Design of next generation total disk replacements.

To improve the treatments for low back pain, new designs of total disk replacement have been proposed. The question is how well these designs can act as a functional replacement of the intervertebral disk. Four finite element models were made, for four different design concepts, to determine how well they can mimic the physiological intervertebral disk mechanical function.

Biomechanical behavior of a biomimetic artificial intervertebral disc.

Study Design: The biomechanical behavior of a biomimetic artificial intervertebral disc (AID) was characterized in vitro in axial compression and compared with natural disc behavior.

Objective: To evaluate the strength and durability of a novel biomimetic AID and to demonstrate whether its axial deformation behavior is similar to that of a natural disc.

Summary Of Background Data: Current clinically used AIDs have reasonable success rates.