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SPECIAL SEMINARS

Friday, May 8, 2009
2:00 p.m.
Aggarwal Lecture Hall, Room 130
Polymer Engineering Academic Center

Dr. John J. Elias
Senior Research Scientist
Calhoun Research Laboratory
Akron General Medical Center

"Biomechanical Evaluation of Knee Function, Injury and Treatment"

Biomechanical evaluation of knee function has produced data that has dramatically improved understanding of normal joint function, mechanisms of injury and the benefit of treatment methods. Biomechanical investigations are performed to characterize joint kinematics, characterize the loads applied to soft tissues within the knee and characterize material properties of native tissues and devices and materials used to restore function following injury. The presentation will describe how in vitro simulation, computational modeling, material testing and in vivo analysis are used in biomechanical analysis of the knee. Techniques for simulating joint function with cadaveric specimens will be presented. The in vitro models have been utilized to show how the design of a total knee prosthesis influences knee kinematics and show how the forces applied by individual muscles influence knee kinematics and the pressure applied to cartilage. A computational model to characterize the pressure within the patellofemoral joint will also be presented, along with an assessment of the accuracy of the model and computational characterization of how variations in ligament reconstruction performed following patellofemoral dislocation can influence the pressure applied to cartilage. A technique used to characterize the viscoelastic properties of grafts used for ACL reconstruction will also be presented. Finally, proposed methods for characterizing knee kinematics and cartilage loading that could be utilized to improve clinical assessment of knee disorders and treatment planning will be presented.

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