Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	EP/F014562/1
Title:	Pre-clinical mechanical testing of medical devices for partially or totally replacing the intervertebral disc
Principal Investigator:	Shepherd, Professor D
Other Investigators:	Hukins, Professor D
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Mechanical Engineering
Organisation:	University of Birmingham
Scheme:	Standard Research
Starts:	06 June 2008	Ends:	05 June 2011	Value (£):	581,364
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Biomechanics & Rehabilitation Med.Instrument.Device& Equip.
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Healthcare
Related Grants:
Panel History:	Panel Date Panel Name Outcome 19 Sep 2007 Healthcare Engineering Panel (ENG) Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
The spine consists of a series of bony vertebrae that are separated by intervertebral discs. Back pain is a serious problem throughout the world that can leave suffers unable to move due to pain. The traditional surgical method of treating back pain is spinal fusion, where two vertebrae are encouraged to grow together. This involves removing part of the intervertebral disc and packing the space with bone graft material. While spinal fusion eliminates back pain, it also removes motion, and this can change the mechanics of the adjacent vertebral levels. The future of spinal surgery is moving away from spinal fusion towards the use of prosthetic medical devices that will partially or totally replace the intevertebral disc. This has the major advantage over spinal fusion of preserving the motion of the spine. A prosthetic disc nucleus device is designed to just replace the nucleus for treating moderate degenerative disc disease. Total disc replacement involves replacing the whole disc with an implant. Currently there is a lack of basic understanding as to how these devices may behave in the body. The purpose of this research proposal is to obtain funding to develop a spine simulator facility for pre-clinical mechanical testing of medical devices for partially or totally replacing the intervertebral disc. The overall aim of this research proposal is to gain understanding of the mechanical performance of nucleus replacement devices and total disc replacement devices and answer some basic science questions that have yet to be addressed. In the project we will use the spine simulator to investigate the dynamic functional range of motion and expulsion of nucleus replacement devices. For the total disc arthroplasty we will investigate the lubrication regimes and wear rates. The successful conclusion of this project will enable us to have a better understanding of the mechanical performance of medical devices for partially or totally replacing the intervertebral disc. This information will help to better define improvement to materials and designs of future implants.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk Summary Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:	http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/mechanical-engineering/bio-micro/bio-medical/index.aspx
Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.bham.ac.uk