Anatomical fitting of a plate shape directly derived from a 3D statistical bone model of the tibia.

Introduction: Intra- and inter-population variations of bone morphology have made the process of designing an anatomically well-fitting fracture fixation plate challenging. Although statistical bone models have recently been used for analysing morphological variabilities, it is not known to what extent they would also provide the basis for the design of a new plate shape. This would be particularly valuable in the case where no existing plate shape is available to start the process of fit optimisation.

Production of high density molecular beams with wide velocity scanning.

We describe modifications of a pulsed rotating supersonic beam source that improve performance, particularly increasing the beam density and sharpening the pulse profiles. As well as providing the familiar virtues of a supersonic molecular beam (high intensity, narrowed velocity distribution, and drastic cooling of rotation and vibration), the rotating source enables scanning the translational velocity over a wide range. Thereby, beams of any atom or molecule available as a gas can be slowed or speeded.

Correction of step artefact associated with MRI scanning of long bones.

3D models of long bones are being utilised for a number of fields including orthopaedic implant design. Accurate reconstruction of 3D models is of utmost importance to design accurate implants to allow achieving a good alignment between two bone fragments. Thus for this purpose, CT scanners are employed to acquire accurate bone data exposing an individual to a high amount of ionising radiation.

Pulsed rotating supersonic source for merged molecular beams.

We describe a pulsed rotating supersonic beam source, evolved from an ancestral device [M. Gupta and D. Herschbach, J.

Quantification of the accuracy of MRI generated 3D models of long bones compared to CT generated 3D models.

Orthopaedic fracture fixation implants are increasingly being designed using accurate 3D models of long bones based on computer tomography (CT). Unlike CT, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) does not involve ionising radiation and is therefore a desirable alternative to CT. This study aims to quantify the accuracy of MRI-based 3D models compared to CT-based 3D models of long bones.

Effects of CT image segmentation methods on the accuracy of long bone 3D reconstructions.

An accurate and accessible image segmentation method is in high demand for generating 3D bone models from CT scan data, as such models are required in many areas of medical research. Even though numerous sophisticated segmentation methods have been published over the years, most of them are not readily available to the general research community. Therefore, this study aimed to quantify the accuracy of three popular image segmentation methods, two implementations of intensity thresholding and Canny edge detection, for generating 3D models of long bones.

A new approach for assigning bone material properties from CT images into finite element models.

Generation of subject-specific finite element (FE) models from computed tomography (CT) datasets is of significance for application of the FE analysis to bone structures. A great challenge that remains is the automatic assignment of bone material properties from CT Hounsfield Units into finite element models. This paper proposes a new assignment approach, in which material properties are directly assigned to each integration point.

Characteristic crossing point (T(*)≈2.7 K) in specific heat curves of samples RuSr(2)Gd(1.5)Ce(0.5)Cu(2)O(10-δ) taken for different values of magnetic field.

Magnetic properties of polycrystalline samples of RuSr(2)(Gd(1.5)Ce(0.5))Cu(2)O(10-δ), as-prepared (by solid-state reaction) and annealed (12 h at 845 °C) in pure oxygen at different pressure (30, 62 and 78 atm) are presented.

Quantitative fit assessment of tibial nail designs using 3D computer modelling.

Intramedullary nailing is the standard fixation method for displaced diaphyseal fractures of the tibia in adults. The bends in modern tibial nails allow for an easier insertion, enhance the 'bone-nail construct' stability, and reduce axial malalignments of the main fragments. Anecdotal clinical evidence indicates that current nail designs do not fit optimally for patients of Asian origin.