City, UT, USA) used compliant-mechanism design techniques to design a total disc replacement system capable of replicating the moment-rotation response and the location and path of the helical axis of motion. They then built a prototype that was evaluated with the use of bench-top testing and single-level cadaveric experiments in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial torsion.
The bench-top testing confirmed that the moment-rotation response of the disc replacement matched the intended design behavior. Cadaveric testing confirmed that the moment-rotation and displacement response of the implanted segment mimicked those of the normal spinal segment. The researchers therefore concluded that the compliant design provides torque-rotation and helical axis-of-motion characteristics to the adjacent segments and the operative-level facets that are similar to those observed in healthy spinal segments. The study describing the design procedure and testing was published early online on May 25, 2012, in the International Journal of Spine Surgery.
“Low back pain has been described as the most severe pain you can experience that won't kill you,” said device codeveloper Prof. Anton Bowden, PhD, a BYU biomechanics and spine expert. “This device has the potential to alleviate that pain and restore the natural motion of the spine, something current procedures can't replicate.”
“Fusion, which is the current standard of care for back pain, leaves a lot to be desired. Disc replacement is an emerging alternative to fusion that has the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of millions,” said David Hawkes, president of Crocker Spinal Technologies (Provo, UT, USA), which will develop the product to market. “BYU's innovation is a radical step forward in the advancement of disc replacement technology.”
Compliant mechanisms are jointless elastic structures that use flexibility to create movement. Examples include tweezers, fingernail clippers, or a bow-and-arrow.
