The Spine Biomechanics Laboratory is housed in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. As part of a program that is consistently ranked one of the nation’s top orthopedics programs by U.S. News & World Report, the laboratory has access to world-class orthopedic care driven by high-quality research.
We study the effects of aging, tissue degeneration and altered biomechanics in the cervical and lumbar regions of the spine. Our main goal is to find an explanation to the elusive question of why back pain happens and how can we best help patients overcome it.
The laboratory works to measure changes in rotational and flexion/extension segmental movement associated with disc and facet degeneration comparing normal subjects and chronic low-back-pain subjects using and developing image-based biomechanics methods.
These in vivo relationships among disc degeneration, disc height, segmental movement, disc pressure and facet joint pressure are validated subsequently using cadaveric lumbar spines. Correlations between altered kinematics and load transmission are possible in vitro using our in-house developed hydraulic loading frame which allows continuous increase in torque in flexion/extension, lateral bending, and axial torsion.
We are also able to translate these positions into imaging settings to capture and analyze the features of the loaded spine. All these experimental methods are used to validate in silico studies conducted in collaboration with the Computational Biomechanics lab directed by Raghu Natarajan, PhD.
A large portion of our work is image based. We are driven by the access to newer imaging sequences in CT and MRI. Our work has led to new intellectual property aimed at developing analytical models from patient-specific image data. Image data works in conjunction with in vitro testing for dual validation of both the images and the in vitro models, as applicable.
We have access to advanced metrology instrumentation such as a 3D laser scanner (NextEngine 2020i) and a coordinate measuring machine (Revware Microscribe M). Of course, the workflow would not be complete if we could not replicate the digital objects and make real parts out of them. We can do that with our stereolithography 3D printer (Full Spectrum Laser, Pegasus Touch).
Testing for implants and kinematics of the spine is achieved via our pure moment attachment installed in an Instron servohydraulic testing frame (8874 Axial-Torsion Fatigue Testing System). When the spine moves actuated by the frame, its motion in space is captured via a motion analysis infrared tracking system using passive markers on the spine segments. With this we can describe the changes in biomechanics stemming from abnormal spine structures or the influence of implants to correct any spine condition.
We are grateful to the NIH for funding our scientific work:
Dr Inoue - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Inoue+Nozomu+[Author]
Dr. Espinoza - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Espinoza+Orias+AA+[Author]
Dr. Natarajan - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Natarajan%20RN[Author]
Our team
We welcome inquiries about our research, collaborations and funding to the following: