Biomedical Engineering

• Kuka KR-60: Our 6 degree-of-freedom (DOF) robotic arm (Kuka KR-60-3, Kuka Robotics, Augsburg, Germany) is equipped with a universal force torque sensor (Delta F/T Transducer, ATI Industrial Automation, Apex, NC), allowing us to robotically test cadaveric human joints and gain insight into their kinematics. In a typical setup, one end of the cadaveric human joint is securely fixed to a pedestal, while the other end is held in the end effector of the robotic arm allowing the robot to move the joint.
   
  • Evaluation of Joint Kinematics: To evaluate joint kinematics (the study of describing movement using location, time, velocity, and acceleration measurements), we use the robot to submit the joint to specific forces while measuring displacements and rotations in all three dimensions. This gives us data showing how the joint behaves in terms of range of motion, stiffness and response to standardized clinical tests usually performed by surgeons. Main advantages of using a robotic system compared to evaluating joint kinematics by hand include accuracy, repeatability and autonomy.
     
  • Cutting Studies: The aim of cutting studies is to identify the effects of joint structures, such as tendons and ligaments, on joint kinematics. To accomplish this, we begin by evaluating the intact joint kinematics as a reference and then proceed to sequentially cut the structures we wish to study, re-evaluating joint kinematics after each cut. This allows us to draw conclusions about which structures are primary and secondary stabilizers for given joint motions.
     
  • Reconstruction Studies: The aim of reconstruction studies is to evaluate the performance of surgical procedures on restoring joint kinematics after an injury. To accomplish this, we begin by evaluating the intact joint kinematics as a reference, then simulate a joint injury, and finally perform a reconstruction evaluating joint kinematics after each state. Successful reconstructions are those that present minimal kinematic differences compared to the intact state, because this shows that the joint’s motion is close to the way it was prior to injury.
     
• Instron E10000: Our dynamic testing machine (Instron ElectroPuls E10000, Instron Systems, Norwood, MA) is a state-of-the-art, accurate, and repeatable all-electric test instrument designed for dynamic and static testing on a wide range of materials and components. The Instron has 2 degrees of freedom that subsequently allows for movement in two axes (push/pull and twist/turn). Similar to the Kuka, the Instron allows researchers to evaluate joint biomechanics and surgical techniques related to the body’s major joints in a streamlined fashion.

• SPRI’s Biomotion Lab utilizes state-of-the-art equipment used for 3D analysis of human movement. Studies performed in this lab focus on being proactive in the following areas:
  • Preventing injury occurrences by evaluating efficiency of movement
  • Assessing dynamic joint function
  • Evaluating surgical and physical therapy outcomes
  • Managing physical therapy rehabilitation progression
  • Measuring the effectiveness of durable medical equipment
  • Gaining knowledge of pathologies and their influence on sports performance
  • Enhancing performance technique
     
• Equipment
  • 4 in-ground Bertec force plates
  • 18-Camera Qualisys motion capture system
  • 16-Channel Delsys Trigno Wireless EMG
  • Bertec Force Plate Instrumented Treadmill
  • APDM wearable sensor system
  • Athos EMG shorts
  • Orpyx LogR Gen 2 pressure measurement system
  • Dynamic Stereo X-ray system
     
• Software
  • Qualisys Track Manager
  • Visual 3D
  • Mimics
  • Matlab
  • Labview

Medical imaging plays a vital role in orthopaedic and sports medicine for diagnosis, treatment, and postoperative evaluation of injury and disease. The objectives of the SPRI Imaging Research department are to:

• Develop orthopaedic and sports medicine imaging protocols for diagnosis and treatment evaluation
• Apply cutting-edge imaging techniques to musculoskeletal-specific applications
• Advance a better understanding of the relationship between non-invasive quantitative imaging measurements and pathology
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed imaging journals with high impact factors and strong clinical readership

Since 2008, Imaging Research has worked alongside the other SPRI departments to evaluate and develop diagnosis and treatment techniques with direct clinical impact. All clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in the Steadman Clinic are incorporated into the SPRI clinical data registry, providing a vast dataset for clinical studies. In addition, study-specific imaging is performed on asymptomatic volunteers and cadaver specimens as appropriate to optimize MRI protocols before they are used for clinical scans.

Imaging Research has also developed strong collaborative relationships with industry partners to facilitate the translation from research to clinical practice. This includes Siemens Medical Solutions USA and Siemens Healthineers in Germany, in which new MRI protocols are developed and validated in conjunction with SPRI. For complex image processing tasks the Imaging Research department collaborates with the talented medical imaging team at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and University of Queensland in Australia.

As part of the Institute’s strategic alliance and research collaboration with Siemens Medical Solutions USA, SPRI has upgraded its previous Verio 3.0 Tesla (T) MRI technology with the Siemens flagship clinical Skyra-fit 3.0 T MRI system. This technology provides the researchers at SPRI, as well as the doctors and patients at The Steadman Clinic better access to advanced medical imaging, including quieter scan options, improved speed and resolution, and access to the most up-to-date imaging techniques. Patients are now able to get a more comprehensive picture of possible injury within a joint or body part, receive a more accurate diagnosis, get more focused treatment, and learn how well they respond to that treatment. The Institute’s agreement with Siemens also allows Imaging Research to test and validate new imaging techniques developed specifically for the type of clinical research being conducted at the Institute. This allows us to utilize cutting-edge techniques in our research and to influence the development of new clinical imaging applications.

Current collaborative projects with CSIRO and the University of Queensland focus on 3D modeling and analysis of structures including the knee meniscus and cruciate ligaments, hip labrum, as well as articular cartilage and bony morphology of the hip, knee, and shoulder. An important component of Imaging Research’s collaboration with the University of Queensland and CSIRO is in the area of automatic segmentation of various tissues. This work will greatly improve the efficiency and reproducibility of image segmentation, needed for the routine clinical applicability of quantitative imaging and other applications that currently require time-consuming manual segmentation.

Current research projects include:

• Evaluating quantitative mapping techniques, which measure small changes in joint tissue properties (water and chemical content, collagen fiber organization), for early detection of joint disease such as osteoarthritis prior to the later stage advanced disruption of joint tissues.
• Comparing MRI and computed tomography (CT) results for orthopaedic/sports medicine imaging applications with the goal of reducing the need for CT and patient exposure to ionizing radiation.
• Auto-segmentation to allow efficient, reproducible clinical use of techniques that currently require time-intensive manual processing.

In summary, the highlights of Imaging Research during 2015 and early 2016 included: 1) 11 published papers in peer-reviewed journals and three podium presentations at international conferences, 2) Continued collaboration with an MRI industry leader Siemens and the researchers at CSIRO/University of Queensland to develop and validate novel and clinically important imaging sequences and software, 3) Upgrade to the Skyra-fit 3.0 T MRI system. Imaging Research will continue to take advantage of its strong collaborations and advanced imaging technology to perform state-of-the-art research and apply cutting-edge imaging tools to improving patient outcomes.