In vivo dynamic compressive stresses in the disc annulus: a pilot study of bilateral differences due to hemiepiphyseal implant in a quadruped model.

Study Design: In vivo biomechanical study in quadruped model.

Objective: To develop in vivo model capable of determining physiological compressive stresses bilaterally in the intervertebral disc annulus and preliminarily assess effects of a hemiepiphyseal implant.

Summary Of Background Data: Spine growth modification alters stress distributions in vertebral growth plates and discs.

Implantable MEMS compressive stress sensors: Design, fabrication and calibration with application to the disc annulus.

Physiological stresses are fundamental to biomechanical testing, mechanobiological analyses, implant design, and tissue engineering. The purpose of this study was to design, fabricate, and evaluate compressive stress sensors packaged for extended, in vivo implantation in the annulus of the intervertebral disc. A commercial microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) pressure sensor die was selected as the active element for a custom stress sensor.