Thesis (B.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; and, (B.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Biology, 1978. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Includes bibliographical references. / B.S.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2001. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 80 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 75-80).

M. Tech. Metallurgical Engineering / Ti6Al4V alloy is the leading material for hip replacement because of its biocompatibility, elastic modulus and good yield strength, but shows poor corrosion and wear properties in simulated body fluid. Thin coatings were fabricated on Ti6Al4V alloy using Zirconium, Niobium and Titanium reinforcements with the aid of Nd:YAG Rofin Sinar laser system. Niobium reinforcement produced the best coating that displayed the best corrosion resistance and percentage increase in wear resistance in simulated body fluid as compared to the substrate. Therefore, this coating will perform best as orthopaedic implant material.

Bibliography: leaves 198-219. / xii, 219 leaves : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Examines the effect of implant design on the femoral bone remodelling response in a sheep cemented hip arthroplasty model. The clinical section of the thesis also indicates the importance of biological factors in the femoral bone remodelling response. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Orthopaedics and Trauma, 1998

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Orhtopaedics and Trauma, 1998. / Bibliography: leaves 198-219.

Thesis (doctoral)--Lund University, 1994. / Added t.p. with thesis statement inserted.

Thesis (doctoral)--Lund University, 1994. / Added t.p. with thesis statement inserted.

Thesis (M.S.)--Indiana University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 20-21).

Bone mechanics and traditional implant materials produce a recurring problem for patients of total hip arthroplasty (THA): the bone is “shielded” from the loading it has become accustomed to over many years of development. Bone adheres to what is called “Wolff’s Law”, meaning it is an adaptive structure which adjusts its geometry based on the loads experienced over its life (Pearson; Goldstein). As the new femoral hip implant transmits reduced stresses to the remaining bone, bone tissue atrophies at the interface, permitting loosening of the implant, pain, and thereby obliging additional surgery to correct the issue (Meade). In the present work, a methodology is endeavored for creating an innovative design for femoral hip implants. The approach uncouples the finite element implant model from the bone model, in order to focus solely on expected behavior within the implant while considering the varying material behavior in unique directions and locations. The implant’s internal geometry is optimized in order to better match typical, intact bone conditions. The eventual design reduces extreme changes in stresses within remnant bone such that the implant will remain implanted for greater periods of time without additional surgical attention.

Aseptic loosening of the components is probably the most common long-term complication resulting in failure of Total Hip Arthroplasty. The mechanical behaviour of bone under load is one of the contributory causes of loosening encountered at the prosthesis/cement/bone interface. The present study dealt with a series of invitro experiments conducted on epoxy resin models of human hemi-pelves with different commercially available acetabular components implanted in them. These are used for the construction of simplified models of the artificial hip joint (three-dimensional) and of the prosthesis/cement/bone acetabular interface (two-dimensional). Loading conditions for the models included tensioning of the simulated abductor muscles for the hemi-pelvic and femoral loading for the prosthesis/cement/bone interface study. The experimental method employed was real-time holographic interferometry, a stress analysis technique recently used in the biomechanical field, which permitted whole-field simultaneously inspection of deformation patterns. The holographic interferograms were interpreted in a qualitative rather than a quantitative manner. The models do not exactly represent the in-vivo situation. Since this study identified high stresses both in the hip bone as well as in the interface (prosthesis/bone) it is suggested that these stresses are implicated in the mechanical pathogenesis of loosening. The observed changes in stress levels detected in our models could serve as a guide for future designs of acetabular prostheses as well as guide a in surgical techniques.