NEW ENGINEERING CONCEPTS, METHODS AND TECHNIQUES USED IN ORTHOPEDICS

Abstract

The knee is one of the most complex joints from the human body. To re-create a 3D parametrical environment it was used a CAD software which permits to define complex models. First, there were defined the main bone components as femur, tibia and menisci and cruciate ligaments by using the CT images. The contours of the CT images were transferred to CAD environment where, step by step, and section by section, the virtual elements were defined. The model of the lower limbs during a virtual walking was recomposed by using kinematic parameters determined by filming the human subject. In this case, the entire behavior of each bone component was determined, including that of the femur, tibia menisci and cruciate ligaments. We created a virtual model of the human knee joint. The virtual model of the human knee joint was exported to kinematic analysis software and the results of the kinematic capture such as the functions of the joint position vs time were transposed to virtual bio-mechanical joints. In the last decade a new concept called rapid prototyping manufacturing, physical coating or without solid pre-form manufacturing has become popular. The process starts with a 3D CAD model involving ultraviolet sources and photosensitive polymers. We can create a physical polymers prototype of knee joint.

Keywords

• virtual bones, biomechanics, CAD, rapid prototyping, virtual prototyping.