Advancing Patient Care through Biomechanical Analysis: The Orthopaedic Biomechanics Lab

The goal of the Orthopaedic Biomechanics Lab is to better understand how the human body can best be repaired to withstand physiological loads to improve patient care.  The Lab performs mechanical testing on cadaver hard and soft tissue that has a simulated injury and has been repaired.  The repaired tissue is then mechanically loaded to determine how it will withstand physiological loads.  The biomechanics lab uses a bi-axial servo-hydraulic test system to apply forces.  The tissue's reaction to the applied loads is measured with load cells, linear variable displacement transducers, thin film pressure sensors, strain gauges, and a 3D motion capture system.  Materials testing is also performed in the lab to determine the material properties such as Young’s Modulus, yield strength, and ultimate strength.