Finite element analysis on a medical implant

Rom J Ophthalmol. 2016 Apr-Jun;60(2):116-119.

Abstract

Several studies have shown a tight connection between several ocular pathologies and an increased risk of hip fractures due to falling, especially among elderly patients. The total replacement of the hip joint is a major surgical intervention that aims to restore the function of the affected hip by various factors, such as arthritis, injures, and others. A corkscrew-like femoral stem was designed in order to preserve the bone stock and to prevent the occurrence of iatrogenic fractures during the hammering of the implant. In this paper, the finite element analysis for the proposed design was applied, considering different loads and three types of materials. A finite element analysis is a powerful tool to simulate, optimize, design, and select suitable materials for new medical implants. The results showed that the best scenario was for Ti6Al4V alloy, although Ti and 316L stainless steel had a reasonable high safety factor.

Keywords: 316L stainless steel; Ti; Ti6Al4V; finite element analysis; medical implant; new design; ocular pathologies; risk of hip fractures.

MeSH terms

  • Alloys
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / instrumentation*
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Femur
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Hip Fractures / surgery
  • Hip Prosthesis*
  • Humans
  • Prosthesis Design*
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Titanium*

Substances

  • Alloys
  • titanium alloy (TiAl6V4)
  • Titanium