Characterization of a packaged triboelectric harvester under simulated gait loading for total knee replacement.

Load sensing total knee replacement (TKR) implants are useful tools for monitoring prosthesis health and providing quantitative data to support patient claims of pain or instability. However, powering such devices throughout the entire life of the knee replacement is a challenge, and self-powered telemetry energy harvesting is an attractive solution. In this study, we implemented vertical contact mode triboelectric energy harvesters inside a knee implant package to generate the power required for embedded digitization and communications circuitry.

Effect of Dielectric Material and Package Stiffness on the Power Generation in a Packaged Triboelectric Energy Harvesting System for Total Knee Replacement.

The objectives of this study are to experimentally investigate the effects of the dielectric material and the package stiffness on the durability and the efficiency of a previously developed triboelectric-based instrumented knee implant prototype. The proposed smart knee implant may provide useful information about prosthesis health and its functionality after a total knee replacement (TKR) by routine monitoring of tibiofemoral load transfer without the need for any external power source. The triboelectric powered load sensing by the proposed TKR system needs to be functional throughout the entire life of a knee replacement.

Parametric Study of a Triboelectric Transducer in Total Knee Replacement Application.

Triboelectric energy harvesting is a relatively new technology showing promise for biomedical applications. This study investigates a triboelectric energy transducer for potential applications in total knee replacement (TKR) both as an energy harvester and a sensor. The sensor can be used to monitor loads at the knee joint.

Design and analysis of a compliant 3D printed energy harvester housing for knee implants.

Instrumented implants have the potential to detect abnormal loading patterns which could be deleterious to implant longevity, indicating a need for intervention which could reduce the need for more complicated revision surgeries. Reliably powering such devices has been one obstacle preventing widespread usage of instrumented implants in clinical populations. This study presents a 3D-printed titanium interpositional device designed to integrate triboelectric generators (TEGs) into a commercially available total knee replacement (TKR).

Lateral subvastus lateralis versus medial parapatellar approach for total knee arthroplasty: A cadaveric biomechanical study.

Background: The standard of care for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a medial parapatellar approach (MPA). We aimed to study a novel lateral subvastus lateralis approach (SLA), which offers the benefit of keeping the extensor mechanism and medial soft tissues intact. To ensure the approach could be used safely in vivo, a biomechanical study was performed to assess whether the joint kinematics would be preserved after performing a TKA.

Condylar-Stabilized TKR May Not Fully Compensate for PCL-Deficiency: An In Vitro Cadaver Study.

Increased-congruency bearing options are widely available in numerous total knee replacement (TKR) systems, with the intended purpose of compensating for posterior-cruciate ligament (PCL) deficiency. However, their ability to provide adequate stability in this setting has been debated. This in vitro joint simulator study measured changes in knee joint kinematics and stability during passive flexion-extension motions and simulated activities of daily living resulting from TKR with condylar-stabilized (CS) TKR without a PCL versus cruciate-retaining (CR) TKR.